KERATOSIS PILARIS TREATMENTS?
Stylemama here, wondering why some of us have such flawless skin while the rest of us are a little less flawless. Enter: my Keratosis Pilaris also known as KP. Always one to look for the silver lining means I’m strangely grateful for my skin issues. If it weren’t for all the nonsense I never would have found Meg’smakeup.com. I never would have met such amazing women and might not have discovered that writing and sharing with all of you feeds my soul in the most profound and touching way. I’d say a little skin funk is hardly worth complaining about when you look at it like that.
I’m nothing if not persistent, yet ironically, strangely lazy at the same time. I won’t pretend to understand that part of my personality, but that’s okay because Gigi loves me “as is” so I must be doing something right. I love me some Gigi too!
Which brings me to my point. A few months ago Tantejoan penned a review that’s really changed my skin. In it, she introduced us to a condition known as Blepharitis. She shared with us a handy little eyewash product (Eye Scrub made be Novartis) that would gently treat this condition and completely remove all traces of make up and any other gunk that sticks to the base of the eyelash. I love it, it works just like she said it would. It also steered my toward a different approach for treating my KP.
What does KP have to do with Blepharitis, you ask? To over simplify, both conditions are a result of areas that end up clogged when they shouldn’t be. In the case of Blepharitis the tiny oil glands at the base of the lashes end up irritated and inflamed partially due to improper eye makeup removal. With KP, the hair follicle gets clogged when the skin’s normal shedding process fails to occur, trapping the hair in a tiny, hard shell creating that rough, bumpy texture often seen on the back of the arms.
Because I have really sensitive eyes, I immediately ordered the Eye Scrub she recommended and also added a similar product to my order: Lid Scrub Plus, Extra Strength Formula by OcuSoft. I fell in love with her Eye Scrub but my second purchase proved too harsh for my eyes. The pre-moistened pads were too rough. That’s when the idea for a KP treatment took hold. I decided to see if those slightly rough pads might de-gunk the arm KP. One evening before bed, I rubbed one packet per arm, didn’t rinse it off, and went straight to sleep.
The next morning, the results were shocking! My typical red, rough and angry looking bumps were drastically changed. In some areas it even looked completely free of KP and felt wonderfully soft and smooth. I’ve been using this treatment almost every night for two weeks and the results keep going strong. Of course, I knew immediately I had to share my good fortune with all of my fellow sufferers. (Gem, this one’s for you, my KP Sistah from anotha Mistah!)
I’m not sure why this system works but it does. The downside? A box of 30 pre-moistened pads costs $9.95-22.95 per box! My next order is going to be OcuSoft’s Foaming Lid Scrub in the original formula, $13.95 for a 7.25 ounce bottle. Hopefully, the foaming cleanser will work just as well as the pads do, while saving serious coin at the same time. As always, I will report back with my findings.
Now it’s your turn. What are some of the more bizarre or unexpected treatments you’ve tried that work despite this tenacious condition? Clearly, I’ll try just about anything.
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Oh, Dawn I too am a KP sistah! This sounds great but expensive. So please let us know if the less expensive scrub version works. Yeah!!!!
i have KP on my upper arms and couldn't figure out what it was for the longest time. the only thing that has helped my KP and clearing it up is Lac Hydrin Five and AmLactin lotion. They are about $14-16 a bottle, but if you go to Costco you can get a really big bottle for under $20 I believe. My KP seems to be the worst during summertime, especially when I get too much sun. I get such a big outbreak but thank goodness I found those lotions to help!
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I have KP on my arms to and I found that regular exfoliation with a body brush and adding almond oil to my bath water helped a lot.
GO ALMOND OIL!! Yet another reason to love this stuff. I think its just great that this works for KP too.
Love, hugs and shoes...Angie
I have KP on my arms too! It makes me feel self-conscious about my arms too. I tried using some products from Derma Doctor or something like that but the products were just too expensive for seeing unimpressive results. So keep me updated on the other scrub.
I used to get KP pretty bad, but I took Accutane for cystic acne and my KP cleared up too. I still get a few bumps from time to time, just like I get a few zits from time to time, but it's NOTHING like I used to have.
I have this around my elbows, and it's not bad, but it's just annoying. I think I'll stick to gentle exfoliating instead of shelling out some money.
I don't think mine are very bizarre at all... i've just been hearing what everyone else is trying. ie toothpaste on pimples. I've tried aspirin as a facewash, it turned out AWFUL! my skin showed an instant reaction, my face was burning and little red itchy rashes appeared all over my face, never again!
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I don't have KP but I do have folliculitis and It's horrible and often times very painful. I have not found a solution yet :( My Dr. put me on antibiotics but they could interfere with birth control and I didnt think it was worth the risk of getting pregnant :SI've tried alot of stuff on it topically and nothing has worked :9
Tan is Love
oh wow, I have KP and may have to try something like that! I was thinking of making a scrub out of salt and olive oil to try since it is clogged pores. It would take a lot of scrub though, I have this all over the back of my arms and on my legs. Stupid skin. Thanks for the information!
