Ehh...enlighten me...I still use neutrogens products o.o

I have a question about the Dermabrasion stage:

How many times per treatment do you apply the lotion w/ the crystals? Is it supposed to be dripping off your skin when your done or not? How will you know if you need to use more lotion or crystals? Is there a guesstimate ratio for the amount of the two (3/4 lotion, 1/4 crystals? 50/50? etc.)

Just trying to get a few things straight before I try it. Thanks!

Hiya, I'm 18yrs old and have had kp since I was very young, and as all us kp sufferers know, it's a horrible thing to have
I was thinking of trying this AHA 15 lotion, containing glycolic acid, but was wondering is there a certain way to apply, and how much to apply?
Also, if there would be any side effects such as burning of the skin, just wanted to make sure before I try, as summers coming up!
If someone could let me know I'd be grateful, thanks!!!! I wish the best of luck to everyone else trying to get rid of their damned kp We shall have clear skin one day!!

Hello,
I think you just emailed me and I just replied! If so, hello again!
When you first start dermabrasion, it's good to be more gentle with it, since you're introducing a totally new thing to your skin. It will be very surprised when those layers start coming off so quickly, especially for the first couple weeks. You could try doing it every other day at first, until you're sure you're not getting irritation.

But the actual ratio of crystals is very flexible. If you have a gentle mix and are doing one upper arm, you may have to rub it in for about two minutes. If you have a stronger mix, you may only need to do it for thirty seconds or a minute. More important than the ratio is what you actually feel on your skin. You're going for a slight pinkness, or a very slight, stinging sensation. You should feel a tingling for several seconds, but no actual pain. (If you do, you've done too much.)

You will probably have to add more lotion and more crystals as you go along. When I would do my legs, I would have to add and adjust several times on each of them. For small areas like the upper arm, 1-2 applications should be enough.

I did find over time that I preferred to use a strong ratio of crystal, entirely because it would cut the amount of time I had to rub it in. Arms are easy, but when you're doing large areas like legs, it gets tedious.

ok, I have been using the aha lotion for about a week now... with very good results. my red dots are going away. slowly but going away. (I am only using the 10% b/c i got burned slightly from the 15 that i tried in a small area) I havent been using any other lotion and was wondering if I needed to? so far I havent had any dryness. I did use lotion the first few days but felt it was working against the aha lotion so to speak. also i am tying to find a good soap that doesnt irritate my skin, so all I am using so far is the AHA lotion and getting good results. is that bad??

If I were in your place, I would have stayed with the dermabrasion longer. It's possible that you have not broken through the hardest keratin plugs yet- in which case, the AHA will not clear your more severe areas of KP, and you will have to go back to dermabrasion later.
I really need to start encouraging people not to even order the AHA until they are nearly done with dermabrasion, because it is just too tempting to use it once it's in your house.

It sounds like you have moved through the early stages of treatment too quickly. I hope it works for you and that you continue having good results. But... if you don't, at least you'll know why and will know how to avoid trouble the next time. That's win/win, I guess. And you may just get lucky and be able to clear it.
Do keep us updated.

As for the dryness, it takes a few weeks for the AHA to really start doing its thing, so it's too early to say what kind of side effects you're going to get. The 10% is milder, though, and may not give you too much trouble.

yeah, i was just wondering if I *needed* another lotion but if i dont, I am so sticking with this one b/c it is working wonders! : ) so far so good! I am still trying to find a good cleanser tho, so if anyone has any suggestions???

oh...and a lot of of my kp is gone... almost 75% of it, the bumps, and the red dots. I think the the dermabrasion had a lot to do with it, the lotion has helped a bunch, but also I have been dieting like a mad woman! i have lost 20lbs. so i think that may also have helped my kp as well as my self esteem : )

hugs to all : )
p.s. thanks for all your support Turquise!

jesus christ!

oh, just kidding! i'm expecting you to answer my personal e-mail.

thanks~

How long did it take for the crystals to come in? I haven't received an email but from PayPal saying that I paid.

Ohh and is the SkinStore not going to sell the NeoStrata AHA 15 anymore? I ordered some, but got an email saying it was backordered (probably from all of us KP people haha).

Sure Turquoise, I'll be the guinea pig to give the PHA a try then, lol, no harm I guess.

cuti0012, I think it might be the same situation here. Referring to my previous post, when I asked a local pharmacy for 15% AHA, they said Neostrata stopped the production so it's no longer shipped to Singapore. That's why she suggested the Bionic Lotion to me.

Bionic lotion??? I must have missed that post or something.

I have a pending order, too, and have gotten the Paypal notice. They aren't lightning quick. It can take a week or two (?) I think, for them to arrive.
I am uncertain of this just now. I put in an order and got the same response, but then about a week later, they refunded me on it and canceled the order. (!) Last week I got an email from someone else saying that they got the impression it was going to be discontinued. That would be a real bummer, since their price was one of the lowest around. Greatskin does sell it, but for about $25 a bottle. Grr...
But right now it's unknown exactly what is happening, I think.
Cool beans. I, too, have decided to go this route. The other day I realized that, in my life I've had clear skin, and I've been lean and in shape, but I have never tried both at the same time. Now that my KP is treated, weight loss and muscle building could have a different effect on my skin, maybe activate those darn sebaceous glands. I lack the discipline to stick to oil pulling, so I'm shopping for other options that might have the same effect...

i am seriously impressed w/the results shown on ur website, turquoise! i have had kp since i was 14 y.o. i am now 33. i have been prescribed retin-a in adolescence and never responded very well (meaning it never really cleared up). i lived in sunny hawaii when i developed kp and never had weight probs so go figure that i would have this problem. (well, it does have a big genetic component because my bro also has this...fortunately for my younger sis, she does not...LUCKY!!!)

anyway, i've also tried kp duty, amlactin, and this other lotion w/12% lactic acid...all to no avail.

my prob has recently gotten worse just THIS APRIL by spreading to my upper thigh (front/back/sides) and to a minor extent, my calves (random small bumps of red here and there). before all this, my kp was limited to just my upper arms. i would like to get in on what u have done and would like to order the crystals, but am uncertain how much i should order. i know ur website said for arms and upper thighs, 3 lbs is generally good, but should i order more, considering the length of time i've had kp (well, i guess the thigh part is VERY new, but my upper arms have plagued me since adolescence). i have tried to send u a pm, but for some reason, i don't have privileges...what's that all about? is it because i'm a new member? hmmm... anyway, i'd like to get started ASAP so if u could pls let me know, i can hop on the bandwagon to kp freedom! also, would u think i'd have to do dermabrasion longer than 2 mos? i know ur general estimate was 6-8 weeks, but cautioned that older/untreated kp may take longer.

*oh, btw, my kp...i'd describe it as worse than urs...i actually have much more pronounced bumps than u do, and as for the redness, it doesn't bother me as much as those damn raised bumps because i have medium toned skin, and it doesn't show up as bad as if i was very fair. however, yes, u can still see the redness...

yeah i just got my back order notice. that so figures. I finally find something that works, and now I might i have to get it somewhere else. So should I order somewhere else? Did you guys get an email saying it might "take 5 days or so" and then get another saying you would just get a refund? b/c i dont want to wait around b/c im almost out of lotion!!!

damn it! i really need to find a cleanser but all i can find is one that has 20% aha in it and i cant even handle 15%! damn it! any suggestions at all? even to a cleanser that doesnt have aha in it? b.c the cetaphil one seems to make my kp worse! it seems to undo any of the benefits the aha lotion has done. PLEASE HELP ME!!!