Keratosis pilaris- has anything worked 100% for you? Thinking about chemical peel

[FatBallsAndSunflowerSeeds]

I've tried so much. It's really getting me down, I hate how rough and ugly it still is. I'd say I've improved it maybe 80% but nothing seems to get rid of it altogether!

I've tried scrubs, numerous creams including flexitol and nip and fab body, and diet (which did improve it massively so I'm back on gluten and dairy free now). I've started taking vitamin d and fish oil. I'm going to get some vitamin A as I understand that is important for kp.

At the moment I don't scrub (which has helped the redness but not the texture) and I apply Palmers cocoa butter cream twice a day, including the one containing AHA or whatever. I use nip and fab glycolic pads on my arms every couple of days. I feel this is keeping my kp somewhat in check but as I say it's still there and I hate it.

Has anyone tried a chemical peel type treatment for kp on the body?

Bha/ salicylic acid has helped mine. I use my face stuff and swipe it on my arms with the cotton wool pad after.

My gp prescribes a salicylic acid ointment in a massive pot so one prescription lasts me about a year. It cleared up completely after about a month of daily use and now I use it weekly to keep it at bay.

What exactly do you use Bodicea?

Mine have been almost entirely eradicated since I figured out that my anaemia is linked - as long as I am religious about taking my iron tablets, it keeps it under check. The minute I forget, even for a few days, they are bloody awful. Have you got an iron problem do you know?

Watching with interest as both my son and I suffer. His is quite bad so looking to try something

Have used Clinique clarifying lotion 1.0 although formula has
Changed recently so not sure it’s as good anymore.
Currently using Paula’s choice skin perfecting 2% bha liquid. I think she does a specific body product too but I’ve never tried as am lazy and find it easier to use the excess from my face routine on the cotton wool pad but if you don’t use for your face might be better value to get a body product.

The ordinary does a 2% salicylic acid too which is pretty cheap so could be worth a try although not tried yet.

RainyApril - what does your GP prescribe? Is it something we could buy over the counter?

Yes I was going to ask the same question as Gwen! What is it called please?

It's a 450g tub of Salicylic Acid 2% ointment, and for me it worked like magic after trying other things for decades.

I've just googled it and it is the first thing that comes up, £11.69 from Weldricks Pharmacy. Mine looks exactly like that one pictured. I've never thought to look online before, but will do that from now on rather than mess about with a prescription. I used it twice a day until it went, and now once a week because I'm scared it'll come back!

I’m having laser for it on my face at the moment. IPL has helped a bit but the dermatologist is going to have to do pulse dye laser (which bruises badly) to eliminate it.

Differin has also helped a bit.

This cream is the only thing I've found that works

I got in the US, and not sure if it's available in the UK (Amazon maybe?). It has a high urea content, which makes it effective but it does smell of wee. I use it at night and shower in the morning. I should use it more often to try to get rid of KP once and for all, but the smell puts me off and I stop using it when I have more or less smooth arms rather than carrying on for a bit longer

I'm quite enjoying the scrubby Japanese cloth! I feel so CLEAN after I use it

Thank you so much to the earlier poster who advised Olive oil, salt and lemon. I can't believe the difference this has made to my upper arms. That, coupled with ameliorate lotion, has made the biggest difference in 2 weeks than anything else I have ever tried over the years. Going to keep using these, maybe this summer I will be able to wear bare arms with confidence! X

mine is gone now after heavy use of Korean Italy towels, Ameliorate Transforming body lotion alternated with flexitol heel balm (but on my arms and backs of legs)

the flexitol and ameliorate don't smell all that nice so I add a drop of lavender oil

Going gluten free cured mine, I think this is quite common.

I'm not sure as I made lots of lifestyle changes at the same time - my skin is now really fantastic, definitely less red, spots all gone and softer than my 18 year old dd's.
I reduced caffeine and alcohol to nothing for a long time but now indulge occasionally. I also credit HRT and Glossier skincare with making big improvements to my skin.

I don't think people usually go gluten free just for the sake of their skin (it wasn't my reason) but it seems to be a common benefit

How do you like Glossier?
I would never ever use anything else as I find their cleanser and moisturiser in a whole different league to anything else.
I'm on bog standard post menopause combined HRT pill

I suspect going sugar free would really improve redness and general health but it's quite a hard core diet!
I find clear spirits better than wine though, presumably due to the high sugar in wine.