Keratosis pilaris: tried almost everything, still bumpy — what actually helps?
On Mumsnet's Style & Beauty board, a poster who has had keratosis pilaris (the rough, red 'chicken skin' bumps) on her arms and legs all her life said she was fed up. She listed what she had already been through: urea creams, chemical and physical exfoliation, bar soap instead of shower gel, only moisturising, sun, cutting out gluten and dairy. Scrubbing left her skin smooth for a while but red and spotty, and with summer coming she felt low about showing her limbs. The thread ran to 70 replies.
What the replies said
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Several people pointed to acids rather than scrubs. One said using The Ordinary's glycolic acid on the backs of the arms a couple of times a week, and stopping shower scrubs, had reduced theirs a lot. The poster said she wanted to stop physical exfoliation too.
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Urea came up again, with the point that the percentage matters; others named CeraVe's salicylic acid cream, and one noted a cheaper Boots own-brand version.
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KP-specific lotions had both fans and critics: one person said a twice-daily routine for a few weeks cleared theirs, while the poster had already used two tubs without much change.
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Some said theirs faded after puberty or seemed hormonal; others preferred tinted lotion or fake tan, or simply stopped worrying about it.
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A few suggestions, such as vitamin A tablets or cutting protein, were more speculative, and one reply asked what a dermatologist had said.
Desk note: The American Academy of Dermatology describes moisturisers containing urea or lactic acid as a typical step, alongside gentle exfoliation; prescription options include acids such as salicylic or glycolic acid and retinoids. It also says KP often fades with time, can't be cured, needs ongoing treatment to keep results, and that if a plan shows no improvement after 4–6 weeks you should tell your dermatologist. High-dose vitamin A supplements are not something to start on a forum's say-so; talk to a doctor first.
If you have KP: did acids, urea, or simply leaving it alone work best?
Original thread: Mumsnet Style & Beauty — "Fed up with keratosis pilaris" · Source: AAD — Keratosis pilaris: treatment
One thing to add if you're switching from scrubs to acids: the US FDA notes that alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic and lactic acid may increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun and the chance of sunburn. Its suggested label advises sunscreen, protective clothing and limiting sun exposure while using the product and for a week afterwards. Arms and legs are exactly where summer sun lands, so the timing of a new acid routine matters. Source: FDA — Alpha hydroxy acids