I am all for people having success and trying any method they feel they can commit to, but diet restrictions are one of the hardest things to stay with. If people can do it, more power to them. I might be willing to try it, but I would first like to see some proof that it works. ( Are there photos to document it?). It is a good method conceptually, because it treats KP from the inside, but like most methods (Dermabrasion/AHA included) it is not going to be right for everyone. Not everyone has the time, ability, patience to make their own meals (I damn sure don't! I can't make a thing) and it sounds like it could be very inconvenient depending on what foods you test badly for. Cutting out wheat and dairy... That is a lot and I don't know if I could do it. Even Baron admitted it is a real challenge and has required total commitment and "priority" in life.
I think topical treatment is easier in the long run, as it requires no diet restrictions or anything. You have to train yourself to put a lotion on once a day, and use sunblock, that's it. Compared to changing the way you eat and maintaining that constantly for a lifetime, I would say it's no contest. But it seems like between all of the treatment methods that have been popularized lately, everybody should be able to find something that works for them, and that's the goal, not to get everyone doing the same thing.


EDIT: Ehh.. I am on Page 14 and it turns out Baron has been doing dermabrasion during most of this dietary therapy, and even she says that this directly caused her bumps to disappear. This is not encouraging. Obviously if you do dermabrasion, you will treat your KP. She also says she has lost a lot of weight, which can reduce KP also. I will follow the thread and see what results people get.

y does losing weight have an effect on kp? b/c it does on mine...mmm.. just wondering...

Hi - funny I was just googling the words 'the causes of keratosis pilairs' and this site came up that says weight is a factor in KP but unfortunately it doesn't explain why

http://skin.health.ivillage.com/acne...ispilaris2.cfm

For those who are interested this is what is says:

"According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 40 percent of the population has keratosis pilaris. It can affect people of any age, but it is most common in children and found more often in girls. Because dry skin exacerbates the condition, it is usually worse during the winter and often clears up during the summer when humidity reduces the severity of dry skin. However, some patients flare-up with the summer heat. Women with the condition may also develop an increase in the severity of their symptoms during pregnancy or following childbirth.

Keratosis pilaris is a benign (harmless) condition. However, in some cases, patients may be distressed by the appearance of the skin.


The cause of keratosis pilaris is unknown, but it seems to be hereditary. It is also more common in overweight individuals and patients with atopic dermatitis, the type of eczema (chronic, itchy inflammation of the upper layers of the skin) caused by allergies."

I must admit I wonder how much diet change has affected KP compared to the weight loss alone affecting KP.

I guess the only way to find out is to do a controlled experiment with two groups of people with KP. The first lot would go on a weight reducing diet but not exclude any particular foods. The second lot could do a food senstivity test and remove these foods but still maintain their current weight.

I think I hear you. I _can_ do dietary changes myself but I run into some issues with availability of some kinds of food these days and that I feed a family, not just me so I have to roll with it and not be dogmatic. Plus, I just have the experience that tells me I have to work on this wholistically, that is to say, my gestalt. A bit of work on what I eat and nutrition (omegas from Oil swishing are rocking my world! dig that moist skin.), a bit of work on topical treatment, a bit of how can I otherwise make myself happy rather than focusing on what should be a trivial (though it's not) skin condition. I must sleep now. that is another thing that helps my KP - Sleep! Regards - bunnyday.

The reason is theoretical at this point, but it could have something to do with skin temperature or hormones.

1. When you lose weight, you usually thin the fat layers under your skin, so more body heat escapes. This keeps the skin warmer, and it functions better when it is kept at an optimal temp. You may notice that your KP is the worst on body areas that are the coldest - extremeties that face the outside and have deep fat layers and less muscle - and not half as bad on non-insulated areas like hands and feet, forearms and shins.
When skin is separated from body heat by a couple inches of fat, it is subjected to whatever the external temperature is. We also see that women are more likely to have severe KP on their hips and thighs, and men seem to have it on the chest, stomach, and shoulders more often. This could be due entirely to the different ways in which the genders store fat and gain weight. But in general, KP's pattern on the body appears to follow temperature gradients, and warm skin functions better.
I'm sure most people have noticed that their KP is better when they first wake up in the morning, and then it slowly becomes red and "worsens" again. This could be because the skin is kept extra warm at night. That is the only time that KP skin stays near body temperature; the worsening as you start your day, happens as it cools and becomes inflamed again.


