As far back as I can remember, I've had KP. All throughout highschool, and to this day, I don't wear short sleeve shirts or v-necks, and I hardly every remove my shirt infront of anybody. I have KP all on my upper arms, my back, and a little on my chest.

I've tried absolutely everything, creams, oil-pulling, changing my diet... all of it. Nothing is working! I feel as though I'm fighting a losing battle. I'm so tired of being insecure with my appearance, yet not even being able to do anything about it. The only thing I've found that hides it is going to the tanning bed, but the downside is that I don't want to have to go to tanning beds the rest of my life and end up looking like I'm made of leather, just so I can hide the damn KP.

Has anyone actually found a solution? I read about everybody finding something that works, but does it completely hide it?! I'm only 20, and I don't want to feel as though I just have to wait until I'm 40, and maybe it will go away...

Hi sincerely:

The only thing I can tell you is not to quit!!!
Tanning is helping you, but did you know that when you tan, you are exfoliating your skin? The out layer of your skin becomes affected and it "peels" of, not so evident, but it does in a micro scale.
Maybe what you need is to exfoliate physically first, then if that does not work like you want it to, you can add some chemical exfoliation.

It should help you out. I always try to encourage people to try Oil Pulling first as it has helped many people. But if you are not one of those, please, exfolaite and you'll know a difference.

Is your KP severe (Hard bumps & redness)? Is your skin sensitive?

__________________
- Elsa Zoe: 29 years old, Female.
My treatment:
Daily scrubbing with Homemade Salicylic Acid Scrub; soap: homemade vegetable glycerin & essential oils. I always moisturize with organic oils. Omega 3 supplements from Mercury Free Fish Oil. Arms 100% clear.
As of January 2010: My KP has returned but this time on my thighs and a little bit on the sides of my body. Maybe it is stress related or the fact that I left my skin without exfoliating on December.

Also have psoriasis which Derm prescribed for short term use Clobetasol.
As of Jan 2010: I'm back on Clobetasol for a month.

Mi tratamiento: Exfoliacion diaria con acido salicilico. Jabon hecho en casa de glicerina vegetal y aceites esenciales. Siempre humecto la piel con aceites organicos. Tomo Omega 3 de Aceite de Pescado. Tambien padezco de psoriasis para la cual del dermatologo me receto Clobetasol para el uso no prolongado .
Desde enero 2010: Mi KP ha regresado en mis muslos, quizas debido a stress y ademas deje de exfoliarme durante el mes de diciembre. Mi psoriasis empeoro tambien, asi que estoy nuevamente bajo el tratamiento de clobetasol por un mes.

I exfoliate with a loofah, every time I take a shower and I moisturize after I get out of the shower. It doesn't help the appearance of my skin at all. Within the past week or so, I've been applying coconut oil onto my skin after I dry off. It softens the feeling of the bumps, but thats about it.

My KP issue is pretty much both the redness and the bumps. Within the past year or so, it seems as though it has worsened on my chest and back, as well as my upper arms. I wouldn't say that its a severe case of it, though; I could easy just cover it up with makeup, but I'm a broke college student and having to purchase the makeup every month would be an issue. Plus, having to apply a coat of makeup onto my skin, whenever I decide to wear a tank top or get intimate with someone, is a hassle. I just want the redness to go away.

Like I said, the only relief I can find is tanning, but I hate the way it makes me look, as well as the health risks. I haven't gone tanning since last spring, but it did seem to help get rid of/hide a good 50% of the KP.