Hey guys, I really need some help. Now that's Spring here. I can no longer wear long sleeve clothing since it's too hot. What bothers me most about KP is the redness.

I was wondering if any of you guys have ever found anything that lessens the redness? The red dots are absolutely horrible. I just need some improvement. Anything beside red would be nice. I'm willing to try anything.

Thanks guys.

I've been using a pumice sponge and then scrubbing with St. Ives medicated apricot scrub in the shower. I put on bikini zone and it takes that inflammation away. Then I put on Vaseline brand Firming and Radiance lotion all over. It is the only OTC lotion that I have found that contains urea. Urea is what makes your skin shed keratin. My red bumps are turning brown and the little pimply ones have scabbed over and no more have formed. You can still see the dots. But it's fading. Also I've been munching on lots of carrots. Good Luck! I tried bikini zone because I knew it had something to do with calming your hair follicles.

What the member below replied sounds like a pretty decent regimin. However, I don't know about the pumic stone part, that sounds pretty harsh for anything other than your feet or the toilet bowl. Anyway, check this site out and read about the product and WHY it works, then proceed to read the people's reviews below. It sounds like this one will work for all! And not too expensive for the kit either .....

http://skincarerx.com/shopping/review_box.html?pid=383

It is'nt a pumice stone but a pumice sponge. I read about it on here. Lots of people who used it claim to be kp free. It is still hard but not solid like the stone. You rub it GENTLY in tiny circles with only water then I scrub (with fingers) the St. Ives medicated scrub. The active ingredient is 2% salicyic acid. I can feel a sting like I did'nt with the loofah. I think the bikini zone has alot to do with it. That with the lotion cost around 16 bucks. A little cheaper than the kit. By the way, how do you clean your toilet with a pumice stone? It's that dirty? Ha! Ha! JK.

I agree with Zimmerman. The thought of using a pumice does sound extremely painful. Over-exfoliation can cause unwanted irritation and stress on the skins delicate surface which can produce certain inflamations, or even acne. I generally just use simple exfoliation gloves in the shower that I buy for $3/pair at the local Walgreens. This with a liquid soap like dove which contains some amount of moisturizer seems to do a decent job. I never feel any left over residue from these types of soap, especially since I'm exfoliating.

As for over the counter lotions containing urea, there are a few brands to choose from. DermaDoctor.com has a lotion containing concentrated amounts of both glycolic acid and urea called KP Duty. It is somewhat exspensive as it is priced at $36 for a 4 oz. tube, and that really doesn't last that long. This specific product, added with a strict regimen of daily exfoliation cleared up my cousins KP. I've used it and it has decreased my KP significantly, but my strict budget can't always afford it so I can't really say it's my number one choice.

I've found many decent over the counter lotions containing urea at Whole Foods including the one I'm using now. Under the recommendations of a few people, I've been using ShiKai Dry Skin Therapy (priced at $13.69 for 8 oz.) which has done a great job as well. I've experienced a decrease in redness the first day I used it, and a noticeably more even skin within the first week. Mostly, my KP looks like a light dusting of light colored freckles, usually not very noticeable, and I'm a Chinese student in New Orleans, which means I have very fair colored skin during the school year. This particular lotion is used to target eczema as well, so for those who suffer from both eczema and KP, this may be an affordable option. I don't have eczema so I wouldn't really know.

I've been waiting excitedly to share my regimen on here because I think it could help others.

1) Shower using shower gel with salicylic acid
2) Scrub with pumice or loofah in shower
3) Apply lotion with lactic acid like dermalac (more effective than LacHydrin)
in the AM
4) Apply Retin A if you have time during the day
5) At bedtime, apply titania peeling cream. This is a product that is made for smoothing the skin on feet. It has little pieces of walnut and is very emollient. It's a brilliant part of our battle against the bumps.
6) Lastly, I also bought a very expensive prescription bleach solution that includes Tazorac and a skin bleach to both smooth the pores and remove the brown dots. This stuff is $70 for a tiny vial but I have health insurance.

The Results? My skin is very smooth and the brown spots on the backs of my legs are progressively going away (smoothness but still discoloration on my arms). This is a "huge" difference for me. My butt feels great. If you take nothing else away from my post, take this: Titania Peeling Creme. And take this: be aggressive. This condition is stubborn and bothersome. Don't let it win and steal your self-confidence.

Hi, I'm new here. I stumbled across this website after doing a little google research. anyway i THINK i have this kp thing, and it's just horrible for me. I cant even wear skirts or shorts cause you can see these dots on my legs, even right after i shave.

so my question is regarding the regime you guys have. Is it easy to get used to doing SO MANY things. I mean it's a lot that has to be done.

I'd appreciate any tips. thank you

My KP is pretty horrible really but I refuse to go outside in trousers in the blistering heat so i just throw a pair of shorts on and be done with it, the same goes for short sleeves. The way I see it, I don't care what strangers think of it and my friends and family know I have it (they can't have missed it really) so there's no point in hiding it.

Coupled with Acne which I have, my skin looks pretty bad but I refuse to let myself get upset over it, people out there have terrible medical problems and they cope with them, whats a little benign skin condition compared to that!

Sorry to get so preachy as a new user but it's something I feel pretty strongly about.

Zelda, i think it depends on how badly you want the condition gone. It sounds like you really hate it so I recon you'd cope with a complex routine.

I'm on the other side, mine doesn't bother me as much as most people so I'd rather get more sleep than get up early in the morning to treat my skin. it wuold take a lot of time to do all that stuff but you would probably feel it's worth it in the end - Just think of the end result if you start getting hacked off with the routine.

You're a smart person. I'm new too! I recently posted about all of the major side effects of these different acids, hormonal creams and such. Especially about the switching too soon. Of course I received no replys. I don't like this and I'm trying to take care of this but it can be alot.

I've not tried all these acids creams etc because of the side effects, I've even stopped using Eucerin due to skin being sensitive in the sun. I think I'd rather live with it than damage my skin. I'm using Cod liver Oil and E45, I'm not prepared to do much more than that,

Once you get an established routine down it takes very little time. i think mine total for the whole day is 40 minutes- and that's including what I do in the shower. So like 5 minutes in the morning. 30 minutes in the shower, 5 minutes at night, and then little 2-3 minute "spot" treatments of lotion during the day. The first 2 days were the longest for me. Now I'm pretty good

Thanks a lot for you advice. Can you please tell me more about bikini zone? Is it a cream or something? If I can get rid of the inflammation I will be so happy. I knew that urea smooths the bumps, never knew it makes you shred keratin. Thanks again!

Where do I begin? I have always had the red bumps on my upper arms, since the birth of my 5 month old son it has spread to my lower arms. It is an aweful sight to look at. People at my work are asking me what happen to your arms I went to the doctors yesterday and he gave me the bad news that I have KP. He has prescribed me some cream to start using. What else can I do? From what I hear it is all trial and error...and sometimes nothing at all works. I was planning on purchasing a pumice sponge and using that along with the cream and trying the moisturizer after baths. Does anyone have any other suggestions or comments. Thank you.