Stylemama, my KP sistah from another mista -- love you! (AND I love me some Gigi too!). I treasure your useful KP bits.... yes, I do! I cannot say enough good things about KP Duty from DermaDoctor. It absolutely rocks! My dreaded bumps on the backs of my arms are gone thanks to this little miracle in a tube. One caveat -- you must use it everyday. I have *finally* felt comfortable wearing sleeveless this summer thanks to my KP duty. No bumps! :)
SO glad you've found something tht works! This is one "sensitive skin ailment" I have somehow managed to miss,trust me,I had had all the others though,LOL!I swear by hot Epsom salt baths followed by a generous application of Organic Coconut Oil to fix JUST about any skin ailment out there!
Exfoliation DOES NOT work at all for my KP. If I do exfoliate it makes my arms much worse and it looks red and awful.Moisturising is what helps mine. I use a moisturiser by an Australian company called MooGoo (www.moogoo.com.au) which is just fantastic. Using it for two days (once a day) totally clears it all up.
I'm a KP sista! We should start a society or something. My younger sister has just become a KD, but that's definitely not the same thing. She swears that getting in the tanning bed helps it, but I'll stick with my bumpy arms and legs and keep them cancer free (hopefully) in the future. Yes, I am unfortunate enough to have this on not only my arms, but my legs as well. Regular exfoliation helps a lot but I've never actively sought to get rid of them permanently. I think that a salt scrub then a soak to exfoliate and purify would help. Then follow up with an oil (non comedogenic of course) to hydrate. I've heard about using a regular peel to keep the pores from clogging. Using some sort of acid (lactic, glycolic) is what I've read helps.
KP here too! Your sister is right (unfortunately) about the tanning. I think it is the vitamin D that helps combat the KP. Also, the redness that comes from the disorder isn't as noticible when you aren't as pale. Two summers ago I went kayaking without sunscreen and got the worst sunburn you will ever see. I had fevers and oozing and I peeled three times. I know I am most likely going to have skin cancer by the time I am 25, and I am freckled all over my shoulders now, but there was a silver lining to this. The sun peeled away all my KP. I didn't have a bump on my arm for almost a year. Why, why, why do two such awful things (tanning and sunburns, ick) have to be good for KP? ARGH!
Hello my name is Rie, and I too am a KP sistah!. Himekosorano - I also have these lovelies on my legs. I use a local lactic acid product from Environ (you can get it in select places in the States) - it works but it's sticky sticky sticky in an ugh ack way. I haven't found much help from scrubs and manual exfoliation. I saw a company in the US called Dermadoctor makes a lotion called KP Duty specifically for this condition. It's quite pricey - has anyone ever tried it? Thank-you Dawn for giving this oft-overlooked condition to light in such an eloquent way. Much love...
Rie
I thankfully don't have this if I did it would drive me mad !!!! Having eczema is bad enough !!
i wasnt sure of what exactly KP is, so thank you for attaching a photo- it really helped. Last couple of years, one of my tighs had similar bumps. They would not really spread and they would go away after a month or so. I just never realized what exactly it was. It happens during summer, so Iam assuming when i sweat it irritates my skin? Maybe its KP- sure looks like it from a pictureI have acne and I tried aspirin mask. You have to wait, as it will likely to break you out the first 3-4 weeks. And it did, especially because i mixed it with honey. After i mixed aspirin with my regular scrub and after a month had passed, i noticed that i only had some breakouts once a month. it really does work, but u have to pass through a first state, and then also- you have to use it consistently.
I didnt know thats was what kp was! i have heard you mention it before stylemama but i didnt know what it was!I have it on my arms, i find exfoliating helps and latley i have been slathering myself in aqueous cream-this has made a huge improvement! i also use the same cream on my legs at night because i get terrible razor burn and this stops it, today i even used it in the shaower instead of shaving foam (because when i got it was to use on my daughter instead of soap for her exzema so i thought it might work well) and my legs have never been smoother!
I use aqueous cream in the shower too because of eczema !! It's really good :-)
This wasnt a random discovery, but whipped egg whites (foamy) make a really really good facial mask that tightens my pores and makes my skin feel super duper refreshed. I absolutely love it.
I do this too! Amazing results!
Wow! How can I resist coming up with a researched product to offer you, Mama, after that build-up? I am humbled and unworthy, but I will take it! Your post made me go "Hmmmm." I have an African American gentleman of my acquaintance who always raves about a product called Tend Skin, used to combat the ingrown hairs and bumps to which men of color are prone. Women who shave in the bikini zone do, too. It occurred to me you might want to use this on your KP, but after checking out some reviewers' responses it look like this might be too strong for the upper arms. Plus it is expensive and requires gazillions of 100% cotton balls, an added expense. Then I saw this, which has universally good reviews, glides on with a roller ball thus eliminating the cotton ball factor, and seems more economical. I'm just throwing it out there to keep my rep alive. Amazon.com has it.
MiN New York Solution2 Razor Bump Rollerball Treatment
Thanks for the info, never actually knew what KP looked like until the picture. Thankfully I haven't had any case of KP but in the event that I do develop this, I'll be equipped!
