I applied 15% once a day for a month, then switched to 20% once a day for a month. Been OPing once a day for 20 min. since the middle of December. Missed about three weeks in there (OP and AHA) when I went on vacation for a week and got off track. So I wasn't completely consistent but what I found was OP smoothed down the bumps and the AHA is helping with the dots. Once a day AHA made a 30% difference, I'd say, and going twice a day has made a 50% difference. I also like using spa gloves in the shower with sulfer/salicylic acid soap but that often takes longer than I have time for so that's been only once or twice a week; I think it's helping, though, to get the old built-up layers off. Next is trying to eat a gluten-free diet to see if that helps.

Three threads worth reading:

baronster's thread "worst case of KP cured naturally" (worst case of KP treated naturally-Success story on page 76 talks about food sensitivities.

Turquois' thread "A CURE ! My search is over." (My search is over!) for suggestions on how to use AHA lotions.

kebod's thread "cured at last" (Oil pulling treatment) - specifically post #656 on page #44) on Oil Pulling.

These three discussions/members are what inspired me to get serious and have hope. Patience doesn't come easy, but having some sucess helps keep me focused on the prize...

well obviously it didnt work now just like it didnt work years ago when i was 12...the proof on this site? no i havent seen any proof just many people trying to find solutions, and everyones skin is different and does react differently, and your not exactly a doctor to tell me what i should be doing on my skin! and like i said, i know my body and dont want to waste money on something that doesnt work ON ME, it only irritates me, and since ive stopped using those..ive seen my skin improve, i'm sick of having acids and horrible lotions on me that only seep into my blood with no results...
you can be ignorant and continue thinking that everyone is going to react the same to the same treatment...

Hi, kym! I agree, everyone's body does seem to react differently. By all means, if the AHAs aren't working, I wouldn't risk using them either.

We're all desperate to get rid of this damned condition, and the medical community has shown they don't really care, so I find it heartening that, when someone finds something that works for them, they want to share their success story and help others. It's smart to approach any self remedy with caution, though, and listen to what our bodies tell us. Please don't be angry with anyone - we all just want to help.

In my post that appears right before yours I mentioned baronster's thread which talks about food sensitivities. She cured her extreme KP by having a test done at a naturopath and removing the foods she was sensitive to from her diet for a while. There seem to be common denominators of gluten, dairy and candida with a lot of KP sufferers. Her approach is to avoid putting the things that bother our bodies into us in the first place. kebod's approach with Oil Pulling is about detoxing to get rid of what we have already put in ourselves. AHAs are kind of the blow torch approach, as one (former) dermatologist described it.

I'll admit, I'm desperate to make sense out of everything I read on this forum. (Did you see the peanut butter thread? It's working for people!) And you're so right in pointing out that different things work for different people. I know my search is getting closer but far from over...

I was only trying to help by asking you all those questions. In turn, you could have been helping me by answering them, as I'm trying to determine whether this AHA thing really works for everyone. But since you would rather take offense to the questions, this isn't exactly working ...

I still believe our biggest problem as KP sufferers is impatience. It's a slow process no matter what treatment you undergo (whether naturally or via topical creams/lotions) ... but we need to stick to a treatment.

how would i not take offense? your telling me 'theres proof so why doesnt it work for you' welll DUHHHHHHH it doesnt, you shouldn't have asked that in the first place...and if your intent was to not offend you should reword your questions (like leaving out 'the proof is on here') just FYI

and i've been patient with this for over 10yrs, soo impatient is not my reason...i've opened my eyes about products that claim to help, but honestly i feel if there are advisories against using something while pregnant, well something is too harsh in it for our bodies (imagine side effects they havent even found for prolonged usage!), these companies make lots of money off poor consumers which if anything only solve the issue for a time, and require lifelong usage...putting rough chemicals on my skin has never helped..

ooo and i read about the cured naturally post, i plan on meeting with a naturpathic (sp??) to determine my allergies, theres obviously an underlying cause that causes this (i get ugly cysts when i drink milk..yuck)

You've been patient with this for over 10 years?!? What is "this"? KP? applying a AHA? And we do have a proof that AHA works. She's got the pics to prove. You should check out her thread. I still don't understand why you handled my post this way. I think if you're going to state that AHA doesn't work, you should be willing to answer a few questions, because I'd like to know why it didn't work for you? Was it because you didn't apply often enough? long enough? etc ...

Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore ... I too am trying to heal it from the inside.

Hi all,

I'm brand new to this forum because I just today put a name to what I've had for years. It's good to know I don't just have these random pimples on my thighs and arms!

I wanted to know if anyone has had luck with tanning. I realize it's not good for your skin and all... but, I've noticed that when I'm tan it's not just that the redness blends in, but that the bumps actually leave, also. I figure it has something to do with the sun making your skin thicker and speeding up the shedding process. Has anyone had anything similar happen?

Also, I used to have pretty bad acne (my hormones were to blame and have since been regulated). But I'm a member of Acne.com where there were many threads about natural, cheap treatments for skin problems. One of the most useful things I found out was that plain (uncoated) asprin, when dissolved with a tiny bit of water, becomes salicylic acid, which is used in chemical exfoliation. So what I do with my face occasionally, and what I'm going to do with my legs soon, is use asprin as a kind of rub. Let it stay on your skin for a bit so the chemical exfoliation can work, then use it as a mechanical exfoliant by rubbing it over your skin (maybe with some shower gel or something). I just wanted to suggest this for those of you that are sick of spending heaps on cleansers.

how am i not supposed to handle your posts that way?? look at how u post towards me...questioning eveything i say!
wtf is your problem?
and for one...that girl that posted pic didnt even have bad kp to begin with...there are diff types u idiot! grow up
and wtf..i said it DIDNT WORK ME ..
soo why the hell are u sooo concerned about whats working or not for me?
get a life!!!

Hey, kym. Hope4thebest's posts have all been meant to be helpful and you've been nothing but negative in return. Please stop with the insults. If you'd answer her questions, maybe you'd help someone new to the forum determine their best course of action using (or not using) AHAs.

The vast majority of posts on this forum are meant to help us all find solutions. We're all in the same boat, with sympathy all around.