Keratosis Pilaris getting worse

[Melissanmarley67]

Hi, I've always suffered from Keratosis Pilaris on the tops of my arms and thighs which hasn't particularly bothered me much, but now aged 26, it's suddenly gotten much worse. My entire legs are covered in ugly red spots which have now spread to the backs of my thighs and even my bottom! Rather embarrassing. What's odd is my skin isn't that rough or as bumpy as it was before but the spots appear more red/purple and aggressive. My doctor wasn't sure I even had kp at first because my skin is actually quite soft. They told me that absolutely nothing will help, which has gotten me really down, especially as it continues to get worse. Previously I found that getting a tan during the summer months had helped improve it but even that hasn't helped for the past couple of years. Has anyone else experienced kp suddenly getting much worse? Can anyone recommend anything? I've tried using a gentle body scrub, coconut oil, a moisturiser with 10% urea, taking vitamin E and cod liver oil supplements, and alas- just leaving it be. And still it gets worse!

Edit: I've added a photo of my thigh which is especially bad, just above the knee.

[lovesradio]

I am vexed I cannot offer any advice as I know nothing about the condition but just want to say I do hope someone in this lovely forum can offer you some solutions.

[Melissanmarley67 in reply to lovesradio]

Thank you very much.

[amyshowcase]

Hi Melissa, I've not suffered myself so this is more a suggestion than anything but some of my customers have tried Ameliorate products (developed specifically to treat Kp) and been delighted by the results. I have posted a link so that you can see the range available. The bath powder and the lotion are the most popular, but the shower wash and body polish are nice too. They are completely paraben and animal cruelty free, which is a nice bonus, with lots of skin softening ingredients. Hope you find this helpful and that you do manage to find something that works for you.

myshowcase.com/shop.do?tag=...

[Melissanmarley67 in reply to amyshowcase]

Thank you so much, I will look in to trying those products, they sound great!

[Hollyskuburs]

Hi I'm 22 and had a baby 7months ago now, I have found that suddenly I have a lot more and aggressive bumps on the backs of my thighs where I never had it before. I have always had this on my arms which I have hated but now it's on my thighs it's so bad it's almost like acne, I think it's starting to go onto my bum too and I exfoliateand moisturise everyday so it's quite difficult to say why this has happened other than hormones I guess. I have been reading up on treatments or as far as they go and most are very expensive! I have found a woman that had said coconut oil rubbed in in the shower or bath is good. But I'm not convinced, it does seem the cheapest option so maybe worth a try.

[TreeKritter]

I'm going through the exact same thing...since I was 10 (maybe 11 or 12) I got it REALLY bad on my arms but not so much on my legs, now all of a sudden it's all over my upper and lower thighs and shins. My arms have always had this dark purplish colour surrounding the KP and reddish when I'm hot or active, and I too would get a tan and it would go away. Like yourself it doesn't work for me anymore either...I've tried freaken everything! At 20 my skin should be as soft as ever but it's like 24/7 goosebumps. -_- mine also drys really bad during the winter season and I can pick them off sometimes, which is gross but if I'm not waking up in the night to moisturize then by morning some of the bumps dry out. I hope you get an answer so I can get one too lol.

[dmk5220]

I have had KP my whole life on my arms and legs. I have tried literally all the creams and natural treatments I could think of and have been recommended to me with zero improvement. That's when I was convinced that there are 2 different types of KP. There are the people that have more of the raised bumps, creams and oils work for those people. But I have the red softer bumps, that I too noticed were less noticeable with a tan. And I started to think that since nothing topical was working that it was caused by my diet. I tried cutting out gluten, then sugar, then meat. But I have since gone completely vegan.... guess what IT'S STARTED GOING AWAY! The redness is so much lighter! I wanted to go vegan with the thought that dairy was probably causing my KP and I truly believe that is that case. I also think that might be why new mothers may experience new or worsening KP. So try it, go dairy-free for just 2 weeks and see what happens!!

[Jp_Parqui]

Hi Melissa, I am not sure how becoming a Vegan makes KP completely clear-up; I think that when I eat better i.e. more fish, veg, fruit, drink more water...etc my skin generally clears-up. I find sometimes that some of the kp spots fill with fluid and become bigger when my diet is poor (become smaller when my diet is good).

HOWEVER, I have had kp all of my life (whole Leg s, knees, arms, back of shoulders, bottom, very bad on elbows).

I saw a Dermatologist. He told me that there's is nothing that can be done to erradicate it - yes it got me down BUT i went to him and took along a product I ordered on Amazon Called Amlactin (12%). That cream began to shrink the kp. He told me to continue using this and also prescribed Eucerin 10% (you csn get this over the country though). The Amlactin has Alpha Hydroxy Acid at 12% and this hydrates and sloughs away at the over production of kerratin in the skin (hence the kp). The Eucerin has urea that hydrates the skin further (aparently kp hates hydration but loves dryness).

The appearance improved but did not completely clear-up.

I looked for other products and found GLYTONE (AHA 17.8%). Now I think that over-the-counter bought products with AHA strength limit in this country (UK) is around 20%. Anything stronger than this has to come on prescription. So this is strong and expensive! At the time it cost £40/200ml bottle. BUT it Cleared up a lot of my kp like nothing I had seen before. AND I used the Eucerin on top of it after Bathing/showering. I then also used the Bathing kit where you have a GLYTONE shower wash lotion with 8% Acid in it. My kp really improved then.

Be careful though and stop using it if you feel it is uncomfortable when you apply it. I got a tingling sensation and thats all but if it burns you then stop.

It pretty much Cleared on front of thighs, back of arms front of shins, knees completely Clear and my bottom). However my elbows, back of shoulders are still bad.

I had to stop using GLYTONE because since brexit is looming the price shot up to £100/200ml bottle! The Bathing kit I won't even ponder on the price.

I tried Ameliorate - for me I'd say the same effect as Amlactin.

I now use G16 and the Eucerin together. It's not bad. I am pondering on getting the GLYTONE Bathing kit (when I have the money) and use it only on the elbows and back of shoulders but use the G16 elsewhere and the Eucerin all over. See what happens then.

I am also taking up cycling as I think (as with a good diet) exercise helps.

Hope this has been of some help to you.

[KingCoco]

When I was 12 I had this for only one day, lucky me lol