This is good information for those who have this condition.. Exfoliation is key!!
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I don't have KP, but if i ever do, i'll be ready for it. thanks for sharing this. I have something that looks like the picture above on my upper arm but im not sure if i have this condition. I've been trying so hard to try to get rid of it. My skin is soft everywhere except in that one area. it's so annoying :(. I exfoliated the area a lot, and it's been disappearing slowly.
I have KP on my upper arms and thighs and what I've found keeps it from looking AS ghastly (it'll always be visible for me I think) is stridex pads every other day (maximum strength) and amlactin every night. I will be trying some of the other great suggestions though, thanks for sharing! :)
xoxo
Thanks for yet again another great review on a skin condition I've never known the name of before! I have a very mild case of this but it is very frustrating to have! Please check out my newshop ladies. I will be posting items for sale in 2-3 weeks. Everything is handmade by moi. My featured item will be a prayer jar kit for people who wish to give a lovely beautiful gift while improving their daily prayer habits!www.buttonsjar.etsy.com:) Thanks again for this review!
I too have this on the backs of my upper arms and tops of my thighs near my knees. Sometimes I use a loofa or scrubbing mitt on these areas but it has never seemed to help. Maybe I'll try one of the lotions mentioned.
Stylemamma, I'm happy that you found something that worked for you!
I've got KP on my arms and it drives me crazy! I've tried a gazillion things to make it go away, but so far nothing has helped. Using something with glycolic acid helps my arms a bit though.
I've never heard of this. Is it really common? I'll have to watch out for this. Thanks for the article.
I've got KP on my arms and I use the Derma Doctor line. I use the lotion and the shower gel...in addition to exfoliating every day. The line is a little expensive but it works!
I think the scrubs from the body shop works!
Wow, I don't think I had ever heard of this condition before today and now I look at the image an read the information about it, it looks like it may be what my partner has on the backs of his arms? Thank you for the information Stylemama, I'll have to investigate this further!
I too have KP on my arms. I never knew what it was before and my dermatologist just seemed to blow it off like it was normal. It's great reading all of the wonderful tips about what works and what doesn't from everyone on here.One of the things that I have tried with moderate success is to use either Visine or Afrin on my face if it is really red from Rosacea, it works ok, sometimes I have to use two applications but it will calm down the redness and shrink the blood vessels for a little while.
i don't have KP but my sweet little monster baby does on his upper arms. i've been buff-puffing him with kirk's castile soap and then almond oil & EV coconut oil and it's been helping but nothing dramatic. think i'm going to give this a try - thanks style mamma - you're awesome!
I suffer from KP too. I have never been able to find a way to get rid of it completely, but I do think that exfoliation helps tone it down a lot. I use St. Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub and scrub away at it. Then I slather on some lotion and it definately feels a lot smoother.
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You ladies are so supportive and full of insight! Thanks for the feedback and wonderful ideas.Since KP can never be cured we must remain vigilant (insert dramatic here)!Love you girls!
I don't have KP but I wish you the best of luck in your continued success!What a great idea though (using something advertised for eyes on your arms instead). I love when things work out that way.
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I have KP on the back of my upper arms- I've had it for as long as I can remember. For me, if I just keep it moisturized, and exfoliate every now and then, it keeps it pretty smooth and unnoticeable. However, I have my bouts of laziness, and it's not something I think about often, so usually I don't do anything but put lotion on it.
Good review !!! interesting !!!
sooo...thats what i have on the back of my arms...i always thought they were blackheads...how weird....i don't have them that bad but still...its definately annoying
i mix tea tree oil and FOTE aloe gel. the aloe calms redness right away but it takes a few weeks for the bumps to go away. i can't exfoliate either, that just makes them angry.
Another vote for the Derma Doctor line! :)
:O I have kp too!!!I tried many things but it didnt work ):- Exploiating - Derma Doctor Cream- Dream cream from lushnothing works i want it to go away soo bad1`!
"I’m nothing if not persistent, yet ironically, strangely lazy at the same time" Oh my Lord, you described me ;)As for our collective KP issues, I highly recommend The Glytone Kit (body wash and lotion--even comes with a bath puff--just don't use it on areas where you don't have KP) or AmLactin (can get it form any drugstore) in conjunction with Coconut Oil in the winter and at-home chemical peels on my face 2x a week for 6 weeks, then off 6 weeks, etc. Also I keep a humidifier in my bedroom.In the summer I don't have to be as diligent. Lush King of Skin (2x a week) and Ren's Salt Exfoliating Body Balm (1x) and AmLactin/Coconut Oil as needed.I am very conscious of using bath and beauty products that aren't natural (or mostly natural) or hypoallergenic on my skin.
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I have severe kp all over my body, found improvement with home made recipes as sugar scrubs and a mix of baby oil, liquid vaseline, olive oil, glycerin and almond oil applied after the shower.Theres already a community of people with kp where you can make questions and read about treatments: www.keratosispilaris.org
Did the foaming cleanser work as well as the pads? I'm curious!
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I've never had this before and people who have these, I have always wondered what they were. Congrats on the solution to freeing up the nasties, good job!