Keratosis pilaris - red blotchy skin on top of arms

littledumplings
littledumplings Posts: 223 Member
edited October 15 in Health and Weight Loss
I've got red pimply/blotchy skin on the top of my arms, looks a bit like a rash...always been there for as long as I remember. Anyway, finally found out it was there for a reason, and not just bad circulation and because I'm overweight. It's called Keratosis pilaris, an over production of keratin which blocks the pores and makes red spots

My question is...has anyone suffered from this and found it has improved/not improved with weightloss/fitness? I wouldn't like to think that when I'm all toned and sexy again (I wish!) it's still going to be there

All the remedies seem to be aimed at exfoilation and moisturisation...none mention being able to stop over production of keratin.

Does anyone know anything about this? thanks x

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris
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Replies

  • littledumplings
    littledumplings Posts: 223 Member
    Here's a link to it with a pic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris
  • aSunflower
    aSunflower Posts: 73 Member
    My kids have seen doctors for it and they have some special lotion. Good news for you- if that is you in the picture- it does tend to go away or at least lesson in your 30's.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    Nope. Sorry. I still have it.
  • littledumplings
    littledumplings Posts: 223 Member
    No, thats a google photo! but mine's very similar. As for 30's....I'm 43 lol! x
  • abatonfan
    abatonfan Posts: 1,120 Member
    I and my mom also have it. I'm guessing that it is genetic, though I have found that it usually appears a bit worse when my skin is really dry. Body lotion seems to help it a bit.
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    I find exfoliating helps, try a Salux washcloth. I cannot recommend that product enough.
  • ajrulo
    ajrulo Posts: 50
    I have this too! Hasn't gotten better with just weight loss. I have had some luck with alpha hydroxy lotions, salt scrubs, etc.
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    I and my mom also have it. I'm guessing that it is genetic, though I have found that it usually appears a bit worse when my skin is really dry. Body lotion seems to help it a bit.

    It is. My sisters both had it (one of them had it go away as an adult, me and the other one still have it). One of my daughters have it too. I actually feel bad about it!
  • nancylynn333
    nancylynn333 Posts: 11
    I have it too. Aveeno works wonders.
  • daffodilsoup
    daffodilsoup Posts: 1,972 Member
    I am 50 pounds lighter than I was in high school, and I still have the bumps. It definitely looks much better on thinner arms, but otherwise I've had no success with creams, lotions and all that stuff. I find that once I'm tan in the summertime and it isn't as noticeable, but otherwise I'm still stuck with it.
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I have KP on my upper arms and BADLY on my legs. There is no cure and you can only "keep the symptoms in check".

    Dermatologists recommend exfoliating scrub (such as dermadoctor) in conjunction with twice daily use of lotions/creams containing AHA and BHA. (amlactin lotion or dermadoctor KP duty lotion)

    Mine get better but will never fully go away. :(
  • littledumplings
    littledumplings Posts: 223 Member
    Thanks everyone...looks like I'm stuck with it then :( and I hope my daughter doesn't get it too..you'd think there would be a way to stop the over-production of keratin rather than just treat the bumps by scrubbing. I really thought it was a 'fat thing' lol x
  • buildingdreams
    buildingdreams Posts: 173 Member
    I have it too. Dad told me it was Irish Skin. I'm 43 and it hasn't gotten better. everyone always thinks my upper arms are sunburned. Wish there was a way to reverse it!
  • giantsfaninvt
    giantsfaninvt Posts: 26 Member
    Try AmLactin lotion twice a day. My doctor recommended it and it works really well.
  • Keladry
    Keladry Posts: 58 Member
    Oh I have this too. It's not so noticeable in summer though and in winter I tend to cover up anyway so it doesn't bother me too much. I think it's quite common actually.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    It may be an EFA (Essential Fatty Acid) deficiency or Vitamin A (retinol) deficiency.

    This post from Hunt, Gather, Love:
    http://huntgatherlove.com/content/curing-keratosis-pilaris-part-ii
  • shaeni1221
    shaeni1221 Posts: 36
    I also have it. I used to be very self conscious about it when I was younger, (I'm 41) but I don't really care so much anymore. It is better now though, but still there and people always ask if I am sunburnt. It looks a little better in the summer when I have a little color, I don't really tan, but I'll get some color. I would love to have gorgeous smooth skin, but have come to terms with the fact that I never will. Ihave it on my legs also.

    What breaks my heart is that my 15 year old daughter has it too, and she hates it
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
    I also have it. I used to be very self conscious about it when I was younger, (I'm 41) but I don't really care so much anymore. It is better now though, but still there and people always ask if I am sunburnt. It looks a little better in the summer when I have a little color, I don't really tan, but I'll get some color. I would love to have gorgeous smooth skin, but have come to terms with the fact that I never will. Ihave it on my legs also.

    What breaks my heart is that my 15 year old daughter has it too, and she hates it

    See my post above.
  • bewitched2
    bewitched2 Posts: 10
    Mine went away completely when I was vacationing in Asia for 1 month, but as soon as I returned back to North America, it came back within 2 weeks. I've asked several dermatologists why and they all said that it was the humidity there that did the trick. They also said that it is genetic and is very common. One dermatologist said something like 50% of people have it (although I'm not too sure if those figures are true). I'm going to give AmLactin a try.
  • chuckles217
    chuckles217 Posts: 123 Member
    I've had it all my life. Only time it went away is in high school when I was taking Accutane for Acne, but I quickly got off that nasty drug and since just dealt with it.

