Hello sickofbumps,
I believe I also suffer from compulsive skin picking, I am not diagnosed however. I was going to ask are the anti-anx, and anti-dep prescribed for that? I literally cannot stop no matter how scabbed and scarred my arms have become over the last 15 years. Do you go to a psychiatrist or a dermatologist for this disorder????

I don't have much to offer as far as advice for stopping the skin picking, but I used to do it too. I think at the time I thought that if I could pick all the bumps away they'd be gone for good. I just kind of stopped because I saw it wasn't helping, but sometimes I still can't help it. I guess this isn't the same as feeling a compulsivity to do it. One of the problems I encounted though was that although I never got an infections or anything, my upper arms now have broken blood vessels where I used to pick, so even when the KP clears up a little from time to time my arms are still red. Beware!

I've been trying SO hard not to pick, im really really trying to work on it, and the results im getting have been so good that its really helping me kick the habit easier now that i can see its getting better. I used to have really big red scabs and some would become infected..etc. Now that i havnt picked in a couple days my skin already looks really good, its much smoother and the redness is down alot. All i've been doing is using aveeno ultra calming lotion, gentle exfoliation and NOT picking!! I think after reading this thread it made me aware of how much i was not helping the problem by picking and i have been wasting so much money on a problem that i am responsible for(to a certain extent).

hi all,
fortunately for me, i do not have kp, however, my 8 year old granddaughter does, and she has had it most of her life..... it just seems to be getting worse lately. my daughter took her to the doctor, and was told that it was dry skin, but i took to the internet and discovered that what she has is most likely kp.
as she is approaching puberty, i imagine that might be why it is getting worse, and if stress has anything to do with it, then the fact that we live in the new orleans area, and everyone in the entire family lost everything due to hurricane katrina, even her behavior has changed a bit. what i really want to know, is how can i best help her?
what has been found to be most useful for young skin?
she is very fair, a blonde, and she has really rosy cheeks, with the kp on her face, arms, back and bottom, with a bit on her legs.
should i use any particular masks, scubs, lotions or creams?
with all of the reading i have been doing, it seems like this is a forever thing, it just changes in the severity.
she is a wonderful child, but she is increasing becoming more and more aware that she doesn't appear "normal", it has been made worse for her, because my daughters are identical twins, and each had a daughter within two and a half weeks of each other, and her cousin is not affected by this problem.
we just want to help her to feel more "normal" and accepting of herself, for none of us ever make a big deal out of it, except when trying to find some way to help her improve her skin condition.
any and all helpful advice will be gratefully appreciated. thanks. texasdragonlady

Hi Texas Dragon Lady,

From all the reseach/reading I have done, it seems like the best thing to do is routinely exfoliate and hydrate. In the bath or shower use something (oils or superhydrating body washes) to moisturize and then scrub the skin to remove the dead skin cells. After the shower/bath use some sort of intensive smoothing/repairing/bump reducing lotion on all affected areas.

With the onset of puberty she may find acne problems as well as KP and may be tempted to use acne medicines which will ultimatly dry out the skin and make the KP worse. Acne and KP will both improve with pores that are unclogged.

Since she is fair skinned and blond try not to use medicines that will make her skin sensitive to the sun. You will probably find posts that recommend tanning. This is not a good idea as she will be more prone to skin cancer anyway.

I wish the best of luck to you and your family-cmreed

Has anyone had any experience/luck with Carmol 20? I believe Neutrogena is no longer making Skin Smoothing lotion, which worked very well for me, in conjunction with Clean & Clear Blackhead Scrub. I also have some rather significant (to me anyway) scarring from years of picking. I think I'm just about past the compulsive picking part, but every once in a while, I will get a few cystic bumps that are just begging to be popped. I would like to hear some suggestions on lightening creams or lotions to help with the scars.

Thanks!

wow! this is the best article I've ever read on KP

LauraAnn I agree it must be something inside my body causing this..so what can i do about it...take a herbal supplement to control my hormones?? (Red Clover)...

Thank you for the information. My 16 month old daughter has just been diagnosis with KP. I found this site looking for the best way to care for her. I imagine we will be talking very soon.
Chris

I have KP on my Upper and Lower Arms, Upper Legs, Stomach, and Cheeks.
It seriously drives me CRAZY!
I also have a picking problem with my arms.
A year ago I didn't realize that picking made it worse because I didn't know what it was, and so I now have an awful habbit.
I have tried that short nail/lotion thing and it is SO ANNOYING because I'm so used to picking at my skin that it bugs me when I can't. I kind of do it subconciously....
but I guess if I want better skin I'm going to have to try it....

Also, these kind of sites help me a lot more than my dermatoligist ever did.
All he did was rub my arms, tell me it was Keratosis Pilaris (which I had learned from the internet) and told me there was no cure.
It was a big disappointment because I had to wait 4 months to see him (I live in a city with only one dermatoligist).
I just think that people communicating with their problems is such a help.