Did you get rid of Keratosis pilaris/ rough bumpy skin?

[RainbowFlowers]

I've just found out that there's a name for the rough skin on my arms- Keratosis pilaris. I've always had it and have just read that it can go by itself at around 30 years old. I'm 33 so I guess it's not going to do that!

Has anyone managed to improve theirs or make it go completely? If so what did you do?

I've noticed mine gets slightly better in the summer but still not enough to stop me feeling self conscious about them.

Thanks

(I'll report this to get it moved to general health)

We're moving this thread over to our General Health topic.

we use CeraVe cream [sp?] on dd for it. very effective

Ameliorate lotion is meant to work wonders for keratosis pilaris, have a look at the reviews on Amazon (I use it, but not for KP so can't personally vouch but heard good things)

Apart from weight loss and energy levels , following a low carb diet has done good things for my skin. The renewal rate is faster, rosacea on my nose has gone and so have scaly upper arms.
I’m 52 and had suffered from KP all my adult life.

It will disappear with age but the thing that makes a huge difference is cracked heel cream. It’s to do with the urea I believe.

Mine went in my late 30s so there is still time!
Also over the years it was much better when I'd been in the sun, so maybe a vitamin d link?

Flexitol cream. It's for cracked heels but works brilliantly on bumpy skin and also on ingrowing hairs. I bought a big tub from amazon. Works a treat.

The only thing that has worked for me is cutting out sugar and following a low carb diet, it took about 3 months to go away and if I stop following the diet it returns. No creams, soaps or exfoliating ever worked unfortunately

I’m a beauty therapist

I can assure you the best way to keep it at bay is to dry brush with a body brush (or if your skint you can use a sponge scourer 🧽 and GENTLY use the green side and rub it on the affected area) in circular motions three times a week. Then follow up in the shower with ideally a tea tree or salicylic acid skin wash / body wash and again make sure your washing the affected area. The tea tree works as an anti bacterial and also helps clean blocked pores. Salicylic acid would be best as it has the ability to get inside the pores and will gently disintegrate the dead skin WITHIN the pores. This will get rid of the bumpy texture.

Then follow up with some form of a nourishing body butter/ creme. Something like body shop body butters or loccitane body butter. Think something nourishing but you want it to penetrate the skin and not sit on top of the skin creating a greasy film. The greasy film will attract more bacterial and as it will stick on the skin it again will cause bumps - as the pores are now clean and filling up again with bacteria.

Doing this definitely should get you seeing results within a week. I have a lot of clients who have this problem and the body brush is a godsend.

Ideally you want a firm brush. And one with firm bristles. Think how firm toothbrush bristles should feel. If the bristles are soft (so more closer to a soft bristle toothbrush) then it won’t work effectively enough to shed the skin.

Message me for more advice x

Also if money is tight you can use flexitol as a quick option instead of a body butter. That will again clean it up in no time 😉

You have to treat it like a dry skin condition. So loads of moisture and minimise amount of soaking in hot baths etc. Beware sunburn etc, though sun definitely helps.

Blue Aveeno works well for me and my 2 year old who has it quite badly. I do think hormones affect it but also winter etc.

That very skinny dermatologist on YouTube has a great video on it. (Any remember her name!) she acknowledged that it can be a bit distressing which bright a tear to my eye as I've always been v aware of how rough my skin is.

Ctrl they think it's to do with the shape of the hair follicle getting trapped and causing a plug of skin cells.

I have never found brushing helps; it always aggravates the inflammation. It can be irritating and sore.

This was the best info I've ever had on it:

She mentions urea I think, and basically anything really moisturising.

I used to have it and got a cream prescribed by the Dr. Normal moisturisers don't help, I think the poster who mentioned urea is right. I think the bumps need a cream with certain acids in, which help loosen the build up of skin cells that cause it.

I have this on my upper arms and lower legs. I have tried the Ameliorate range, which did improve it but not all that dramatically. This year I’ve got the Cerave body wash and moisturiser ( the smooth skin one ) and I think this is better. I’ve tried lots of things, but this is the only one that’s made a noticeable difference. I’m also drinking more water than I used to, not sure whether that helps?!
One thing I do struggle with still is hair removal. My skin gets so irritated and the hair grows back so quickly that my legs never feel smooth. I thought cream might be better than shaving but it makes me itch, and doesn’t seem to remove all the hairs. I couldn’t get on with waxing either, even when I’ve had it done professionally I was left with loads of missed bits. Wondering if an epilator would be better?

Mine disappeared late 20s as did my older sisters though she said hers have now started to come back.

Mine disappeared late 20s as did my older sisters though she said hers have now started to come back.

Mine disappeared late 20s as did my older sisters though she said hers have now started to come back.

I find any moisturizer with 10% urea clears mine.

there's a. thread on style and beauty about korea italian cloths or something that is meant to work wonders

there's a. thread on style and beauty about korea italian cloths or something that is meant to work wonders

there's a. thread on style and beauty about korea italian cloths or something that is meant to work wonders

@Cydonia

I have this on my upper arms and lower legs. I have tried the Ameliorate range, which did improve it but not all that dramatically. This year I’ve got the Cerave body wash and moisturiser ( the smooth skin one ) and I think this is better. I’ve tried lots of things, but this is the only one that’s made a noticeable difference. I’m also drinking more water than I used to, not sure whether that helps?! One thing I do struggle with still is hair removal. My skin gets so irritated and the hair grows back so quickly that my legs never feel smooth. I thought cream might be better than shaving but it makes me itch, and doesn’t seem to remove all the hairs. I couldn’t get on with waxing either, even when I’ve had it done professionally I was left with loads of missed bits. Wondering if an epilator would be better?

Using an epilator gave me horrendous ingrown hairs and it still doesn't seem to grow properly so still get them. That's why I use Ameliorate, to try and reduce the scarring and pigmentation from years of this, so I'd suggest caution with an epilator.

I've ended up paying for laser hair removal (though covid has delayed it) hoping I can solve the ingrowns permanently

Ah really, maybe I won’t try an epilator then! Not sure I could stand the pain anyway. I would love laser hair removal, I might look into the cost of it and also start saving!