Alright, i'm getting fed up with trying to figure this out. I need some help from you guys.

Those with KP bumps on your face (probably a whopping few of you only, if that) do you ever get red ones that are itchy or irritated? I'll go like now, a week without any and then get an outbreak of them. I'm trying to figure out if they are KP or not. I have the regular KP on my face (those bumps that are small and just sit there, don't do anything), but these... i'm not sure if they are KP or an infection or something. I've been reading about pityrosporum folliculitis, caused by yeast, and think maybe it's linked to what i have?? Because these red bumps i *think* diminish slightly by use of loprox (an antifungal i use for my dermatitis, which funnily enough, doesnt do anything for it). And if i'm correct, KP does not get better with use of an antifungal (when i put it on my KP bumps that are just the regular ones that are skin colour, they don't go away at all).

I'm just so tired of all this. I think in the past 9 months i've cried at least once a week. And during outbreaks, every few days. I'm tired of it. Why can't we all just be normal? I hate when people think we have acne, like we're some teenage kids who eat badly and don't wash their face. And i hate when my friends get mad if they have one pimple once a month, when their whole face is smooth like GLASS. I hate being out in the sun. Subconsciously anytime i'm with someone, i'll sit where the sun doesnt make me look bad if i can help it. Going out depends on whether i look good enough that day or not. I can't plan things in advance because i don't know if i'll get an itchy bump outbreak. I want to be a normal 22 year old girl. I hate putting my boyfriend through any of this, and my parents too. I seriously pray that this will all get fixed. I've had ridiculously oily, sebhorreic dermatitis, keratosis pilaris skin since i was like, 14. Isn't that enough? Not to mention, the tops of my arms, my sides, my butt, my legs, my chest all have KP bumps on them, and red ones too. Practically my entire body is covered. Why did it have to be me?

--- end rant. Sorry guys, im just so upset.

hi EK1, what have you tried to do for treatment?

EK1 - The longer I've been around this forum, the more of us I realize there are. Yes, I have off and on since I was 12 had itchy KP that crops up. In my teen years I was prescribed tetracycline which did _nothing_ for it of course. In college, "friends" would tease me about shaving because I had welts along my jawline and on my neck like when some men get ingrown whiskers, but I'm a woman. There were some times when it seemed to calm down and even be gone. Same with my arms, legs, butt, chest and back KP. One way I figured out that my jawline breakouts _were_ KP is that they just didn't behave like acne. I might have a whitehead on it but then even after the whitehead had opened and dried up the welt would be there UNTIL a keratin plug usually with a hair in it came out.
So, I think I can relate. I'm just not truly that fatalistic about it. I get itchy patches on the rest of my body too, sometimes my WHOLE body. I have never been diagnosed per se with sebhorreic dermatitis or eczema but they run in my family and I had obvious eczema patches when pregnant. I can sometimes take benadryl (antihistamine) to calm the ithcy stuff. And eating well and getting enough sleep go a long way to keeping the itchies away for me also using a glycolic acid cleanser on my face chest and back minimizes KP in turn keeping it from getting a secondary infection. BUT there other times, hormonal mostly I think, that just can't be helped.
I have now just started using azelaic acid on my chest neck and jawline. It is usually prescribed for rosacea and KPRF I think. It is too soon to tell what is going to happen but I'll let you know. Epsom salt baths are somewhat helpful when itchy too... BD

JohnE, i have tried:

This is all for my face, by the way. On my legs, chest, etc. i use either lactic, glycolic, or urea, it switches. I'm gonna do laser hair removal on my legs to see if that helps as well.
- differin (allergic to it)
- glycolic acid, both peels and regular 10% stuff (too strong, get allergic bumps from it)
- freederm (too drying)
- this cream from the internet, has some snail stuff in it (too strong, makes me itchy)
- eucerin urea cream (too strong and oily)
- clindamycin and emocortisone (stupid derm prescribed it, but misdiagnosed at this point)
- BHA by paula's choice (allergic reaction from it, skin too sensitive)
- salicylic acid cream (burns, too strong for my sensitive skin)
- vivier cream (doesnt do anything, just a reg. moisturizer apparently for redness)
- aloe vera gel (read it's for seb derm, but doesnt do anything either)