    I recently began experiencing plaque psoriasis and was given a topical steroid betamethasone for that. I mentioned the KP to the doc at the time and he mentioned to give it a shot. I've been applying once a day for the past week and its lightened up a lot. If it keeps up, it may be gone after a few weeks.
  • BarbWhite09
    BarbWhite09 Posts: 1,128 Member
    Hmm, I've never heard of it happening because of being overweight...I'm not overweight & I have it too & a lot of people I know have it too, who are smaller than me. I read before that like 60-70% of people have it. Make sure to put lotion on it each day, moisturizing it helps. I used to be super embarrassed by it but now I'm just like ehhh, whatever.
  • jordanlell
    jordanlell Posts: 340 Member
    I have it, too, and I hate it! I'm actually more self conscious about it now than I was before I lost the weight... maybe being insecure about my weight distracted me or something. I hate to think that I would have to exfoliate everyday and apply creams twice everyday to maybe see improvement. Ugh. I'm so jealous of the girls that get to show off their smooth, sexy skin :grumble:
  • fitnoflab
    fitnoflab Posts: 90 Member
    I used to have it on my thighs. I started soaking in Colloidal oatmeal and washing with a rougher than standard wash cloth and using pure coconut oil afterwards. After two weeks the bumps were gone. Clear for over three years now.
    Edit: When I slack on the regimen, the bumps start to come back, so it is not a cure, but something you have to continue forever. When I first started the regimen I thought I could get away with skipping steps but I only risk about two or three days of skipping soak for a quick shower but I never skip coconut oil.
  • Starla_
    Starla_ Posts: 349
    yep had that for years... gets worse when skin is dry.

    I use exfoliating and moisturising body washes, and a body puff or loofah.. A moisturising salt/sugar body scrub once a week is good too. I live in a humid climate which is great for my skin, and I've found that since exercising more and sweating lots the little blotches and pimples have reduced a lot. I've had to take some time off exercising because of being sick and actually found them getting worse again. When I drink less water they seem to get bad too. Moisturise your skin at night (if your skin is really dry then do it mornins as well), a cheap Vit E cream is all you need.

    I dont get people commenting on it so I rarely notice it or pay much attention. Caring for it doesn't take any extra out out of my day either because everything I do is part of my normal routine.
  • PaulBeach89
    PaulBeach89 Posts: 1
    I have it and it is currently improving where before when the bumps were scratched they would just recover as before they now allow for the hairs to emerge, however most of the hairs are emerging on their own. I have recently been doing some quite strenuous triceps exercises so it may be recovering due to increase blood flow although it could be the oil in my diet moisturizing the skin or both or something else entirely. But it is definitely recovering predominantly towards the top.
  • Booksandbeaches
    Booksandbeaches Posts: 1,791 Member
    I have KP. When I get enough omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) it goes away completely. Completely. I take Nordic Naturals, but there are other brands out there. You can find omega 3 fatty acids from various brands. I used to do lactic lotions, but when I traveled overseas and didn't bring it, I realized my skin was smoother than ever before. I was in a country where people ate a lot of fish. So when I came back home to the US, I started supplementing with over the counter omega 3 fatty acids. My skin lost the skin colored bumps. If I slack off the EPA/DHA in omega 3 fatty acids, I get the bumps again.
  • amylg05
    amylg05 Posts: 89 Member
    I used to have it on my thighs. I started soaking in Colloidal oatmeal and washing with a rougher than standard wash cloth and using pure coconut oil afterwards. After two weeks the bumps were gone. Clear for over three years now.
    Edit: When I slack on the regimen, the bumps start to come back, so it is not a cure, but something you have to continue forever. When I first started the regimen I thought I could get away with skipping steps but I only risk about two or three days of skipping soak for a quick shower but I never skip coconut oil.

    I've had this all my life and only last week discovered that it was an actual thing after googling it! I have it on the tops of my arms pretty bad and also forearms...I read that coconut oil in the shower is the best thing! Do you put it on and rinse off? Or leave on? I'm going to try to get my hands on some! Also, where did you find the stuff?
  • lbach
    lbach Posts: 1 Member
    use coconut oil as a lotion. i've had KP for as long as i can remember. my dermatologist recently told me that other than a gentle loofah, you should not do a rough exfoliate for KP. eating enough omegas is good, staying properly hydrated is good. but the coconut oil has lauric acid in it naturally and that breaks down the dead skin cells and they MCT fat hydrates the skin. I've been using coconut oil as moisturizer for a couple of months and my KP is basically gone.
  • rebeccawesterfield5
    rebeccawesterfield5 Posts: 132 Member
    I used to have it on my thighs. I started soaking in Colloidal oatmeal and washing with a rougher than standard wash cloth and using pure coconut oil afterwards. After two weeks the bumps were gone. Clear for over three years now.
    Edit: When I slack on the regimen, the bumps start to come back, so it is not a cure, but something you have to continue forever. When I first started the regimen I thought I could get away with skipping steps but I only risk about two or three days of skipping soak for a quick shower but I never skip coconut oil.

    I also have begun using coconut oil on mine about 3 weeks ago and have noticed a dramatic reduction in redness and bumps. I think coconut is a miracle oil, I even use it on my face. People have begun telling me I have beautiful skin! I think it has helped my skin firm up more quickly as I lose weight. Good luck!
  • AmykinsCatfood
    AmykinsCatfood Posts: 599 Member
    Is that what that is? I don't have patches that bad, mine are usually small but they happen everywhere. Only hurt when I scratch at them. Weird.
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