Dealing with Keratosis pilaris (KP)?

Hey there,

I’ve got these weird little bumps on my upper arms reaching up to my shoulders—they’re especially noticeable on the back of my arms—and also on my thighs and shins. They look like tiny reddish spots, sometimes with a little white "head" on them. I can't say for sure about my dad, but I know my mom deals with the exact same thing. Here are some photos:

http://www.imagesforme.com/show.php/462525_1.jpg
http://www.imagesforme.com/show.php/462526_2.jpg
http://www.imagesforme.com/show.php/462527_3.jpg

So, I was hoping someone could tell me what I'm looking at here. It’s pretty annoying, and if I remember correctly, it's been following me around forever. (Not sure if it matters, but I have a pale complexion and I think I have low blood pressure).

Look, I’ve been dealing with this on my arms and legs my entire life. My parents had it back when they were young too, though it seems to have faded for them—and honestly, I was told it would just vanish once I hit 18. Well, I’m already 25 and absolutely nothing has changed 🙄. It’s a bit better in the summer, mostly because the Sun usually helps clear things up, but then winter hits and everything flares right back up. I actually went to see a dermatologist once, and they prescribed some specific gel that I was supposed to apply three times a day, but... yeah, nothing. I did hear that a cream called CeraVe is supposedly great, but you have to be really consistent with it. You can pick it up at a local pharmacy. I bought some myself, but I’ll admit I wasn't exactly diligent about applying it, so I can't speak from direct experience, but apparently, it's amazing. Give it a shot 😉

Oh, yeah, my GP actually told me it’s some kind of hair follicle inflammation...☕

Anyone else dealing with goosebumps on their skin?

silentbear92: So you're saying there isn't actually a permanent fix? Like, the second I stop using this cream, the whole thing just makes a comeback?

🙂copperrider20: Yeah, I guess we call those... suggestions?

"We’re talking about clogged pores and those stubborn little bumps—you know, the ones that usually pop up on the backs of the legs, upper arms, or hips. Unfortunately, there's this common misconception that if you just scrub your skin aggressively with an exfoliant, you can simply scrape them away. In reality, that often backfires by triggering an even stronger inflammatory response from your skin. The absolute most important rule? Avoid hot water and harsh soaps. Seriously, stay away from aggressive cleansers altogether. You really need to pay attention to the pH balance of whatever you're using to wash. A lightweight BHA lotion is a much better route because it actually works to clear out the pores. Since it's oil-soluble, it can actually penetrate deep into the blockage. Honestly, unless your skin feels incredibly parched, you might be better off not applying anything at all. Also, keep yourself covered up with clothing, and be careful at the beach—standard sunscreen can sometimes make things worse.
Heavy, greasy creams can also exacerbate the issue because they essentially suffocate the skin."

I have heard that Neutrogena body lotion is a solid choice because it manages to be moisturizing without being so heavy that it clogs everything up.

The bottom line is that you need to focus on using hydrating moisturizers and washing with a creamier, more nourishing cleanser.
And please, steer clear of hot water so you don't strip your skin of its natural moisture even further.

For some people, physical exfoliation—like a gel scrub or an exfoliating mitt—can provide relief, but there is always a risk that your skin will react poorly to the friction.
If you do decide to go that route, you absolutely must follow up with a hydrating moisturizer immediately after your shower.

Here is a recommendation for a specific cream, though I can't say for certain how effective it is... I haven't personally tested it, but this was the only thing that looked promising in my online research.

For me, it used to be an allergic reaction🤷

but it cleared up just three days after I took some Claritin... anyway, my doctor's advice was to get it checked out to see what's actually going on...

Aaron Hall54 said:silentbear92: So you're saying there isn't actually a permanent fix? Like, the second I stop using this cream, the whole thing just makes a comeback?

🙂copperrider20: Yeah, I guess we call those... suggestions?

I mean, I'm not entirely sure if we're talking about a "permanent" solution, but my esthetician swears it is. She actually showed me her own upper arms—which looked perfectly smooth, by the way (and I highly doubt she'd lie about that🙂)—and told me she just kept applying it consistently... and said it works wonders. Honestly, I've mostly just made peace with my skin at this point. It doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to, but mostly because I've become incredibly lazy about it, I guess.😬😬

I’ve dealt with this skin situation all over my body, and honestly, it’s been a lifelong struggle—it's pretty demoralizing. 😢When I was a kid, other kids would constantly point out the bumps on my legs, which wasn't exactly the highlight of my childhood. Because of it, I never feel comfortable wearing skirts or shorts during the summer. I’ve tried everything from various scrubs to different creams, but nothing seems to actually work. At this point, I'm just crossing my fingers that someone finally invents a laser treatment specifically for this, so maybe one day I can finally have smooth skin.

