Anyone know about Keratosis Pilaris??

[Tina71]

My teenage has the red (and some white) bumps on the back of his upper arms. I have been doing a lot of reading online and it looks quite common and they are saying it is called Keratosis Pilaris. Anyone know of any natural things to do to help him get rid of it. He doesn't like having them on his arms.

Skin brushing? Fish oil? Zinc? Anyone?

[gillmings]

All I can tell you is that it runs in my family and I have it. Nothing has ever made it "better", but some things have made it worse, for me, anyway.

Exfoliation and moisturization is supposed to be the ticket, but makes no noticeable difference for me.

Dr. Jonathan Wright talks about it being an issue with Vit A, like you don't make the conversion from beta-carotene properly, or something like that.

[cbuffy]

I happened to be reading on another blog today - what a coincidence! Hope this helps...
7. Keratosis Pilaris (Or Those Bumps On Your Upper Arms) – ACV and Sugar Scrub

These funny chicken bumps on your upper arms are common, so don’t feel too bad. In fact, this is one of the common questions I get: “How on EARTH do I stop being embarrassed to show my arms, Crunchy Betty? HELP!”
Well, luckily (or unluckily), I have this problem, too. So I know how I fixed it – finally. (And, believe you me, I tried dozens of things here and this was the most magical).
Finally I settled on washing with apple cider vinegar and then using a gentle sugar scrub afterward. It took two or three times of doing this to see any difference, but once I saw improvement it went away almost immediately.
Here’s how to have NO MORE CHICKEN SKIN ARMS!

• In the shower, wash your upper arms with apple cider vinegar (you can dilute it or just use a teaspoon on a wet washcloth).
• Rinse your arms with water.
• Finish with a very gentle sugar scrub using 1/2 c. sugar with 1/2 c. coconut oil or grapeseed oil mixed in (which you can put in a jar and leave in your bathroom at all times if desired).
• After massaging gently for a minute or two, rinse this off and enjoy your arms – finally!

http://www.crunchybetty.com/the-whole-crunch

[Lori French]

Exfoliation and moisturizing is usually the best bet. That's exactly what the expensive creams and lotions do and not with great results. Mine has recently disappeared and I didn't know it until you brought this up. I've been gluten free for a month and my thyroid is now in a tight range. Not sure if either of those things have anything to do with it. Both daughters have it, it is very much genetic, but why is the question....
The apple cider and scrub sounds good for all winter skin!

[gillmings]

I wonder what the ACV does.

I have tried every sugar and salt scrub imagineable. I don't mind that they didn't work, because I hate using them -- they're so messy and you have to be careful not to slip in the shower with the oil and all.

I guess at 45 I just don't care anymore. But I can imagine how it might be difficult for a teenager.

[Anna Louise]

I read about those little unsightly bumps on the back of the arms being an indication of a need for omega-3 fats, but exfoliation helps them go away fast. So pump some good fats into the diet AND give him some exfoliation. A sugar scrub would be perfect.

[Comma]

It's related to dry skin in general, no? skin brushing, shower, lotion with urea. I have stopped caring about mine either, but I have much more significant cosmetic problems. :P

[gillmings]

It's not related to dry skin at all. I've never had dry skin except in really super dry cold months. It's dead skin cells accumulating in the hair follicles.

I get the perfect amount of omega 3's for my body, but maybe it would make a difference for someone else. If your body doesn't properly convert beta-carotene to Vit A, then it just doesn't. I guess if anything, I'm a testament to nutrition and hormones not having anything to do with it, because my hormones are perfectly in balance and my nutrition is perfect for my body (you really don't want me to take the time to explain how I know this, but I do! LOL). It wasn't always, but it has been for the past year. No difference in my KP at all.

In theory, I can see how exfoliation SHOULD help, it's just never made much difference for me. Some exfoliants are more problem than they're worth, because they can actually damage skin. They don't make the KP worse, per se, but the overall effect is worse.

I don't say any of this to discourage anyone from trying anything, just don't knock yourself out trying to conquer it or beat yourself up when something doesn't help. Some things just "are". Fortunately, it's just visually irritating, at worst.

The biggest thing you can control is whether or not you pick it, which makes the appearance worse. Some people have found that getting the right minerals helps them control the urge to pick. That was the case for a friend of mine. When she got the nutrients her body needed, she didn't feel driven to pick as an anxiety-release anymore.

Good luck, Tina!

[Tina71]

Thank you so much for all your posts and helpful info!! I am going to tell him about the things you all mentioned. Thanks so much! Hard to deal with this on your arms as a teen!!

[norabrown]

I've had it my whole life. My mom told me it was normal. LOL But recently I asked my doctor about it and he said to use Selum Blue dandruff shampoo on it. I'm supposed to rub it into my arms when I first get into the shower and leave it on for several minutes. So I do that while I wash everything else. Then I rinse it off. He said that on occasion to rub it in and leave it for about 20 minutes and then shower. I've been doing this for the past several months and for the first time in my life....I don't have it.