Keratosis pilaris

alwaysbrassic

Hi
I just wondered if anyone out there had any tips to reduce this.
I have tried various moisturisers but I've still got very red bumpy arms, and it's also starting to spread to the top of my back.
I understand its not curable, but I would like to improve the appearance of it. Winter is fine as I can hide it but summer fills me with dread, as I get so many comments about it.

Crocswearer

I keep mine at bay by massaging the affected areas with bicarb of soda, in the shower, twice a week, and moisturising every day with body butter.

Alton_Towers

Palmers Cocoa Butter with Alpha Hydroxy has worked wonders for my daughter. I can only find it in Boots but its currently half price http://www.boots.com/en/Palmers-Cocoa-Butter-Formula-Skin-Smoothing-Lotion-with-Alpha-Beta-Hydroxy-Shea-Butter-250ml_955327/

*zippy*

I emailed Ian Marber who writes the food dr books about mine a few years back and one of his staff advised it can be a lack of essential fatty acids in the diet so eating foods containing them can help.

alwaysbrassic

Zippy what foods would that involve? Need to overhaul my diet anyway so that could be a plan!

*zippy*

Oily fish, nuts and seeds. I Found this article about which details foods are rich in fatty acids

http://www.downtoearth.org/health/nutrition/essential-fatty-acids-plant-foods

Helen2k8

Fish oil, fish oil, fish oil, olive oil, fish oil...
It might take a little while to see improvement, you have to wait for the nice new skin to come up through the layers.
Oh - and check your shower gel etc isn't too harsh?

jenniewb

Try using Eucerin with 10% Urea lotion, available from Boots and larger supermarkets, you get a massive bottle and it lasts a while. Use it after washing on the area affected and it reduces things. Not immediatly but does decrease things- or did for me!

It is caused by the way your body processes vitamin A apparently. Not about how much or how little you have (and you should not aim to cut this vitamin out of your diet as it is essential to eat it and in pretty much all foods bar junk food!), it isn't something you can cure but it is something you can treat but because your treating it rather then curing it, you will need to be on to it pretty much forever rather then letting it deal with itself.