Vitamin C
I began making my own Lipospheric Vitamin C a few weeks ago. This is a special form that combines distilled water, non-gmo sunflower (<-- preferably) or soy lecithin (either liquid or powder/crystals), and Ascorbic Acid. Managing the temperature, a blender, and an ultrasonic machine results in a) lipospherically-encapsulated ascorbic acid, and b) <200nm sized spheres that the body will deliver directly to tissues for use as a phospholipid in nerve coverings and cell membranes (which puts the AA directly into the body tissues where the lipid is used).
My [note: free no-ads personal] blog has a few pages on how-to and details on Lipospheric-C here. [EC: please delete if desired, and if inappropriate to link I apologize.]
You can buy lipo-C, and it is much more 'efficiently' encapsulated in that case, though it usually contains 'stabilizers', but it's very expensive if you need to take it in quantity, and it doesn't have nearly as much lecithin, which may be the key player in this remedy. For a fraction the cost you can make it yourself and the health benefits are widespread.
I took about half a small batch a day for about two weeks. For detail, a whole small batch is about 1. 5 cups, or ~375g water + 15g AA and 45g lecithin. If made properly, this comes to around 11. 25g encapsulated AA, 3. 75 non-encapsulated AA, and the 45g of lecithin. So half a batch is half that.
For probably 20 years I've had the "massive red bumps" all over the back of my arms. So long I can't remember when I haven't. And I've had periods where my diet was very high in good fats (omega3 supplements, coconut oil, etc. ) but nothing ever touched them, although I admit I was never trying to do so. My teenager has often remarked on this because it's so extensive.
After 2 weeks (or less) of taking this stuff, my teenager was "agog" and raved about how the back of my arms suddenly had NO red bumps anymore at all. I had noticed my upper arms seemed much 'smoother' but thought I was imagining it, since my forearms were still dry and bumpy. I have a ~ two inch strip on the sort of top/outside of the arm that still has red dots but no bumps anymore, so I think that is still in healing process.
I had never considered this as a potential cure for KP (I always think of Lipo-C as being the C, but the lecithin is a huge part of it too). For more on lecithin (no research refs, just an overview), see Lecithin notes.
As an aside, the Lipo-C has made staggering changes in my sense of body-competence -- some effect that is not strength or energy yet sort of operates as both a little -- and my sense of well-being, elevation and stability of mood and patience, and more. My teen actually tried to give me her own money to buy a bigger machine to make and take more of the stuff, she says it so clearly affects my 'activity and happiness.' I can't say enough good things about the stuff. KP healing up is just one surprise benefit but probably the most trivial!
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
07/14/2013
Hi Redcairo from Miami, Ok, USA - Thank you so much for the link to your blog and details of making Lipospheric Vitamin C. I've had sunflower lecithin for ages but hadn't bought an ultrasonic machine. I actually forgot about making it. Then, after reading your post on Earth Clinic, it prompted me to order one and start making my own Lipo-C. I look forward to positive things! Thanks again and best wishes for continued good health. Cheers, Bess
Vitamin E
A couple of months ago my forehead began feeling like sandpaper and had a redness to it. I tried apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, Vaseline, sesame seed oil and etc. Nothing was working. I even gave up and tried Cortisone cream. Didn't work. I found nothing online that would even tell me what it was, much less the cure. Then I thought to take a Vitamin E capsule and squeeze out half of the capsule and spread it on my forehead each day, and within a week it was gone.
Vitamin K
Hi there, I have keratosis pilaris all over my arms and legs. I was wondering if anyone tried vitamin K and got any good results. I was trying msm sulphur and I did notice my kp clearing up, however it was making me vomit so I've stopped it now. Coconut oil has worked great but I want to know if Vitamin K is worth a try. Thank you
Witch Hazel
I was diagnosed with Keratosis Pilaris on my arms many years ago and have tried many remedies to get rid of the pesky bumps. Recently, I have started using plain witch hazel (the cheap stuff from the pharmacy) on my arms. Amazingly, the bumps seem to recede. The redness hasn't really gone away but my smoother arms are a vast improvement. I've read about a mixture of witch hazel, alcohol, and aspirin being used for ingrown hairs so I might try this as well to see if I get any different results. I'll update later on my progress!
(Pottsville , Pa)
11/01/2011
My daughter has KP too... We've been to the derm so many times to be told she has to just live with this. I've done research and found these remedies on my own. African Black Soap to detoxify her skin. This is a "wonderful" product for any skin blemishes. It even is great for moms with crows feet!! I use it every time I shower!!! Then we use Neem Oil, which is stinky, so we only apply it once on the weekends for 30 minutes to her arms. We have seen a GREAT improvement after 2 years of seeing NOTHING help.
(Florida, US)
09/04/2014
I am 50 years 'young' and have suffered with Keratosis Pilaris since the age of 13. I have been to doctors who prescribed me retinA, which is just not reasonable when the KP covers my arms and legs and the tube of gel/cream is the size of a tube of travel tooth paste, costs $30, and the directions say to apply it 3 times a day. DUMB! I have also been to a doctor who told me that I was just being borderline obsessive compulsive and to just live with it - I wanted to smack that guy in the head. After living with and fighting this condition for 37 years and reading a lot about it on-line this is what I have come to believe.
The condition is caused or triggered or aggravated by different things for different people. There is no cure. Don't give up trying to find something that will work for you to control and manage it.
My daily routine is to wash with Dove soap and exfoliate as I wash. I use a finger nail brush and use circular motions. It is extremely important to keep your skin exfoliated as the keratin plugs will never come out on their own. The exfoliation process takes time and consistency. And you are never done with it, this is a forever thing. I use Amlactin lotion. It's very good at hydration and softening the skin. This is another thing KP skin requires. It took me a long time to find a lotion that did not make my KP whelp up, I just found this one 6 months ago. I have found that the only hair removal system for me is shaving. Any other method leaves the end of the hair too soft, it cannot break through the skin, and then becomes caught up in the KP plug. I also use a microdermabrasion device several times a week. There is a huge difference in the amount of dead skin cells that are removed from the KP areas vs the skin that is not affected by KP. This just shows how KP skin does not shed well on it's own and the follicle will continue to be plugged by the keratin if I don't continually exfoliate.
I thought this was all working well for me as my KP had all but disappeared for the past 2 years BUT this past spring I took a hard look at my diet due to my nails and hair becoming brittle and thin and decided that my protein intake was extremely low. I added Ensure plus protein to my diet and in a matter of 1 1/2 months my KP was back. I researched this and found that there can be a connection between KP and casein. So I switched to a soy protein and in less than 1 month I can see that my KP has settled down. This entire thing really surprised me because up to this point I thought my KP was hormone related, as in it showed up with puberty, it went away while I was pregnant, came back really bad right after I gave birth and was getting better as I approached 50 and maybe menopause. But now I am sure it is at the least aggravated by certain foods.
The next thing that I want to try is a salicylic acid peel. It is supposed to clean out the pores really well. This would be maintenance as there is no cure.
So there is no 'one size fits all' answer for KP. Keep trying, but only try one thing at a time and give that one thing time, like a month, to show if it is working or not.
