Hi- my skin was appearing less and less red (just using apricot scrub and skin brush) but still sand-papery, so last night in the shower, I used a pumice stone.

It got rid of the bumps 'ol right, but seems to have irritated them so much that today they are red and inflamed! I obviosuly scrubbed too hard. So my question is, how soon will this inflamation go away, and will my arm "get used" to the pumice eventually, that is, become smooth, and not get inflamed every time I use it?

Thank you!

i think a pumice sponge is good but a pumice stone! I dont think you should use something that harsh on your skin. It's made for callouses and dead skin on the feet. kp people have sensitive skin...all the more reason not to use somethin so harsh...

Yikes!! I hope you mean a pumice sponge!! I agree w/ Daisy, a pumice stone should NEVER be used on your KP!! Let it heal for at least a week before you try scrubbing with anything else! Try the pumice sponge instead, I hear its good.

Yes, I was using the stone! The irritation isn't terrible, but it is there. I will wait a week and then use a sponge- I read the e-mail that ACE posted about it, and it sounds great! I can believe it because though my arms are red now, they are much smoother than before!

Do you think the redness will subside within a week?
(when will I get off this merry-go-round of experimenting with treatments- argh!)

Be careful with the sponge too. I used a pumice sponge and my bumps became more red and inflammed. So I just stick with my sulfur soap and Jergen's lotion.

I am thinking about this sulfur soap thing because frankly, I find scrubbing annoying and time-consuming. The question, does it really work for you? By "work," I mean, does it reduce the bumod by say 75%?

An not all scrubbing is bad- I was using a brush made out of alpaca and that seemed to reduce the redness.

But about the sulfur soap- it really works?

The sulfur soap works well for me. I haven't used it for about a month and I'm noticing that my bumps are coming back. I don't use it every day, but I alternate with the apricot scrub some days, and nothing other days.

Hi Wendy- do you scrub as well?
Does the sulfur make your skin smooth or just ok?
also, how do yuo deal with the smell!!!

The smell of a new bar of sulphur soap is pretty overpowering, so I usually wash again with Cetaphil. Since I don't use the soap everyday a bar lasts for quite a while, and I've noticed that the smell goes away mostly over time.

I scrub somedays with a buff puff, other days with the gloves, and some days I just use Cetaphil with no scrubbing. I also vary my moisturizers between KP Duty, MD Forte, and Curel. A couple of nights a week I use Philosophy Soul Owner.

I've noticed that being consistent with taking MSN and fish oil supplements also really seems to help.

since scrubbing is off limits for me for now, I bought some MSM soap with sulfur- so far so good!

Hello - sorry to hear about the redness. My skin has benefited SO much from my pumice sponge (followed my Cetaphil). I only lightly "graze" the bumps on my arms in the shower. I mean, for about 3.5 seconds... in a circular motion including my forearms. It doesn't take much. And I do that while the water is running over my skin. I feel like my skin "appreciates" the help getting dry skin to slough off. It's the dead of winter and my skin has never looked better.

I'd like to add that I love Cetaphil and use it on my face as well. My arms are smooth and healthy now.

Good luck to you... just be gentle.

yes, when my skin recovers, I will try your method!

And if your skin is in the midst of a dry spell, be sure to drink enough water so that dehydration doesn't exacerbate the situation. Skin is so much more sensitive at it driest.

Good luck to you!