Anyone familiar w/ Keratosis Pilaris (skin condition)?

I get tiny pimple like bumps all over the backs of my arms, legs and trunk of my body. The dermatologist prescribed Amonium Lactate, it had no effect on the condition.


I recently had a serious cold and the doctor prescribed Azitromycin (3 tablets in 3 days) and it cleared up my cold in no time. The interesting thing was my skin condition started to improve a week after taking medication. That was last month, now I notice the condition getting worse again. Has anyone had that experience?

Anyone familiar w/ Keratosis Pilaris (skin condition)?
Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition commonly seen on the upper arms, buttocks and thighs. The skin cells that normally flake off as a fine dust from the skin form plugs in the hair follicles. These appear as small pimples that have a dry ''sandpaper'' feeling. They are usually white but sometimes rather red. They usually don't itch or hurt.


Keratosis pilaris is particularly common in teenagers on the upper arms. It may occur in babies where it tends to be most obvious on the cheeks. It may remain for years but generally gradually disappears usually before age 30. Keratosis pilaris is unsightly but completely harmless. It is usually worse during the winter months or other times of low humidity when skin dries out, and may worsen during pregnancy or after childbirth. Treatment of keratosis pilaris is not necessary, and unfortunately often has disappointing results. With persistence, most people can get very satisfactory improvement. Initial treatment should be intensive moisturizing. Try a cream such as Acid mantle, Vaseline or Complex 15 after bathing, and re-apply the cream again several times daily.


If this does not help, change to a medicated cream containing urea (Curel, Carmol-20) or alpha-hydroxy acids (Aqua Glycolic, Lacticare) applied twice daily - it may be too irritating to use more often. More aggressive home treatment can be done if ones skin can tolerate it. The plugged pores can be removed by taking long, hot soaking tub baths and then rubbing the areas with a coarse washcloth, stiff brush, or 'Buf-Puf'. Prescription medicines that may help include antibiotics (Erythromycin, Bactrim) if the spots are very red and Tazorac Cream. Tazorac, a relative of vitamin A, may cause irritation in some people.


Hope this helps,


Matador 89
Reply:I've had keratosis pilarsis (aka "chicken skin," so says my dermatologist). I used Amlactin lotion and it helped, but it didn't totally clear it up. What did work, however, was increasing my vitamin A intake (I drink a lot of carrot juice) and losing some weight. Yes, there have been studies showing that weight loss can lessen the rash. Besides, not only did the kp clear up on my arms, I have some nicely tone biceps now. btw, I also moisturize regularly and exfoliate with a loofah and scrubby soap.





As for the cold, perhaps it was a bacterial infection. Antibiotics should never be used to treat regular colds (which are viral). However, bacterial infections of the ear, nose, throat and respiratory tract do require treatment with antibiotics (like Zithromax). Read up on antibiotic-resistant germs so you understand why it's important to be careful about which drugs you take for what.





While it may be tempting to treat the kp with antibiotics, kp is ultimately harmless, and valuable antibiotics shouldn't be wasted on kp treatment.
Reply:Hell yes! I have it on my thighs, calves, forearms and some areas of my chest. The problem with KP is that it's a permanent condition and the treatments are somewhat unaffordable. My dermathologist gave me this super effective cream once... and it turns out it had cortisone, so I had to stop using it... I think it was better for me to make peace with my skin bumps and not give a damn about them... But it did take a toll on my self esteem for a while there...


KP is caused by both an over-production of skin keratin (what makes nails and hair) and a problem with the elimination of dead skin cells. the skin flake clogs up the pores and follicles and keratin accumulates over the hair follicle, creating a nasty little bump. This problem also leads to acne on your back and in some cases, it worsens cellulite. The best treatment is to go to a spa once a month for an exfoliating treatment and to let the sun hit your arms and legs. Sunlight helps against KP.


God, than s*** is a nuisance...
Reply:Make sure you exfoliate as much as possible and daily. You can buy a great cream at Sephora called KP Duty by Derma Doctor and it is specifically made for KP. I use it daily and haven't had a problem in months

dendrobium