Keratosis Pilaris

I have a self-diagnosed condition of keratosis pilaris (otherwise known as chicken feet). I won't grace you with a picture of the tiny dots that have taken over my upper arms, but for you curious cats out there, you can get a sneak peek into what this looks like.

What is it? Essentially, the skin condition caused by keratin (a protein in the skin) forming plugs inside the hair follicles. The end result is a manifestation of little bumps. The good news is it is not fatal; but the bad news is it looks aesthetically unpleasing. (I like my polka dots on my clothes, not on my arms, thank you very much!)

According to the Mayo Clinic (Oh, how I hope they're correct about this), keratosis pilaris usually goes away by the age of 30. That being said, I'm not raising my hopes because I noticed that my dad suffers from the same condition and he is way past his 30's!

I've found a lot cures online involving glyolic peels and microdermabrasion, but I really want to try something less…harsh, for the lack of a better word.

A quick Google search (I realize this is not the most accurate of sources) led me to try rubbing the affected areas with a pumice stone. I gave this method a try for one simple reason: Pumice stones are renown for removing dead skin cells on our feet, so why not for keratosis pilaris?

It's been 4 weeks since I've been using a pumice stone in my shower. (My process is simple--I rub a little body wash and then scrub the area in circular motions. After my shower, I make sure to moisturize with oil.) I've noticed a reduction in the redness and total number of bumps in my upper arms (my affected area), but it's far from gone. I'm going to definitely continue using a pumice stone and see where this takes me. If not for keratosis pilaris, then for the freakishly soft skin I have on my upper arms now courtesy of my 99 cent stone!

Image Source