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Turqoise, can you use a moisturizer while this process is going on, or will it mess with the AHA? I'm especially thinking about the dryness/crackle stage as you call it. Thanks for sharing your pics, they were really convincing. I'm happy for you, and amazed at your results.

Do you do any kind exfoliation at all? I think that that may have been part of my problem before because I exfoliate with a salt scrub, I think I saw where you said you didnt exfoliate ( I cant find it right now though) but does that include even gentle things like exfoliating mits or graining bath washes? I have 3/4 of a bottle of NeoStrata AHA 10 or 15 and I would like to start using it again but I am kinda worried about it hurting my skin.

Exfoliation is simply assisting your skin at removing dead skin cells - you can do it EITHER with chemicals - like glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, RETIN-A, or with mechanical action - scrubs, loofah, pumice, buf-puf, etc... So if you are using an alpha-hydroxy acid - you are exfoliating - and I would not add any mechanical exfoliation at the same time - especially if you are using a high percentage like 12 or 20%. At least not until you have adjusted and built up a tolerance to one or the other. Exfoliation will make your skin more vulnerable to sunburn - so you should use suncreen when doing any of these regimens. When adjusting to strong alpha hydroxy acids many doctors recommend starting with lower percentages and ramping up to the higher ones - MD. Forte products are recommended this way. So many people might want to start with 12% for a month or so, and then go up to 15 or 20.

I have tried nearly everything on these boards, and, I think, everything on the market - except this one Turquoise is talking about. I have gotten fairly good results from many of them - but all of them take dedication - and patience. You have to try a regimen for at least a month -faithfully - usually twice a day - to see results. And then you have to keep it up to continue seeing results. I think I may order this stuff and give it a try as well - I am always looking for a cheaper, simpler way to manage this problem since I have it almost everywhere - arms, thighs, back, stomach, butt etc.... So expensive lotions applied twice a day over this large an area is not practical for me.

On second thought, $50 for an 8 oz lotion is too steep for me - again because I have to apply over such a large area. There are other AHA products cheaper than that. I will keep searching. Glytone, Glycolix and Amlactin are all cheaper.

Thanks you for the advice. The website says that it is 12.80 for 4 oz, or are you looking at something else?

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I think I must have been looking at Donnell AHA 20 - which is the first thing that came up when I searched for 'AHA 20' in Google. Are you guys talking about Neostrata or DCL?

I think you could use another moisturizer on top of an AHA - as long as it was a mild one like Cetaphil. But you may just want to wait out the side effects as they may be temporary.

I think I'm going to order the 15%. I bought the Oily Skin solution but it's impractical to apply to such large areas of the body like arms and legs, so I've only used it 2-3 times. At least the 15% comes in a pump! I'm tempted to go ahead and buy the 20% but I'm going to take your advice since my skin is kinda sensitive. But it seems like we all have sensitive skin here

Do you use any moisturizing creams in addition to the 20% lotion?

Thanks for the tip!

I have not bought either of these lotions discussed here yet, but I am thinking of ordering the 15% (cheaper) also. But it is still expensive for the amount of lotion you get - but if it really works better than cheaper stuff, it is worth it. I have often 'layered' moisturizers because my skin is so dry, and I have used them over Amlactin 12%. Wait 15 minutes after applying first one so your skin has time to absorb it. Eucerin is also an effective, gentle moisturizer - recommended by many of my doctors - as long as you buy the 'plain' one - there is one with mild alpha hydroxy acid in it also. Also, creams are more effective for really dry skin than lotion. Both Eucerin and Cetaphil are available in cream formulas. Eucerin is heavier than Cetaphil - but also more effective if you really need that much. Winter time, I do. Moisturel is another gentle one recommended for sensitive skin - not as easy to find as the other two. Yes, I have noticed that many people with kp have 'sensitive' skin like me. And if we aren't careful, some of the treatments can cause bigger problems than the original kp. Go for a mild - but consistent treatment first.

Good luck to you.

Congrats on finding something that has helped you - but I would have SERIOUS reservations about using such a strong acid on your skin on a long term basis. The fact that it makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight means that you're altering the skins actual structure at a deeper level and therefore raising your chances of cancer.

See here for what the FDA think of AHAs

http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fdacaha.html

They recommend only using a solution of 10% or less to be safe. I haven't had the chance to look properly at the details of the product you used to achieve your good results but I would doubt very much thats it's ever been tested long-term for safety.

Be very very careful

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Do you apply it right after taking your shower...or does it not matter..Can you put lotion on first and then the acid?

Thank you for telling me about this stuff..I'm ordering some today

Turqoise - I don't want to rain on your parade but I think it's very irresponsible of you to push a product which could potentially be very dangerous. If you want to use it and risk it then fine and well - but you have no right to try to convince others to use it when you do not know what long term harm it may do. I work in clinical drug trials and for your information - testing a product on rodent is the first step in the process. Don't knock the fact that they are reporting what happens in mice - that the first step of the process. You are showing your ignorance by being so flippant.

Consumer warnings for cars come in terms of speed limits, wearing seatbelts, maximum alcohol levels blah blah blah. Use your head and think about what pouring a strong acid on your skin does long term. It changes things at a cellular level. You're throwing the baby out with the bathwater on this one. I advise anybody else thinking of using this to think very strongly first.

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