Hi Turquoise the way you cured your KP is that parmanent or comes back again if not in control by regular treatments?

I've been following Turquoise's system for a month and it;s working well. I've used AHA and such many times in the past and I think her warnings are great - much better than I got from the doctor, the dermo or the bottle itself!

The main thing is, especially if, like I did, you live somewhere sunny is USE SUNSCREEN. The summer I used AHA everyday I turned brown as a berry and I wasn't even trying, so be careful.

My calves are sooo stubborn! I added papain (papaya enzyme - "meat tenderizer") to my sugar scrub and now have mostly baby-smooth skin on my arms, back and butt. However, my calves are only JUST going through a spiny stage.! like hairs are exposed but there's still a plug sitting down there in the follicle that's sort of pushing out. Seems like the circulation connection is at work here. Like, that EFAs I swish and take as supplements take longer to get there and help heal them or something! sounds goofy doesn't it? I _really_ want to move on to the AHA stage but I know I have to keep DB going for a few more weeks at least. Also, red dots on tops of thighs are exposed now which is good. Usually my KP plugs are so deep that they only show when I get really hot and my body TRIES to sweat and then the follicles just swell up and I have a supreme case of heat rash all over. In the winter I can keep my skin calm and sure it almost looks like no KP but then the summer comes and it's really obvious. - bd

Hey Turquoise, I just wanna say thanks for contributing, it's greatly appreciated. Also, your suspicions were correct... I personally have been using a big blog of moisturizer as the base and then sprinkling the crystals. Thanks for clearing that up. Even with a somewhat weak solution I am seeing improvement.

And thanks for clarifying your theory of temperature-KP relation.

Cheers.

-Stinger

UPDATE:

I tried using NO LOTIONS/MOISTURIZERS and JUST crystals + a tiny amount of water.

This works about 1000x better than moisturizer in my case. A HUGE difference from using globs of moisturizer. My arms, where the KP is the most severe and *****ly, are waaaay smoother. So yeah, take heed: reduce moisturizer amount massively if you are seeing slow progress.

I do encourage people to try this at least once, just to feel it, see what the potential is. I don't find this a practical mixture for long-term use, because it is too "stiff" and clumps of it will even fall off your skin (not much different than sand+water, if you can imagine trying to rub that all over yourself), but that is the starting point for the recommend mixture. You only need a drop or two of moisturizer to make it slick enough that it will stay on your skin and be easy to use. I keep saying this, use more crystal, and it is described on the site, but people are still not getting it somehow.

Once again, you are on point, Turquoise. I have been finding the pure water + crystal mixture to clump and generally be less effective.

Just curious though... I visited your page just now. 40 Advil a day is pretty crazy. What illness do you have? If that's breaching your privacy too much, then don't worry about it.

Take care.

thank u for this forum and this particular thread that i think the AHA lotion is working.

anyways its my first time using AHA and i ordered the 20%. dont kill me. hehe. i thought it would burn my skin... but it didnt. but only if i exfoliate ...it would sting only a little bit. so a few weeks after that, my skin started to clear up. i totally can see the results. its smoother. and my kp which looks like a brown spots (sometimes can be red?) are fading... but its not there yet.

i read it takes like 5 or 6 months for it to clear up if u only use AHA. i want try the crystals but i dont think i can order those right now...

so my question: im running out of 20% dhl AHA and im not sure if i should order the %15 AHA from the other website which is cheaper and it comes in a bigger bottle. its neostrata? i think.. but im afraid it will be less effective since it's only %15. what should i do? anyone know any other sites that sells 20% or higher AHA in bigger bottles?

Thanks for all the information. I am going to give this a try starting with the crystals. This might be an odd question, but I am in the dental field, and have access to dental pumice, which in a powdered form of pumice which also contains a very small amount crystalline silica/quartz. It comes as a very fine powder that seems similar to the dermabrasion crystals.

It it used by adding water to the powder to create a paste which can be used to polishing things (acrylics, dentures, temporary crowns, teeth, etc).It's available in various grades of coarseness. All abrade surfaces to varying degrees to create the desired finish. Do you think I could use this for now?

I´ll be starting my treatment as soon as turquoise is feeling better and can send the dermoabrasian crystals. I´ll document it with photos . I sure hope I get good results. Dedication is not a problem at least!

Turquoise, I hope you get well soon

just wondering, with the crystals...do you apply them with your bare hands? and if so, does it not start to overexfoliate and/or hurt your hands? i'm planning on trying this treatment soon, so just wondering.

IMPORTANT WARNING ON AHA!

