Small bumps on back of arms?

[Still_Snarky]

I have had tiny bumps on the back of my upper arms for as long as I can remember. They got much better while I was pregnant but seem to be worse than ever now. They would get worse when I ate allergy foods when I was a kid and seem to be worse in winter months than in summer months. They also seem to be hereditary. Any ideas? Cures? I went to a dermatologist and she gave me some terrible prescription lotion that didn't help at all!

[hallesmom]

I have no clue what this is-but my sister has them. And they will intensify, but I've never heard her say what makes them worse. Sometimes the whole back of her arms get light pink/red!!

Hopefully someone else will know!

[pandamum5]

I've had this all my life, it's called Keratosis Pilaris. My sister works for a dermatologist, and for Christmas bought/gave me some body wash and lotion to use, they sell it but it's not a prescription type.

I have yet to use it, so I don't know if it works, I'm not sure of another cure or way to ease it though, sorry

[milk4two]

It's related to a nutritional deficiency, but I don't know what.

[pandamum5]

Really? Wow! I never thought about that, funny enough. Just doing a search brings up information about a Vit A deficiency, interesting to know (after all these years lol)!

[Still_Snarky]

Originally Posted by milk4two

It's related to a nutritional deficiency, but I don't know what.

Interesting...Let us know if you find out more!

[Jane]

My husband gets them, too. It's been suggested that they are a staph infection. When he was on penecillan for strep (which was really mono) they did clear up. I'm off to google Keratosis Pilaris.

[Gale Force]

I don't know what they are, but I had a lot and many of them cleared up months into a candida diet. My chiro said that they were "toxins."

[xenabyte]

Most mainstream docs will tell you that it's a genetic thing, inherited like brown or blue eyes. It is a permanent 'thing' but is controllable with daily care given to the 'bumps' in the form of mild AHA type creams and putting some moisturizing lotions on daily. I see in this dermadoc post, that lactic acid is one way to treat them...mmm...that's the same stuff in whey and our Kefir ferments...whoo hoo...another use.

Here is the link:

http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter51.asp

I've also heard on the http://www.keratosispilaris.org/ website about several folks with it, having treated it nutritionally. It's not really toxins, though you can have real achne bumps from that too. The KP is basically a bulid up of the proteins in your skin, that don't 'slough off' like they normally should, so it turns into little bumps around hair follicles.

I had them for most of my teen years, and so does my sister and brother.

I have noticed them 'clear up' in different seasons and when I used to swim alot. When I was 'low carbing' they seemed to clear up, but not always.

I have noticed they are almost gone now, with only a few 'bumps' here and there, and thought maybe it was due to the probiotics I've been adding into my diet. /shrug

Time will tell...

[GoldBerry]

I did a quick search and found this:

http://www.drgreene.com/21_84.html

I have this, as does my Dd #1 but I have not treated it in anyway.

Hope this helps.

[Still_Snarky]

Originally Posted by Salvia

I did a quick search and found this:

http://www.drgreene.com/21_84.html

I have this, as does my Dd #1 but I have not treated it in anyway.

Hope this helps.

Very informative article by Dr. Greene! Thanks for all the help ladies!

[Earth Angel]

My Ds#1 and I both have this...It does clear up when I remember to apply moisturizer at least twice a day, one of those times being directly after my shower...before I dry my arms. That is interesting it could be a vit deficiency!

[~*max*~]

I just took my ds to an allergist. Ds also has keratosis on his upper arms & cheeks. The allergist said it is a mild form of eczema. We use jojoba oil w/a drop of lavendar & chammomile on it & it really seems to help. (The dermatologist recommended Eucerin cream or hydrocortizone cream if they are itchy. I prefer the natural route.)

[iris0110]

I have these on my arms. I asked my dr what they were and he said they were a form of acne and gave me a cream. Long story short he was wrong. Ds has them on his arms and legs. I wouldn't be suprised if they did come from a vitamin deficiency as his diet is awful (we are working on it, but he is a very picky eater). I have tatts on my upper arms, and where the ink is I don't have bumps anymore. I am thinking about covering my whole upper arm in tatts to get rid of them. Unfortunately that won't help ds. I would love to hear more about supplements that might treat them.