Laser treatment... yeah, I'm pinning my hopes on the laser too....🙂

So, I spent basically my entire night falling down a Google rabbit hole researching Keratosis pilaris—for those of you who aren't familiar with what this skin situation actually is. Apparently, there’s a whole crowd of people out there who have actually managed to clear it up using sea buckthorn products—think baths, capsules, body lotions, that kind of thing. The claim is that if you stay consistent and use them daily, those little bumps should eventually just retreat. I know Weleda makes some sea buckthorn stuff, so I might try to track some down. I'll also probably check in with some local herbalists to see about finding juice, tea, or even the actual berries. Oh, and apparently oil pulling is supposed to help too? Honestly, just do a little digging yourselves and give it a shot—what have you got to lose? Catch you all later!

I think I’ve got this crap on my upper arm and I have no clue how to get rid of it...

Should I hit up a doctor? Or just grab some products?

Let me know what worked for you guys. Thanks!

Just grab some basic exfoliating gloves from somewhere like Target or Walmart for about $3.25 and pair them with an Aphrodite coconut shampoo...
Or, if you want to go the more expensive route, just use pure coconut oil.
http://www.pilariskeratosis.com/coco...tosis-pilaris/

Sea salt scrubs mixed with oil and a heavy dose of hydrating body lotion. That’s my ritual—it’s the only way to get results, at least in my book.

Exfoliation combined with organic coconut oil from Whole Foods is the only way to go. My skin feels incredible afterward. 🙂

Hey everyone!

Reading through this thread, I felt like I had to jump in and share my experience dealing with "strawberry skin"—aka Keratosis pilaris. I’ve had it forever, but instead of clearing up in my 20s like most people, it actually got way worse for me.

Look, we all know there’s no permanent cure; you can only manage how it looks. Physically, it doesn't bother me that much, but I am seriously sick of people constantly asking, "What is that?" or "Is that some kind of disease?" Especially now in the spring when short sleeves come out and it’s super obvious on me. The Sun definitely helps during the summer, and even now, if I catch at least 20 minutes of sunlight, it calms down a bit. I haven't messed with tanning beds—I'm not a fan at all—but apparently, some people swear by them.

I’m going to lay out my struggles, what I tried, and what actually worked. I remember frantically searching for stuff like this back in my teen years, so hopefully, my experience helps someone else out. Obviously, what works for me might not work for you, but hey, give it a shot.

Where I deal with it: my whole arms (though it's lighter on the forearms), my butt, lower back, legs (it gets especially nasty after shaving), and my ribs/stomach area.

The trial and error phase: I tried basically everything. Expensive high-end brands (La Roche-Posay, CeraVe...), random medical creams I can't even remember the names of, organic stuff, basic drugstore staples (like Nivea or Dove), various oils (olive, lavender, almond), and every scrub under the sun.

Here is what actually helped and what I'm using right now:

EXFOLIATING: Even though people say don't do it, I think scrubbing away dead skin makes it so the shower oils and creams actually sink in better...
*L'occitane almond soap is killer. It lasts a long time, $8.75, I use it maybe once or twice a week; my skin gets pretty red after scrubbing because, let's be honest, I'm pretty rough on my skin, but it settles down after a shower and some lotion.

FOR SHOWERING:
*L'occitane almond oil (expensive, 250ml for $43, refills are 500ml for $64, lasts ages, smells amazing, and I can feel my skin getting softer immediately);
*ULOLA 100% natural soaps—Goat milk + almond oil + honey, or Orange + cinnamon. They're each $6.75 at Cosmos, they're gentle, smell great, light, and most importantly, they're natural.

BODY LOTION:
*L'occitane almond concentrated body milk (pricey, 200ml for $105, currently broke so I don't have it, but it's awesome and lasts a while; personally, the glass jar is annoying, I prefer tubes);
*Garnier Body Urea 5%: This stuff is perfection. No scent, deeply hydrates, and the price for 400ml is a steal at $13 in Walmart. It's my current holy grail.

MY TAKE:
After this long, exhausting battle with my skin, I realized that natural stuff is just better. Not because it's trendy, but because these products actually did the job where expensive pharma creams specifically "made for this" failed me. I've been using these specific products for over a year now, and the redness and bumps have seriously diminished. My skin isn't rough anymore, the inflamed spots are gone, and it feels soft. Just keep in mind, my case was pretty severe—it was almost everywhere.

