ladies, check out
General Discussion - Keratosis Pilaris Community Forums
a forum with
lots of information and treatment options for KP.
Starting in April, I tried seriously making an effort to treat the condition and have thus tried a number of treatment options from the above stated resource:
RETIN-A Cream. This cream brought about noticeable results, although the process was not entirely pleasant. Many, many people apply excessive amounts of the cream (as I did), resulting in red, irritated, and often painful skin. However, after the 1-2 weeks of complaining, my skin was significantly smoother. Nevertheless, the pigmentation -- that is, the dots -- were still visible. I was rather satisfied though because the difference was greatly welcomed from the bumpy rough texture of my skin of yesteryear. I haven't found too much forum discussion on the cream, but it is a common treatment for KP.
Retin-A is supposed to remove the uppermost layer of the skin, thus resulting in the smoother younger skin from underneath
Oil pulling. I used coconut oil for about 4 weeks I think some time in April. I did not experience very significant results at all...but I was doing this after using the Retin-A cream, so perhaps something did happen. I did not have the discipline, however, to maintain a schedule of waking up 20 minutes earlier, especially since I started working again during the summer. However, I intend to restart the whole process for other benefits, namely the much-desired whiter teeth. Oil pulling is supposed to remove hydrophobic toxins from the body by dissolving them into the oil that is swished in the mouth for 20 minutes every morning. Check out
http://www.keratosispilaris.org/general-discussion/4335-oil-pulling-treatment.html
Sea Buckthorn Oil Soap. A bit of a mouthful, yes. I have been using the soap for three weeks now. Not much has happened yet...I think I had a very mild break out on my back last week. Perhaps it is working as promised? I gather that perhaps I have not been as diligent about following the treatment procedure as described in this guide below. the diligence shall begin henceforth.
apparently the soap is supposed to kill a microorganism called the demodex parasite living on the surface of the skin. The flare up as predicted within two weeks of starting the treatment is supposedly explained as decomposing parasites still in the hair follicles. kp is supposed to clear up within a month or so.
http://www.keratosispilaris.org/general-discussion/5830-sea-buckthorn-treatment-guide.html
All in all, I think my KP is much better than it was before I started trying to seriously treat it. It used to be so bad before, eliciting unwelcome comments. Seeing that I am less than 2 months in to the process, I have not given up on the listed treatments. Seriously, check out this forum.