Looking for info on Keratosis Pilaris

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I'm not completely sure if this is the correct category to place this question in, so please feel free to move it wherever it should be!

Ever since I was a kid I always had these little bumps on the upper part of my arm and I think it's probably a touch of keratosis something (what the heck is the name of it!?) Anyways, are there any of you guys here that specialized in dermatology and/or skin care that could give me some pointers on making this a little better for myself? Quite honestly, I don't know much about it at all (if I do, I can't recall it at all).

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate it.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Keratosis pilaris.

http://www.helpforkp.com/

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Keratosis pilaris.

http://www.helpforkp.com/

Oh DUH. I feel so stupid! Thanks Marie!

Just a thought: would exfoliating on a daily or bi-daily basis help this at all? Normally in the past this has dried my skin out and makes it very sensitive when touched so perhaps doing that on my arms wouldn't be best for me. Any suggestions would be appreciated once again!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Also, this cream, that's recommended by that KP website, i use this and it helps me a lot. Plus it's resonably priced, and a little goes a long way.

Eucerin

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Oh DUH. I feel so stupid! Thanks Marie!

Just a thought: would exfoliating on a daily or bi-daily basis help this at all? Normally in the past this has dried my skin out and makes it very sensitive when touched so perhaps doing that on my arms wouldn't be best for me. Any suggestions would be appreciated once again!

They actually don't recommend harsh exfoliants daily, since that can irritate and make the problem worse.

And this is probably TMI, but i shave my arms. Reason i do this is since i scrub in OR, the way my armhair felt after i scrubbed my arms felt itcy. So i started shaving my arms once a week. Before that, i would exfoliate my arms once a week for the KP problem, but i stopped when i started shaving, since shaving kinda exfoliates.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

My problem with KP was annoying on my arms, but the back of my thighs, sheesh, drove me up the wall. And that Eucerin cream has helped me a lot.

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They actually don't recommend harsh exfoliants daily, since that can irritate and make the problem worse.

And this is probably TMI, but i shave my arms. Reason i do this is since i scrub in OR, the way my armhair felt after i scrubbed my arms felt itcy. So i started shaving my arms once a week. Before that, i would exfoliate my arms once a week for the KP problem, but i stopped when i started shaving, since shaving kinda exfoliates.

Thats what I thought. Like I said, when I was a teen I used to use some of my Mom's "exfoliating stuff" and it just dried my skin out so much that when I slightly brushed it, it would burn almost! I've learned over time by experience and what I learned also that it's not always the best choice.

I have some of that cream right now! I'm not sure how old it is but I'm gonna start using it. I think I bought it a while back just to have and never used it. I probably have more lotions, ointments and remedies that some of the women I know. :lol2:

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Sephora has that DermaDoctor KP duty cream, but that stuff is $40 for a tube, and i just don't have the money to be shelling out $40 for 4 oz. of a cream. :stone

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I thought I was the only one that had this problem...it has been a huge source of embarrassment for me my entire life. Never knowing when you can wear a sleeveless shirt...I keep dermablend all the time.

During the winter, when your skin is supposed to be dryer, my arms are perfect, but in the summer, when I NEED for them to look good, they start breaking out again...and my skin is slow to heal, so an acne-type cyst can take as long as two weeks to heal.

I totally sympathize with you.

PS: I just got off the website...it was a wealth of information...has anyone tried the glycemic acid? I used a product on my face to keep my pores small that has the largest amount of GA in it without having to visit a day spa and see a licensed professional....but I have never thought about using this on my arms...wonder if it would work?

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Thats what I thought. Like I said, when I was a teen I used to use some of my Mom's "exfoliating stuff" and it just dried my skin out so much that when I slightly brushed it, it would burn almost! I've learned over time by experience and what I learned also that it's not always the best choice.

I have some of that cream right now! I'm not sure how old it is but I'm gonna start using it. I think I bought it a while back just to have and never used it. I probably have more lotions, ointments and remedies that some of the women I know. :lol2:

Make sure it's the alpha-hydroxy kind. It's the alpha-hydroxy that helps the problem.

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My problem with KP was annoying on my arms, but the back of my thighs, sheesh, drove me up the wall. And that Eucerin cream has helped me a lot.

LOL -- I can't even imagine having it there :icon_roll

It doesn't really bother me as far as it looks (since you really can't see it at all unless you're right up on me) but I just hate the way it feels when you touch it!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
I thought I was the only one that had this problem...it has been a huge source of embarrassment for me my entire life. Never knowing when you can wear a sleeveless shirt...I keep dermablend all the time.

During the winter, when your skin is supposed to be dryer, my arms are perfect, but in the summer, when I NEED for them to look good, they start breaking out again...and my skin is slow to heal, so an acne-type cyst can take as long as two weeks to heal.

I totally sympathize with you.

A LOT of people have this problem, unfortunately people are either embarrased about it, or not aware that it is a real condition.

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