From:

U. S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Backgrounder
July 3, 1997




Alpha Hydroxy Acids in Cosmetics


Cosmetics that contain alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) have become widely used in recent years despite many unanswered questions about their safety. Recently, a study sponsored by the cosmetics industry indicates that these products may make users more sensitive to sunlight and especially to the ultraviolet (UV) radiation component of sunlight. UV exposure can damage the skin and at high doses, especially over a long period, can cause skin cancer. FDA is currently evaluating this study and is pursuing additional studies that will make sure these products are safe for consumers to use.
It is wise to use sun protection before going into the sun (daylight). Adequate sun protection includes: wearing a hat with a brim of at least four inches, wearing lightweight sun protective clothing, including long sleeves, and applying a sunscreen with an SPF (or Sun Protection Factor) of at least 15. Sunscreens should be reapplied after excessive sweating or swimming. It is especially important to use effective sun protection if you are going to the beach and will be exposed to high levels of UV radiation.
The recent study makes these sun protection precautions even more important if you use AHA-containing products. It is important to use sun protection, including a sun screen, if you use an AHA product, even if you haven't used the product that day. If the AHA that you're using contains a sunscreen, it is suggested that applying an additional sunscreen (SPF 15) product before going into the sun will be beneficial. Even though your AHA product may contain sunscreen, it is primarily a skin treatment product--not a means of sun protection. If you use the AHA at bedtime, be sure to apply an additional sunscreen product in the morning before going into the sun.
The agency has received about 100 reports of adverse effects with AHA products, ranging from mild irritation and stinging to blistering and burns. If you usually have sensitive skin, FDA advises you to test any product that contains an AHA on a small area of skin before applying it a to large area. If you use cosmetics with AHAs and experience skin irritation or prolonged stinging, FDA advises you to stop using the product and consult your physician.
Products with AHAs are marketed for a variety of purposes: to smooth fine lines and surface wrinkles, to improve skin texture and tone, to unblock and cleanse pores, to improve oily skin or acne, and to improve skin condition in general. It is important to follow the use instructions on the label. Do not exceed the recommended applications. It is not recommended that AHA-containing products be used on infants and children.
To find out if a cosmetic contains an AHA, look on the list of ingredients all cosmetics must, by law, have on their outer packaging. AHA ingredients may be listed as:

• glycolic acid
• lactic acid
• malic acid
• citric acid
• glycolic acid + ammonium glycolate
• alpha-hydroxyethanoic acid + ammonium alpha-hydroxyethanoate
• alpha-hydroxyoctanoic acid
• alpha-hydroxycaprylic acid
• hydroxycaprylic acid
• mixed fruit acid
• tri-alpha hydroxy fruit acids
• triple fruit acid
• sugar cane extract
• alpha hydroxy and botanical complex
• L-alpha hydroxy acid
• glycomer in crosslinked fatty acids alpha nutrium (three AHAs).

Of these, the most frequently used in cosmetics are glycolic acid and lactic acid.

If you have purchased a product whose outer packaging has become separated from the product and you are unsure whether it contains AHAs, call the manufacturer, whose phone number may be listed on the inner packaging.
AHA products cause exfoliation, or shedding of the surface skin. The extent of exfoliation depends on the type and concentration of the AHA, its pH (acidity), and other ingredients in the product. Most cosmetics sold to consumers contain AHAs at levels up to 10 percent. It is FDA's understanding that products with AHA concentrations of 20 percent or higher are used by trained cosmetologists for salon "mini-peels."
In studies conducted by FDA on the absorption of AHAs through the skin, the AHAs tested were readily absorbed into the skin at varying rates. The most rapid absorption occurred with AHAs having lower pHs (higher acidity).
FDA issued a report in February 1996. "Effects of Alpha Hydroxy Acid on the Skin" concluded that additional scientific investigation was needed to establish the safety of these products.
The recent report linking AHAs to increased UV sensitivity was sponsored by the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association. The results were reported at a December 1996 meeting of the trade group's Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel (CIR), which began reviewing the safety of AHAs in 1994.
The panel concluded at its December meeting that AHAs are "safe for use in cosmetic products at concentrations less than or equal to 10 percent, at final formulation pHs greater than or equal to 3.5, when formulated to avoid increasing the skin's sensitivity to the sun, or when directions for use include the daily use of sun protection." For salon use products, the panel said that the products are "safe for use at concentrations less than or equal to 30 percent, at final formulation pHs greater than or equal to 3.0, in products designed for brief, discontinuous use followed by thorough rinsing from the skin, when applied by trained professionals, and when application is accompanied by directions for the daily use of sun protection."
These conclusions were made final at a June 1997 meeting of the CIR panel in spite of serious safety questions submitted by a consumer group and a major manufacturer. FDA is reviewing these CIR conclusions, as well as the other available data about these products. Consumers should be aware that AHA concentration and pH are generally not noted on all products. (FDA does not require it.) However, the information should be available from the manufacturer.
Cosmetics manufacturers are not required to submit safety data to FDA before marketing products, although they bear the responsibility for manufacturing safe products.
Consumers should report any adverse reactions, such as irritation or sun sensitivity, associated with the use of AHAs to their local FDA office, listed in the Blue Pages of the phone book, or to FDA's Office of Consumer Affairs at (1-800) 532-4440.
Remember: The Best Wrinkle Preventer is Sun Protection.
(BG 97-10)



This is a mirror of the page at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/alphabg.html
The full report on AHAs is available as a compressed WordPerfect 6/7 document (available in zip format).
Cosmetics