We know that skin tends to dry out more when it is subject to cold, like in the winter, and fat insulates body heat and could contribute to this same effect. (This is my theory, anyway.)



2. When you lose weight, your hormone levels change. You produce less estrogen (that's why your hair thins), and if you build muscle, you produce more testosterone. (I think that's the way it goes. It is something like that.) We know that fluctuating hormone levels affect the skin by producing acne (hormones affect the funtion of the sebaceous glands, so your skin produces more oil and your skin is better hydrated). This is why acne shows up in teenagers, why women often develop it at certain times of the month, and it could explain why pregnancy tends to make KP worse. (Pregnancy causes tons of hormonal changes, some that are perhaps permanent. Women also put on extra fat during pregnancy - and they often never lose it afterward, so that ties to the first reason about temperature as well.) But overall, KP will worsen anytime there is less hydration in the skin, from any cause.



It could be a combined effect, too. And of course, there could be other reasons as yet unexplored, why weight - and especially fat- affects KP. Some people have severe enough KP that these things don't affect it, but it seems to correlate often enough that it isn't just coincidence.

hmmm... okay... sounds like being skinny and kp are the way to be : )

better put my donut down.... lol

I ordered my microdermabrasion crystals...I was wondering if people receieved some sort of confirmation from them? Also how long did it take for the crystals to arrive?

where did you order them from? i had to email for like 4 days before i finally got an answer and then it took me like 2 weeks before i got mine! it took forever!!!! grr... but its so worth it! ive been doing it every day now for 3 weeks straight!!!

and so far ive got a ton of improvement! even compliments : )
the hardest part is to do it every day. so dont give up people!

and Turquoise I LOVE YOU!!!! muah!!!!!

What a drag! My orders have come through pretty timely so far..?
Awesome. Sounds like you're doing it right. I have gotten some emails from people who are not, like who are using too much crystal at first, scrubbing for WAY too long the very first day, etc. It is like AHA in how you have to start gently and build up.
Good on you for being willing to try it and do it properly! God, how do I love it when people can follow directions?? Let me count the ways.
It can take some discipline, but because it improves your skin a little bit every day, it is totally worth doing. I would highly recommend sticking with it for 6-8 weeks. The more you do, the more your KP clears (it can eliminate mild and even moderate KP - again, IF you do it right!). The only KP it could not handle on me was the red dots on the more severe areas. It is the kind of thing you want to do well the first time around though, because the newness and excitement wears off and I can imagine it would be hard to have to go through it all again if you happened to let your KP come back. It should be a one-course deal.
Ohhh Gorsh....
That's sweet, thanks.

I ordered from the site Turqoise suggest...microcrystals.com or something.

I guess I'll start e-mailing them already. I really don't want a hassle.

after 6-8 weeks can you tell you are ready for the lotion, b/c your skin stops improving and kinda stays at a steady state?

That is a good way of putting it, yes. The treatment will do a certain amount, and no more, but it's a good idea to let it get there before you move on to AHA. Like get the most out of whatever method you are using; you should notice that your results level off, usually at about 8 weeks, I would guess. That's how long it took for me, so I think you can estimate your time based on whether your case started off worse or milder than mine.

yay! i have something to look forward too!!!!! i am going to wait about another 3-5 weeks and see where I am. but will keep everyone posted!!!

p.s. thanks so much for all the information Turquise!i It really does help to let me know that I am on the right track, so I dont just give up

Does anyone know if Urea or AHA is better at treating mild KP on the upper arms? It seems I can find a lotion with one or the other, but not both. Any ideas?