Keratosos Pilaris

[Marnica]

I have KP and I am starting to think my 2 year old does as well, and I think his is considerably worse than mine. I have never done anything about mine as it is mild and limited to the back of my upper arms. In DS, howevere, he gets patches there, but in other areas as well. They come and go. I don't KNOW it is KP, but he has these patches that feel like sandpaper. He has other skin issues as well and I know KP tends to occur with other issues.

Anyone here have some remedies or natural things thay have used with success. I am just moisturizing, but it doesn't seem to help much. TIA

[tanyalynn]

Do a Search in the Allergies forum, we discussed it a lot way back. For some, magnesium helped (I think to balance calcium, there was discussion of calcium channels), for others either vitA (pre-formed) or omega-3s and I forgot how, but I think they somehow related back into the same imbalance that in other people made mag the answer.

[chattyprincess]

I found omega 3's helps mine. I also can only use dr.bronners baby mild soap and alba unscented lotion...anything else seems to set it off worse. I also seem to do better if its out in the sun everyday.

[balancedmama]

Our whole family has KP. I think it's important to make sure that yours isn't triggered by allergies. DD's looks a lot worse when she gets dairy, or too much dairy. The KP is always there, but pretty minimal unless she's exposed to something she's intolerant to.

[lissybeth74]

I would definitely have to agree with food allergy as possibly one of the causes. When my boys, who are sensitive to dairy, have stomach bugs and are not eating-- their KP clears up completely... it's unreal. Like beautiful, smooth skin.

[MoonStarFalling]

A variety of things help my KP. Lots of water, lots of dietary fat, no soap/very mild soap w/o detergents, daily skin brushing/dry brushing is very helpful, 100% raw diet (probably due to not having allergens).

[Marnica]

Allergies makes the most sense to me....we are dealing with trying to unravel what DS is sensitive to. This process is time consuming and $$$$$$, but totally worth it IMO. Since I have put DS and putting the puzzle of his issues together as a priority, my own issues have to go on the back burner, I am already off all kinds of foods (gluten, dairy, soy, yeast) because DS still BF, so it may be another food?? Once I have the resources I plan on getting myself tested as well. In the meantime, I will try some of the other suggestions.

Tanya - that thread was helpful, but oh so confusing. I am finding unraveling this nutrition/allergy issue a confusing nightmare. Please tell me I'll get there!!

[tanyalynn]

It gets easier, really. You'll start seeing things that relate to your situation specifically, and overlaps between your health and your son's. There are probably enough similarities that it'll be useful when problem-solving, even when symptoms aren't identical and even when one thing's not really an issue for you, but is for him, and vice-versa.

Mag's easy to supplement. Do you already give CLO? You probably don't consume a lot of omega-6s, yes? So if dha/epa is the answer, I'd expect to see improvement within (really guessing here) maybe 3-6 mos. CLO is worthwhile on its own, but then I wouldn't think it's that.

Has anyone seen a relationship between borage oil/evening primrose oil, and KP, I wonder? Even though it's an omega-6, some people do better supplementing it.

I've wondered if food allergens are stressing similar pathways to the ones we see as nutrient deficiencies. For DS, I tend to have to do both, remove the food allergens and supplement nutrients, but other people have good results of many kinds just removing foods (which didn't, all on its own, help DS much) or just supp-ing nutrients (I saw good stuff with DD supp-ing some nutrients). So consider both.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

It gets easier, really. You'll start seeing things that relate to your situation specifically, and overlaps between your health and your son's. There are probably enough similarities that it'll be useful when problem-solving, even when symptoms aren't identical and even when one thing's not really an issue for you, but is for him, and vice-versa.

Mag's easy to supplement. Do you already give CLO? You probably don't consume a lot of omega-6s, yes? So if dha/epa is the answer, I'd expect to see improvement within (really guessing here) maybe 3-6 mos. CLO is worthwhile on its own, but then I wouldn't think it's that.

Has anyone seen a relationship between borage oil/evening primrose oil, and KP, I wonder? Even though it's an omega-6, some people do better supplementing it.

I've wondered if food allergens are stressing similar pathways to the ones we see as nutrient deficiencies. For DS, I tend to have to do both, remove the food allergens and supplement nutrients, but other people have good results of many kinds just removing foods (which didn't, all on its own, help DS much) or just supp-ing nutrients (I saw good stuff with DD supp-ing some nutrients). So consider both.

He has been taking CLO for a long time and it does not seem todo much for his skin issues. I myself have taken EPO for hormonal balancing at the advice of my ND and it certainbly hasn't helped with the KP. I also take CLO, but have to admit I am THE worst about remembering to take it....this goes for many of the supplements I take. I am sitting here now at 3:15pm taking my supps that I should have taken with breakfast. I need to work on putting myself in the equation!
As for Mag, I have been trying to take natural calm (but again forget more times than not). For DS I have been doing epsom salt baths every other day, for a few weeks. Not sure if this is enough or even if and how deficient he may be. That is where I get confused. How do I know he needs more x, y or z and if I can figure out he may be deficient in x, how much do I give him?? I wish there was some definitive test that could tell me exactly what he is deficient in that would take all this guesswork out of the picture. Guessing and taking stabs in the dark with supplements make me nervous. Many of the vitamins/minerals work in conjunction with one another and strike a delicate balance. I"m always afraid if I try supplememting with 1 thing, I may be creating another problem. *SIGH*

[Ornery]

I've struggled with KP all my life and my children all have it to some degree or another. Sunshine really helps minimize ours but heat seems to make ours come out more. Otherwise I've tried a lot of things with little to no impact. We have tried gluten, dairy, etc. free with no improvement and have done a ton of supplements. Good luck and if you find something fantastic, please share!