Hi Everyone,
I'm so glad we finally have this resource. Thanks to everyone who has posted advice. I have been following the message board for a while now and have gotten so much more information than a dermatologist has ever given.
I thought it was time to share a few of my own experiences. I am 30 and I have had KP almost all my life, but in the last 5 to 7 years it has really taken over. I have bumps and dots on most of my body. It's concentrated the most on my upper arms and upper legs, but it's slowly moving all over my body with the exception of my face, hands, and feet.
Unfortunatley, nothing has taken the KP away, but there are a few things that have helped. They are as follows: sulphur soap, alpha hydroxy cleansers and lotions, glycolic acid applied in the facial room at a spa, the sun, unscented detergent, oral vitamin A supplements (6 a day, 15,000 iu each), saw palmetto, and salt or sugar body scrubs.
About the A supplements, I was once prescribed a huge dose of A from a dermotologist and my skin became so red and sensitive that my bra strap made a sore on my shoulder. There are other things that I didn't have luck with either. Tazorac made my skin so itchy that neither my husband nor I got any sleep while using it. Retin A did the same thing. They also made my skin peel which is almost as unattractive as the bumps. They did help the KP some, but not enough to make up for how uncomfortable I was. Also, both treatments were also very expensive considering how much area I was treating.
There is another thing I should mention about sulpur soap. I have used the bar with fair results. This time I attempted to mix my own using the powder mentioned in Wishy Washy's message. I thought it would be a good idea to mix it with Cetaphil cleaser because it's so gentle. Wrong. One reason it's gentle is that is has no fragrance. Sulphur is obviously stinky. My husband commented that I smelled like a freshly lit match. I think I will follow Wishy Washy's advice next time and use a scented body wash.
I have an appointment with a new dermatologist in a few weeks and I am hoping for a miraculous new treatment.(I really should know better by now, but I like to be optimistic.) Maybe she can at least give me an antibiotic to calm down this most recent flare up. Has anyone had good results with Tetracyclene?
I am also very interested in laser hair removal. It really seems to make sense. Surely, it won't be long before the technology is available to zap those tiny blonde hairs. If anyone has any news about this, please update me.
Hope I was able to help a little. Let's keep the communication flowing! Thanks again to all of you!

Jesse,

I am 29 and oh my how I can relate to you. Recently I have been emabarrassed just to wear a short sleeve shirt! I recently tried a Glycolic acid based products that really sent my skin in a downward spiral. It may work for some but definately not me. Recently I have been using a Vaseline Product that has a exfoliatiant in it that seems to be really working to bring my skin back a bit. I just need to go tanning.

But I think laser hair removal is also the answer. I have been to one laser removal doctor who told me it would be a waste and the hair on my arms is too "light" but there are some new technologies for lighter hairs, I just need to find them. If anyone has info on someone on the East Coast I would love a name. My doc basically told me it would be a big waste of $$. I know my skin (I obsess over it daily!) and I am trying to find another person locally I can get a second opinion from.

Good Luck! Dovah