Currently:
- neostrata PHA 8% cream
- lactic acid (lac hydrin 12%)
- vbeam laser (just had 2nd one)
- loprox cream (1%) which again, is for my seb derm, but i notice it can make my red bumps smaller, but it doesnt make them go away like magic or anything, it takes time.
- new diet based on naturopaths tests: no dairy, sugar, chocolate, msg
- supplements: vitamin A, E, B complex, zinc, multivitamin, borage oil, cod liver oil with vitamin D, fish oil
- spironolactone prescription (to black my excess testosterone, which has stopped me from being excessively oily like i used to be, and stopped my acne, however, i've read it's supposed to also help KP and seb. derm. if it caused by hormone imbalance)
- washing face with selsun blue or stieprox (however, that's for my seb. derm., but it helps with the red bumps i think?)

I believe that is everything. It's complicated because i have to treat my redness (which i believe is more likely rosacea, hence the super sensitive skin), seb. derm. and KP bumps all at the same time.

ek1, so how long have you been trying the notropath diet thing? any results? have you been able to stick to it?

i thought i read that you tried aha. no?

ive been using selson blue dandriff shampoo as a body wash. it seems to help a little.[pregnant woman are not suppost to use that dandriff shampoo tho]

The dandruff shampoo helps KP on your body? Or is that for something else?

I tried AHA - glycolic acid.

I've been on the naturopath thing about a month. I've been able to stick to it 99% of the time. And the only time i've probably consumed is when i've gone out to eat like 3 times this month and obviously you dont know all the ingredients. But i have avoided all dairy 100%, all chocolate 100%, and anytime i'm buying anything, if it lists sugar or msg, i don't buy it. I don't think i've seen any results yet.

EK - The cleanser I bought recently that is VERY mild does have glycolic acid but not at those HIGH percentages you list. 12 percent lachydrin on your face!?! whew. My skin, especially on my face is way too sensitive for that. Yours sounds very sensitive too, and though I'm no pro those numbers sound way too strong. For example, some KPers can use papain (papaya enzyme or "meat tenderizer") on their skin. I tried it in small amounts all over, it makes my face and chest peel and go red in patches (I can only use it on the toughest skin on my body: my calves). But I have had no pimples on my forehead now since I started using the derma-e glycolic cleanser and just a couple around my jawline the last hormonal cycle and they were not huge red things, just smaller, normal little pimples that _didn't itch_ ! that was a big relief. I wonder how much the "marine plant" extracts contribute to the non-itchiness? Anyway, those levels of lactic and other acids sound real high to me and I think my skin is not as sensitive as yours.... - bd

I think i might be allergic to glycolic acid, as even 10% is too irritating for me (and thats the lowest i've seen you can buy it on its own, i got it from a dermatologist).

Lactic is milder than glycolic. It stings when you first apply it, but that goes away after 30 seconds. My derm. actually suggested it to me. It's used for dry skin and those with seborrheic dermatitis. Yeah im not sure if it's irritating me. I mean, i'm not peeling or burning or anything. I'm gonna use it less often and see what happens.

Some people use urea, it's not high in percentage, but for me it is irritating. Even 1% salicylic acid burns my skin, making it itchy all day.

you people with sensitive skin have to remember if you going to use those acids you have to start with a very
low % and then work your way up until your skin gets used to it. that could take a long time, maybe even years. most people would just quite and say it wasnt working any more...and there probable screwing themselfs over. they could probable have perfectly clear skin if they would just stick to it. thats just like an alcoholic can drink two leaders of wisky 80 proof and not be wasted, they got used to the alchol...they didnt start out drinking that. that may kill someone who's not used to drinking that much.

but once your used to the 20% aha thats when you start making real progress. thats when your getting close to having clear skin


ek1, arent you suppost to stick with that diet for edleast 3-4 month before you see any results?

i dont know, im just using the lac hydrin 12% because that's what my derm says.

and no matter how little strength the glycolic is, i'm allergic no matter what to it.

Yep, im sticking with it.