[Jane]

Originally Posted by xenabyte

I see in this dermadoc post, that lactic acid is one way to treat them...mmm...that's the same stuff in whey and our Kefir ferments...whoo hoo...another use.

The mentioned treatment is to use a topical lactic acid, used to dissolve or dissasemble the protein plugs that are said to clog the pore. The lactic-acid-producing bacteria in Kefir or other ingested preparations will not have the same effect. I imagine speading Kefir on the skin would be just as effective as a cream with the same % of acid. Might be kind of icky, though.

[BlueStateMama]

I've had KP forever and tried EVERYTHING for it (natural remedies, that expensive AM-lactin stuff, and spendy cream called "KP Duty" which came from that Dermadoctor site) and *finally* I found something that works....Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme (at any drugstore.) I now clean out the shelves at my local store periodically. I'm excited b/c it's the first thing I've tried that's actually worked!

Also - use laundry stuff for sensitive skin (no fragrance, fabric softener etc) and don't manually exfoliate (ie with a scrub) - there's evidence that abrasive exfoliation aggravates it...

[Jane]

Confessional time: It seems worse if I'm fatter. Something about the tension of the skin on the clothing makes it worse (waistbands and such). I've had good luck just using tweezers to remove the little tufts of skin, too. I think the number of red bumps has decreased by half through the removal of the plugs.

[xenabyte]

Originally Posted by Apricot

The mentioned treatment is to use a topical lactic acid, used to dissolve or dissasemble the protein plugs that are said to clog the pore. The lactic-acid-producing bacteria in Kefir or other ingested preparations will not have the same effect. I imagine speading Kefir on the skin would be just as effective as a cream with the same % of acid. Might be kind of icky, though.

Aye, I was thinking topical, but only using the whey (so no milky bits) or even making 'Kefiran water' like the dom suggests for facial washes.

Hey, the ancient queens used to bath in 'milk baths'...it's loaded with lactic acid...I'll bet there is a reason they added milk to the bath water...

So anyone else have the little brown discolored spots on their arms, even once the bumps go away?? Any fade cream that actually work?

Actually, regarding the Vit A link, I HAVE been eating tons more carrots lately since Ds2 is starting to eat that kind of stuff....so there probably is some good evidence to support that (well, personal and ancedotal).

I also have noticed when I am 'thinner' they seem less bothersome.

[xenabyte]

Originally Posted by mommyofone

I've had KP forever and tried EVERYTHING for it (natural remedies, that expensive AM-lactin stuff, and spendy cream called "KP Duty" which came from that Dermadoctor site) and *finally* I found something that works....Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Body Creme (at any drugstore.) I now clean out the shelves at my local store periodically. I'm excited b/c it's the first thing I've tried that's actually worked!

Also - use laundry stuff for sensitive skin (no fragrance, fabric softener etc) and don't manually exfoliate (ie with a scrub) - there's evidence that abrasive exfoliation aggravates it...

That sounds awesome, I'll have to look for it. Any chance you could type the ingredient list up. I'm kinda particular to what I put on my skin and this way I can see if I can order it, if I have no problem with the ingredients.

Thanks again for the recomendation!

Mmm, found it online actually. Here is the ingredient list:

Water, Urea, Mineral Oil, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Polygyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isopropyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Bisabolol, Lactic Acid, Lanolin Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol


Mmm, water, pee, and mineral oil top three ingredients. I see it has lactic acid in it, the 'active' ingredient I'll assume. I think I'd rather rub Kefir water on me hehe Glad to hear it works though! I no longer use products with mineral oil in them. I wish there was an alternative product made without petroleum products!

[BlueStateMama]

Here you go: Water, Urea, Mineral Oil, Sodium Lactate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Microcrystalline Wax, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Isopropyl Stearate, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Magnesium Sulfate, Bisabolol, Lactic Acid, Lanolin Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol

By far not the most NFL list of ingredients I've ever seen, to say the least!! : Just a disclaimer, I normally don't post here touting big chemical potions, but when I saw KP and I have had something work so well for me, I wanted to share :