Whatever you do, stay consistent! It took at least two or three weeks for me to see any real change with any product, sometimes longer. Also, drink your water—aim for at least 1.5L a day—and eat your fruits and veggies. I don't do supplements or any weird drops; for me, the winning combo was just healthy eating plus these natural skincare products.

My only fear is that my skin might get used to the products, but so far, so good. I was thinking about trying the L'occitane shea butter line since their hand cream is incredible, but I don't really need to right now.

Hope this helps someone! GOOD LUCK!

Everyone’s body reacts differently, and what works for one person might be a total bust for someone else, but it’s honestly worth checking if you're dealing with a food allergy. My ex used to struggle with Keratosis pilaris on his upper arms; he actually went to see a doctor because it was driving him crazy, only to be told it was just a skin issue and he should try exfoliating. That didn't help him one bit! We did some digging and found tons of stories from people who had no idea they were allergic to certain foods, so they were treating the symptom instead of the cause. Turns out, my guy was allergic to gluten. It took some adjusting to his diet, but the skin cleared right up. So many people have a gluten sensitivity without even realizing it, and this is how it shows up. If your skin is bugging you, it’s totally worth getting tested so you can actually fix the root of the problem!

Here’s my take on this. I haven't been losing sleep over it because it’s not like I look totally horrific like some people
but yeah, it can be pretty awkward. Honestly, I usually worry more about other stuff going on with my body, but turns out everything
with my KP is actually linked back to the same root cause.

I've had Keratosis pilaris for as long as I can remember, though I didn't even know what it was until a few years ago when I stumbled
onto it online.
Back when I was a kid, maybe 6 or 7, it showed up as some redness and slightly rough patches
on my cheeks. As I got older, it started popping up on my upper arms, though during the summer
the Sun would usually do its thing and clear it right up—then it moved to my butt and my shins, where I'd get this light redness without
any actual bumps, especially after shaving, and later on, the occasional "pimple" on my forearms.
My mom had a little bit of it on her upper arms too, but hers cleared up in her late
teens.

I’m 24 now and things have actually started getting worse. Over the last two or three years, it spread to my back,
and it used to itch sometimes, even though my skin was basically baby-smooth otherwise. My face cleared up out of nowhere, but
the whole thing just kept progressing, hitting my upper arms, forearms, back, and even
a little bit on my thighs. Now, even the Sun barely helps anymore.

Creams, lotions, scrubs, and all that other crap don't do squat. It’s clearly an internal issue.

I’ve been on an anti-candida diet for two and a half weeks (a strict version of LCHF; low-carb, high-fat) for health reasons, and one of the side benefits was that my KP started receding!
I wasn't even expecting it, so it was a massive surprise, and it kind of became a benchmark for me
to see how my body was healing.

Now I finally realize and feel how much a carb-heavy diet absolutely wrecks me, and
that I am definitely intolerant to gluten, which triggers all sorts of inflammation and allergies in my body, along with
this relentless cycle of weight gain that really messed with my head.

So, I dove deep into researching how allergens affect the mind and body, the link between
food and KP, and all that.
From what I can see, most people's experiences point toward gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance,
or both, or even leaky gut being the culprit. Some places even claim that overgrown Candida is
what causes the leaky gut in the first place.

As for my current KP situation:

Right now, my upper arms just have some leftover redness with the "bumps" having dried up or almost disappeared entirely—no new flares,
just skin that's nearly smooth and way less rough, with more and more patches of clear skin showing through.
The redness is also starting to fade everywhere else.

Mentally, which caught me off guard too, I feel freaking amazing, like a completely different person. After
years of weird moods like apathy or anxiety, and my palms sweating like crazy... I don't give a damn about the usual little things, I have way more energy, and I feel "sharper." I've already dropped 4 pounds, and I can finally eat basically anything
as long as it isn't carbs, or if I keep them to a bare minimum so I don't pack on the weight.

Anyway, I snapped some photos of my arms as soon as I noticed the change. I'll post again in two weeks once it's fully cleared up—hopefully. (My camera is absolute garbage, so you won't see the tiny details).

I tried mixing sea buckthorn oil with olive oil at a 1:4 ratio.

www.briskpuma90.info

Has anyone else noticed how my Keratosis pilaris completely vanishes after just a week of soaking up the Sun and hitting the beach every single day? It’s actually wild... though, of course, it always makes its grand reappearance later on.