Keratosis Pilaris - Crown Point,IN

I had it in a minor way (on the arms only, not the face or anywhere else) and my kids did too, when they were younger. It was never diagnosed by a doctor because it just wasn't problematic beyond cosmetically. Both my kids had it on the backs of their arms too. Mine came and went... I was self conscious about it wearing tank tops...
Maybe it wasn't even diagnosable KP, but I don't know what else it might have been. :/
Anyway... essentially it is blocked follicles... what I did (can't remember where I read the idea) was apply Selson Blue (yes, the dandruff shampoo) to the backs of my arms and let it sit for a minute before taking my shower. After a few applications it seemed to clear out the clogs and I never have really had it come back. I was probably 23 or 24 yrs old at the time.

I let my son try it a year or so ago (he is 14 now)... His got itchy and he would scratch it. After using the SB a few times, he doesn't really have issues on the backs of his arms anymore either. He did get something like it on his elbows that itched so badly he scratched until it was raw. Dr said it was just dry skin...but it looked just like KP. I let him put SB on that, too. It stung a little, b/c he was scratching it raw so often... but when the skin wasn't raw and he applied it, it did help. It hasn't completely gone away, but it isn't nearly as bad as it was, and he only used it once or twice b/c it stung from the raw from scratching.

My daughter never really wanted to try it (she is 11)... and I won't make an issue of it.

I don't know if it is something you are willing to try or not, particularly since it is on their faces. I would be very hesitant to put anything on their faces. But if your daughter has it elsewhere (her arms?) then you might try putting some on for a few minutes before her bath to see if it helps.
I bought the "old school" one. It is just medicated shampoo, but it has selenium sulfide in it. Be sure to read the label, as some of the varieties don't have that active ingredient in it.

Good luck.

I have it and have had it my WHOLE LIFE.

Here are son Do's and Dont's hopefully it helps
Dont
pick, scratch, 'pop', poke or prod at them, use exfoliators or any rough cleansers or tools

Do
keep the effected area moisturized - shower/bathe and PAT dry the effected skin (do not rub) and immediately use a good lotion or moisturizer such as vaseline intensive care, but my fav is dream cream from www.lushusa.com, allow sun to be on the skin for short times in the day - it does help actually, plus you get your vit D (use sunscreen). On the face, you can use a acne wash with acylic acid (do not reccomend at 5 though) as she ages but, do not ever use toner on the effected are and moisturize

Honestly - it can ease up, esp if the skin is properly moisturized and again in the summer I find that some mild sun exposure helps the skin in general.

My daughter and I have eliminated ours by eating lots of good fats, especially by taking a fermented cod liver oil/high fat butter oil supplement. (I buy ours at drrons.com)

I first read about it here: http://gnowfglins.com/2010/11/08/rfqm-keratosis-pilaris/ and was shocked. I had never been diagnosed with this, but suffered with it my entire life, especially on my legs, to the point that I was embarrassed to wear shorts, etc. because people would look at me like I might be contagious and edge away.

It took about a month to completely clear up, but as long as I take the supplements, I stay clear. If I miss a few days in a row, I see it start to creep back, but it clears up faster now, once I start again.

Just goes to show that doctors don't know everything- there might not be a cure, but there is a very good, and harmless!!, treatment.

Hope this helps. (My older daughter swallows the capsules, but I have heard that the butter pecan flavor is very good.)

M.

I use coconut oil (I get it in the grocery store where they sell the shortening). It's natural and extremely moisturizing. You can get organic that smells really nice or Louanna(?) brand that has no smell -- that one they have at walmart. I use coconut oil as my regular moisturizer and also use it in my super-dry hair.

I have it as well as both of my daughters. My eldest has it really really bad on her arms and legs. The only thing I have found that works on hers is vaseline and even that only helps soften them so they don't itch so much, but it never gets better. All the lotions and creams the Dr.'s recommended did not work at all for her.

The one thing that was awful was lotion called Lanicream with Lactic acid in it that was supposed to really help. The only thing that did was make it burn we both stood in the shower for 30 min. getting that stuff off, so do not recommend that one.

Good luck I did find that with myself and the baby that the Euciren Calming Cream works pretty good. It is the really thick lotion, but it is expensive, and it did not do anything for my eldest who is really really bad.

HI C. - I was never diagnosed with it but have/had it - under my legs, back of my arms, and as a child I'd get them on my cheeks.

As I got older the ones on my cheeks were not as noticable as I think they tend to show up more the more you are active in hot conditions.......I still have it very minimal on my arms and the backs of my legs - hardly noticable.

Both of my children have it on their legs and arms as well.

I had it as a kid on my upper arms....by college it had gone away...sufferred with it middle school through high school...I remember that exposure to the sun in the summer did make it better.