Hi guys,

It is really awesome to see a community sticking together and providing common support and advice for the better good. I'm going to keep a close eye on this place as you guys all know what i'm going through. I know you guys probably don't care to give advice to everyone that comes in here asking for it, but I would truely, with all my heart, appreciate it if you guys did.

Let me introduce myself -

I am currently almost 17 1/2 years old and live in California. No one in my family has KP except me, or it seems like. I am the only one in my family under 25 years old so I wouldn't know if they had it and it had just cleared up or not. Anyways, KP for me started around 12 years of age with small spots on the side of the top of my arm. Over the years, they have moved their way down from the sides of my arm to over my shoulders and halfway down my backside. In the recent months, I have noticed that my KP has been working its way down to the top of my forearms.

This was so saddening to me because I used to love wearing short sleaves and now i've been forced to wear long sleeves because it is unpleasing to look at. It is not severe as the top of my arms, but there are some large and red bumps. It's really hard to wear long sleeves, especially in the hot californian summer. I hope winter comes soon.

Anyways, I'm really planning on taking this problem on head strong, along with my overall bodyshape and health. I am slightly overweight, though with muscle. This summer is halfway through and in a month or so will be over. I will ride this summer out with long sleeves, but my goal is to be able to wear short sleeves and take my tops off with confidence.

I would truely appreciate any advice you guys can give me in terms of controling KP by what foods I eat, what vitamins I should take, what creams, medicines, and other medications you found to work. I saw in another forum that something called Salax works?

I landed myself a nice job so I will have some income to help achieve my goals. My first concern is my health and fitness. I am planning my workout regiment and will start effective next Monday. I will eat a lot more vegetables and plan to take more vitamins. I will hit the bench and do some cardio + weights in my backyard.

As far as my skin and KP are concerned, I am thinking to work on that as soon as summer is over. I have no idea what to do for this. I Have tried creams in the past but they were stupid things that the Derm gave to me because I was a little kid back then. Currently i'm trying "AmLactin XL "high potency alpha-hydroxy therapy for rough, dry skin." I am going to improve it by whatever you guys suggest for me to try because I know you guys have more experience with this. Once the redness and bumps are reduced and hopefully done away with, I'm planning on getting a good tan as soon as spring hits.

I don't think anything is ever out of reach. If a blind-deaf-mute person (Helen Keller) can learn to speak, read, write, socialize, and understand things beyond what we could ever give her credit for, A GREAT LOOKING SKIN IS WITHIN EVERYONE'S REACH.

Please help me and help yourselves. Any advice you guys can give will be held to the highest regards and will be looked into. I appreciate all of your help in advance and together I know we can succeed.

"Shoot for the moon so that you may land on the stars when you fail. "
"Men should dream of devine heights for if not, what is heaven for? "

Has anyone been successful with accupuncture for KP? If so was it many treatments?

Hi! Welcome.

I want to help you and tell you about everyhting i've read on this website...the truth is that there's no one size fits all. You've got to try different things until you find something that works for you........and if you have a mild case which you do....then regular care and treatment will be great! The key many say is consistent exfoliation and moisturizing. Don't over do the exfoliateing in the shower...get a loofah, buff puff, nylon cloth...something that really helps exfoliate but doesn't feel too harsh and irritating......if you scrub too hard or pick it tends to flare up with a vengeance. Then you can use a number of exfoliators.....sulfur soap which I buy (10% sulfur, 3% SA) from sulphursoap.com (many people say this works great for them) or st. ives apricot scrub, or a sea salt scrub that you can get from whole foods market. Then after shower moisturizing iwth amlactin, or a urea (I use a urea 40% Rx that i like) or philosophy soul owner cream that you can buy online.

These moisturizers all have either alpha hydroxy acids (amlactin), urea which is an emulsion substance used to break up the H-bonding in the collagen and promote exfoliation/peeling, or gylcolic and salysalic acids which again are met to slough off the surface level epidermis.

please eamil me if you have any questions or concerns...i'm here for you

daisy2177@aol.com

Daze

p.s. try soemthing consistently for a few weeks if not more and evaluate the results then. Don't look at it constantly or else it's harder to notice improvement. We live in a very impatient culture. Treating the skin is a slow gradual process and requires plenty of patience.