I am trying this method as we speak. I read the thread and headed upstairs and did the deed. The alcohols sure hurts....and now my arms (KP is only on my arms) are burning. I am desperate....this "disease" has gotten horrible since my pregnancies. I have tried everything.....and nothing seems to work....this "cure" makes sense to me so I thought I'd give it a try. We'll see and I'll keep you posted...


Jennifer

I just found this thread yesterday, as i've been browsing the forums for a little while. i've had KP since i could remember, and i just thought it was how my legs were. my legs are horrible looking, and i have a bit on the backside of my forearm between my elbow & wrist (on both arms) I finally located a Pumice stone at Sally Beauty Supply (and bought a few!)

Today I tried the pumice method on 1 leg & 1 arm to compare. i feel raw & sore on the leg & arm, much like road rash! I was too chicken to use alcohol, so i grabbed witch hazel as well (it still burned like heck!) I am African American and have tons of bumps, and while most are still there, i can tell that some are gone, and my skin texture isnt as rough. I didnt realize how bad it was until i looked at the arm i didnt do, it's very dry & rough. the side i pumiced is already smooth, though I still have many brown dots of flatter bumps.

I'm going to use the camera to document the process.

How many days should I wait before re-pumicing my leg & arm?

I think that the pumicer says that you should wait until all scabs have fallen off (about one week) and just touch up the areas that still need efoliating. That's what I am going to do. My arms hurt!!! My husband thinks I am crazy for doing this to my arms...but if it works...then it was worth it. My arms look like a skinned knee....good luck and YES...the alcohol BURNS! I wish I had the witch hazel....


Jennifer

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hey pumicer, just wanted to say this is my first time to this site and who would have known that I wasn't the only one who has scrubbed until scabbed, that was the funniest thing I've ever read!!! think I'll have to try the alcohol!! Thanks

To the Pumicer et all,
I recently found out I had KP and before finding this particular discussion was having a really hard time with it. What a relief to know I'm not alone!

I've been anal retentive about my skin my entire life, obsessively taking care of it, spending a fortune on expensive products, using anti wrinkle cream under my eyes when I was 22, stopped tanning to prevent wrinkles and skin cancer etc. etc. Since the problems with KP started to develop I've been picking and rubbing and look like a total mess. Perhaps I've just been going about it the wrong way, I think I'll try this method and see how it goes. I have a few questions since my KP seems to be similar to those in this group:

Do you think KP is something that develops as we age or it something we've always had that just develops over time? I grew up on the East coast in a fairly humid enviorment but have been living in Colorado for the past 6 years. I've always had mild KP on the backs of my arms but only recently it's developed all over my chest, legs, face and neck.

Using the pumice stone on works for my body but I have a problem with the plugs in my scalp. I've tried scrubbing in the shower with a comb, brush, my fingers, nothing works. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

Hello everyone,

I'm Aish from Portsmouth, UK. I just came across this forum from a google search. Actually I was browsing LUSH website. I read something the other day from the reviews LUSH customers left on the website about one of their products managing to get rid of red bumps on upper arms. I thought I should read more about that, so I did today.

I couldn't remember whether I read it in the USA Lush website, or UK Lush website. So I went to both. Under the LUSH massage bars section, I found it. And the person that left the review called the red bumps Keratosis Pilaris something. I did a search on google and voila, here I am.

The Pumicer's thread caught my attention. I must say, I'm a scaredy cat, but sometimes, I can be really brave. SO I will try the method that The Pumicer used, but probably with Witch Hazel as I live in UK and it's easier to get Witch Hazel than peroxide etc. I'm a teetotal so no alcohol in the house, unless they're for the First Aid kit box.

I think I will try the homemade remedy with the nescafe & sea salt first though. Cooking is my hobby so my kitchen has those ingredients handy.

By the way, I forgot to say, I never knew I had KP, until today! Reading through the threads and looking at the photos made me realise that I've got KP. I didn't have it when I was in Malaysia. But when I came to UK 9 years ago, I started having these red bumps on my forearms. At first I thought they were acne/pimples, as I was 17/18 then, but I'm almost 27 now and the bumps never went away.

I would like to thank everyone for their very informative posts. I will keep coming back to check for updates & let you know my progress as well. Will let my hubby know when he gets back from work! He'd be surprised to know that it's a common condition and not just me!