EK1 - I saw your post the "cured naturally" thread. It's hard for me to imagine that you'll be able to sort out what is working and what's not since you're doing so many things at once. Also, just in case no one else warned you - taking cod liver oil can potentially overdose you on vitamin A. Animal sources of vitamin A can be toxic and cumulative:
"As vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet is much harder than with water-soluble vitamins B and C. As such, vitamin A toxicity can result. This can lead to nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia (not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder), vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness and altered mentality. Acute toxicity generally occurs at doses of 25,000 IU/kg, with chronic toxicity occurring at 4,000 IU/kg daily for 6-15 months.[8] However, liver toxicities can occur at levels as low as 15,000IU per day to 1.4 million IU per day, with an average daily toxic dose of 120,000IU per day. In people with renal failure 4000IU can cause substantial damage. Additionally excessive alcohol intake can increase toxicity.[9]
In chronic cases, hair loss, drying of the mucous membranes, fever, insomnia, fatigue, weight loss, bone fractures, anaemia, and diarrhoea can all be evident on top of the symptoms associated with less serious toxicity.[10]
These toxicities only occur with preformed (retinoid) vitamin A (such as from liver), the caretonoid forms (such as beta carotene as found in carrots) give no such symptoms."
There are some products that derms have recommended to me during my lifetime which have irritated my skin more. Like, scrubbing my face and chest with a BufPuf! Remember those? those are the most coarse scrubbers! They were awful for me! Then maybe one out of six derms will give you advice that works right for YOU and not someone else - at least that's how it has seemed to me. Of course I don't know what's right for you either but your descriptions of your skin and reactions make me wonder if there's a lactic acid that's a bit weaker that you could use...It just sounds like you're hitting your skin with so much stuff at one time that it doesn't get a chance to rest! I dunno - I only babble on because I feel a lot of empathy for your frustration - bd

Thanks for the vitamin A concern. I haven't been feeling any nausea, headaches, altered mentality, etc. I've only been on vitamin A a month, but i will watch for any signs that i have too much vitamin A. I've read that Kp and seb derm can be a result of not enough vitamin A, and my naturopath told me it would help. So i suppose we'll see in a month or so if it does anything.

Yeah, while i am doing lots (spiro, vbeam, cream, diet) i feel Kp needs to be attacked from all angles. Anyhow, i'm seeing a top derm on Tuesday, apparently he's the best (i literally booked my appt in August for December!!!) I'm hoping he'll be able to help. I'm just very confused as these itchy bumps all came out of nowhere probably around June. Before then i had super oily skin and the regular Kp bumps on my face (tiny skin coloured ones). Now my oiliness, pimples (don't get regular pimples anymore, just this KP itchy bumps), are gone.

Also, i'm gonna use teh lactic acid less often and see if that has an effect.

Thanks for the vitamin A concern. I haven't been feeling any nausea, headaches, altered mentality, etc. I've only been on vitamin A a month, but i will watch for any signs that i have too much vitamin A. I've read that Kp and seb derm can be a result of not enough vitamin A, and my naturopath told me it would help. So i suppose we'll see in a month or so if it does anything.

Yeah, while i am doing lots (spiro, vbeam, cream, diet) i feel Kp needs to be attacked from all angles. Anyhow, i'm seeing a top derm on Tuesday, apparently he's the best (i literally booked my appt in August for December!!!) I'm hoping he'll be able to help. I'm just very confused as these itchy bumps all came out of nowhere probably around June. Before then i had super oily skin and the regular Kp bumps on my face (tiny skin coloured ones). Now my oiliness, pimples (don't get regular pimples anymore, just this KP itchy bumps), are gone.

Also, i'm gonna use the lactic acid less often and see if that has an effect.

Do you think you could have eczema on your face? I have a couple of friends with eczema and i have seen them get itchy bumps on their face from it. The good news is that if you do have that, there are at least creams to keep it from itching. I mean, I really hope you DON'T have both eczema and KP, but it sounds like you're at the point where you'd be relieved just to know what the hell it is!

I've never really had my kp itch, but sometimes i get these bumps on my chest that itch like mad. those often come in the form of what look like bites, except i never know what could have possibly bitten me. it has made me wonder if the demodex mite is possibly an issue for me (there is a thread on that on this site somewhere) because the "bites" just seem to appear magically. sometimes the itchiness on my chest does just look like ordinary kp, but it must be something more.

Let us know what the derm says, and I hope you feel better soon.