Hi All,

KP first surfaced on my upper arms when I was 12, and over the next 20 years it spread to my forearms, thighs, back, butt and chest. Recently, I noticed it even spreading to my calves! (The only saving grace seems to be that my face, for the longest time, was almost completely KP free, but now a little has surfaced.) Like everyone else it seems, the dermatologists, Lac-Hydrin, and Retin-A did nothing for me, and, combined with the fact that the dermatologists all said it should faded by the time you're 30, I just tried to more or less ignore I had it. But as it seems it's only going to get progressively worse, I realize I gotta do something about it... and what a relief to find this board, if not only to have hope that my KP will improve, but to know that I'm not the only one on this friggin' planet to suffer with KP. (From all the locker rooms I've been in my life, there's no way that 50% can have KP IMHO, more like 10-20%, if that.)

I just started treating my skin again, and have some questions that I couldn't find answered through any searches:

-Can exfoliating cause the KP to be worse? A year or 2 after my KP started, I vigorously scratched my left forearm (which had only a little KP) out of anger/frustration/desperation, and ever since then, my left forearm has more KP than my right. I know the pores have to be unclogged, but is there some other way to do it?

-If it is necessary, how hard do you have to scrub? (In other words, can you just gently skim the skin?) And what's the softest thing to use out of the loofahs, buff-puffs, etc.?

-I'm going to try a lot of the creams/lotions that have been talked about here. Does it matter in what order you use them? (Ie. does the Jergens have to come before the Neutrogena Acne Treatment?) And can it be counterproductive to use too many? (I already ordered the Paula's 2% and MSM pills soon)

-Is the Jergens Naturally Smooth cream the one that also says "Shave Minimizing Moisturizer"? And which Oxy is the right one to use? I saw the bottles that said 10% Benzyl... and then the pads which said they had 2% Salicylic acid.

-Where can I purchase some of the oils, such as cod liver, almond, emu, primrose and tea tree?

Sorry if I asked too many questions, but I really can't wait to try some of these treatments out!

ML

p.s. BTW, my sister had a very mild form of KP on her arms and back when she was younger, and used Clinique Clarifying Lotion no. 2 for a few months to completely get rid of it. But it didn't work for me.

sweet almond oil, shea butter, and any other oils/butters that can be put on the skin can be bought at most healthfood stores, walmart, in small amounts. here is a website where i buy some things. they have really good prices. it will be under carrier oil or base oils.

www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com
you can also get tea tree essential oil there. but to let you know, this is not an oil oil. this is very strong, does not have the feeling of an oil whatsoever as its a liquid, and you should really be careful with this. like all essential oils, if this gets in your eyes, it can burn really bad. it can be put on the skin neat, but in very small amounts.

best wishes,
molsmom