Til then, take care everyone. Byeeeee.

xAishx

when your kp went away, does that also go for the red dots?

It's been a couple of weeks since I did "The Pumicer"--Where I scrubbed is still smooth. Completely. And, there's been an additional benefit--

When a new bump does pop up, it isn't "scaly" it is soft and hardly noticible and goes away all on its own. Amazing.

I did not do the stone again. I have only been using a loofah and moisturizer. Every night. I'm now fairly tan and although there is a slight discoloration of my upper arms-a little darker-it doesn't faze me a bit. I'd rather have a little discoloration than ugly red bumps. I think its because I have scarred up my arms a bit from past picking. And THAT urge is completely gone.

I went out and bought three new sleeveless tops-and loving them!

My KP wasn't really severe, I don't think. And I only get it on my upper arms. So, good luck to anyone else BRAVE enough to try it. But you have to keep up the EXFOLIATION in some way after you've healed up.

It worked for me. I hope someone else finds it works for them too.

I'll try to get a picture up for everyone to see...as soon as I can.

K

P.S. Thanks again Pumicer-

WOW! I was diagnosed with Keratosis pilaris oficially when I was like 13 by a dermatologist. I was like Kera-what?...anyway! I was given an RX for Retin-A but had an allergic reaction. I was also told that tanning and exfoliating help KP. (you may have noticed that your KP isn't as bad in the summer- its those blessed rays).

I have other family members (3 sibs and a parent) who also have the nasty little bumps.

I had no idea so many people have this problem! I have always been SO self concious. Especially on Prom and at my wedding. It looks HORRIBLE in pictures. I am glad I have a husband who could look past the fact that my skin looks like **** (i've got it bad) and looks the other way when I'm furiously applying base to my arms and legs in the summer.

I've tried all sorts of home made potions and concoctions. I just started "the Pumicer's" remedy today. I've done something similar in the past, but wasn't a vigilent with the alcohol and the follow-up treatments. I am, however, not using alcohol, but hydrogen peroxide. Why the variable? Hydrogen peroxide destroys keratin. Keratin buildup, as some of you know, causes KP! hmmmmm... I'll keep you posted.

I'm so glad I found this site. I'm already starting to feel better about my KP!!!

Julia (lilbumpyarms)

my upper arms are tons smoother now. there are still bumps, but no where near as bad. i scrub with the loofah every day in the shower now...red dots are there of course, but the texture of the skin has really improved. overall im pleased.

but i didnt try this on my forearms where I am most insecure about my KP...i dont have bumps on my forearms but I have the red/brown dots...

Hi everyone. I am going to try this method, tomorrow. Not quite tonight -- as it's 12:45 AM here on the west coast. I only have the KP on the upside of my upper arms, it's such a small space really but very problematic. In fact I would do anything to get rid of this. I'm so used to seeing the bumps on my arms and picking at them (I dont have the redness -- just individual, keratin-filled bumps that never go away) I am excited about this process. I recently got my teeth whitened by a laser and I thought THAT was one of the most painful things: sharp, shooting pains through your teeth. Ouch. So, wonder who this will compare.

Anyway, I too will report my progress. Thank you Pumicer for all your contributions thus far.

After having tried the "pumicing until I bleed" method and having mixed results, I have continued to use the pumice sponge gently in a back and forth motion under the water in the shower. I immediately use BBW Eucalyptus lotion or Cetaphil moisturizer after wards and I'll be damned, it is really making a difference. I can honestly say that this is the first time that I have ever noticed ANY improvement in both smoothness and reduced redness at the same time. This, combined with my weekly tan has made my skin almost presentable. The KP is still there and still visible but I can't beleive how smooth my skin is. The redness is still and issue but i'd say it's 50% better than it was.

I have been pumice salt stoning my arms for a month now in my shower but only once a week, It hurts at first but it feels good to me! I get out and put neutrogena alpha hydroxy anti acne lotion on them and they burn a little but then it feels smooth and clean, then i put sally hansen leg spray and let dry.... no one asks me any more what is wrong with my arms... and now that my hormones ( and weight) are changing back from pregnancy i am feeling a little better about my self... I am soo glad that someone else shared there experience about scrubbing hard enough to make scabs... that is the only thing i found that worked too... hopefully everyone doesnt think they are supposed to rip there skin off but it takes a couple of times doing it if your skin is really bad and you have to wait in between treatments for healing... this is a great breakthrough!!