Hi

I'm new to the board but not new to KP. I suffer with it on my arms, legs, buttocks and lower back. I've heard all the comments 'what's that?', 'are you cold?', 'can't you get rid of it?', etc etc. And I've told all the lies, "I'm freezing aren't you?'

I've recently moved to the US and with my husbands encouragement have availed myself of the wonderful healthcare system you have here (admittedly only accessible to those who pay).

I had previously been told that my doctor could do nothing besides 'changing my parents'. A somewhat clumsy attempt at explaining the hereditary link. I have tried various emollients to little or no effect. Exfoliating until my skin bruised purple was my preferred method as a teen. Along with lashings of moisturizer s****ed off, along with my bumps, using a large sharp kitchen knife. Sounds awful, I know, but as fellow sufferers I am sure you can relate and tell your own similar stories.

My dermatologist here just smiled and prescribed Carmol 40. He said that I would 'really like this'. I started today and it left an ashy film over my skin, which when rubbed seemed to bring lots of dead skin off with it. So, here's hoping this will work.

I also suffer with hypothyroidism (underactive) as a result of a subtotal thyroidectomy several years ago to treat symptoms of Graves disease. I also have a swelling above my eye that has persisted for two years with varying levels of severity but overall getting worse. It has been diagnosed as excema.

Well, enough about me and onto my question. Would laser hair removal have any effect? My thinking is based on the idea that if the hair were lasered away then it wouldn't be able to cause the problem bump. No hair, no bumps.

Simplistic I know, but desperate I am. I would like my husband to be able to stroke my legs without my cringing at his touch.

I think it may help, but I'm not sure how much. Now note this is an opinion by someone non medical. I've had laser treatment, but not in the areas affected by my KP

You'll always have hair follicles and hair, I think. Even on someone with really dark hair like me, after laser treatment I have very fine pale hairs left that the laser won't touch, and you don't notice. But if they do kill off the majority of the hair follicles then I assume it has to help the problem.