Hi, Im 15 and have been wondering what these bumps on my legs and upper arms were for the last year or two. I only recently got them. I think they are KP, but my no one else in my family has them. You think they are KP? And can anyone recommend anything to treat them?

KP does tend appear on the legs and upper arms - often the bumps are red/inflamed, but don't itch or really bother you at all, with the exception of how they look! If this sounds like a good description of your bumps, you probably have KP. There are a lot of ways you can help reduce KP, but unfortunately it's not curable, which is incredibly frustrating. My advice is to try a few different ways of treating it (I've included a blurb on different treatments below since the info links on this site don't seem to be working for me), since different things seem to work for different people. But try, try, try not to obsess about it. Remember, YOU notice it much more than everyone else.

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Treatment of keratosis pilaris is not necessary, and unfortunately often has disappointing results. With persistence, most people can get very satisfactory improvement. Initial treatment should be intensive moisturizing. Try a cream such as Acid mantle, Vaseline or Complex 15 after bathing, and re-apply the cream again several times daily.

If this does not help, change to a medicated cream containing urea (Curel, Carmol-20) or alpha-hydroxy acids (Aqua Glycolic, Lacticare) applied twice daily - it may be too irritating to use more often. More aggressive home treatment can be done if ones skin can tolerate it. The plugged pores can be removed by taking long, hot soaking tub baths and then rubbing the areas with a coarse washcloth, stiff brush, or 'Buf-Puf'.

Prescription medicines that may help include antibiotics (Erythromycin, Bactrim) if the spots are very red and Tazorac Cream. Tazorac, a relative of vitamin A, may cause irritation in some people.

You mentioned Vaseline. As in Petroleum Jelly? That is oily as hell - my dad uses it on his face and then wipes it off after several minutes. But before he wipes it off he looks like he fell on a vat of oil! :P Vaseline also comes in lotion form if I'm not mistaken. Do you mean that?

So when do you apply the Vaseline? After showering when the body is still moist? Also, can you list some brands that have the ingredients you mentioned (or just what you've used.)

Thanks.

BTW, PETERSON 88, I remember when I first got KP. It wasn't until a few months later when I realized it wasn't going to go away and it didn't help that no one knew what it was. No one in my family has it either. Actually I think my father may have it, I think I saw some bumps behind his arms, but I never really checked. I think he may have a much milder case as I have a severe case (back of arms, forearms, thighs, calves). In any case, although it's genetic I think sometimes it will skip a generation. Someone can correct me on that.

Just know that it's a lot more common than you think. I remember finding out that an acquientance had it and I saw her wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts and I realized how she never let it bother her. Occasionally, I'll spot someone in public who has it and they're wearing things like tank tops, tiny tees. Sometimes I want to talk to them about it but you never know how people will react. Maybe I should next time. All I'm saying is, although it's quite difficult not to be self concious about it (heck I still am), the less you pay any attention to it, the less of a problem it becomes. Most people are polite and if they ask about it, they do so in a sensitive way. It's really your attitude about it that counts.

Yeah but the reason I think it might not be is becasue I dont have thousands of little tiny red dots. I have about 20 little bumps on each arm. And on my legs there are red flat dots, but for the most part no bumps.

I just saw some pics of people who have it and I don't think I have it. I dont have those tiny red bumps. I have some bigger bumps on my arm and for the most part they are the color of my skin. I have no where near even 100 so I don't think I have it. And on my leg, I think the bumps are from shaving irrtation because it dosen't look like KP.

Peterson, for young people like yourself, I would recommend a daily bath of sea salt. Empty 250 gms of sea salt in your bath tub ( hot water and no soap). Sit there for 20 to 30 min. Then have your normal shower. and mosturize using some light body lotion. No oil please!