keratosis pilaris

[littlemarie]

I have this all over my arms and a little on my legs. It is really bad. I have red bumps all over me and it is so noticable. I've been raw for over a year and though I've lost a lot of weight my keratosis pilaris hasn't changed. There is no way I'm going to see a doctor who's going to stuff me with drugs, I am 14 so I can't just go to a natural doctor on my own. Tell me, I think the best diet is 2 meals of raw food a day, with low on nuts and high on greens, medium on fruits. THis stinks because I love nuts and fruit, not so much greens. I eat green smoothies when my mom will by me the greens but I need some help. How can I over come keratosis pilaris, get over my nut addiction, and do this with out spending much money? What I am requesting is that you will please give me ideas for 2 meals, that I could eat every day(my mom likes regularity) that would be good for me and would be on a 14 year old budget. I don't want comfort food, I want healing food (or a combo). Please, please help me, I'm pretty much alone here.

[Clare]

Try this: exfoliate the bumpy areas very well at least once per day. After bathing and as OFTEN as you can apply virgin coconut oil.

This is all it took to make my son's KP disappear and he is not even 100% raw.

I have heard that eating the coconut oil and oil pulling is quite helpful. Do you like eating coconut? It is not like other nuts and for only $1.50 you get tons of calories. Yes, I would up the greens. Nuts can be difficult for some to digest.

If I were you, I would focus on exfoliation, coconut oil application, and try making green smoothies at least once per day. You can add ground flax cheaply for protein and fats. Also eat salads that you enjoy and coconut if you can.

[Ariel]

Hey, you're not alone. :) I have KP also. It's all over my legs and arms, and pretty severe and noticeable on my arms. I'm very self-conscious about them and and don't usually wear T-shirts.

One thing that I know works a lot is the sun and fresh air. Last summer I just sat in the sun for a while in a T-shirt, when the weather permitted, and though the KP didn't vanish or anything, it did lessen the bumps.

Here's something I'm going to start trying for it:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/607745/natural_control_of_common_body_acne.html?cat=69
Maybe you should too. Good luck!

[RawSinger]

I also have KP! I've had it on my arms for about 9 years. I've asked a few doctors how to get rid of it and they have each said there's "No cure." I do exfoliate my entire body most days but that alone didn't clear it up. My current doctor told me that it's kind of like acne and I could try treating it with a salicylic acid cream or something. I tried this for a little while but not long enough to see results. I would much rather use something natural on my body so if the coconut oil really does work, I would be thrilled. Thanks Clare!

[Juicyfruit]

From experience here, I USED to have it too. Raw cured mine. The main thing you want to make sure of is:

1. Are your nuts truly raw? If not, buy some shelled and shell them yourself. Consuming damaged (heated) protein is the main cause of this condition.

2. Vitamin A. Make sure you are getting vitamin a foods in and eating enough fats as in avocado, olive or coconut. Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin. Examples, mangoes, apricots, papaya, carrots, tomatoes and greens. I use olive oil on everything or I take a sip after I eat. It usually ends up around two tablespoons a day.

Are you 100% raw? Dairy and grains are the main culprit in a regular diet. Even when I am not 100% it stays gone as long as I don't consume and dairy or grains.

As for eating twice a day, do you not find yourself getting hungry? I find that I have to eat several small meals consisting of fruits and fats.

Good luck!

[Eveleaf]

Dry skin brushing and juice fasting VASTLY reduced mine. It's still there, but at about 3% of what it was before. Good enough for me!

[littlemarie]

Thank you for your replies, yes I am 100% with no dairy or grains except occasional raw oat groats( like 1/2 cup a month ). I'll try the coconut. What is the best way to exfoliate? Should I use sea salt scrubs?

[Clare]

I have seen little natural loofah "mitts" and pads at Wal-Mart, even ones on a stick to help reach your back. For my son, I simply use a washcloth but loofahs might be better. Also I bought a natural body brush to do dry skin brushing before my showers, just because it's good for everyone. I'm sure you can find these at Wal-Mart, Target, or Whole Foods if you feel like paying at least double :-)

If I were you, I might do dry brushing before the shower/bath, then use a loofah also with whatever cleanser. Keep a big jar of that coconut oil in the bathroom and in the kitchen so you get at least 3 apps a day :-) and take at least a little to eat, too. Fortunately it's cheaper than any lotion.

As JuicyFruit said, it should clear up almost completely in time on full raw if you are getting the nutrients you need. Be patient, though. Everybody has different nutritional strengths/weaknesses in their bodies.

[RawSinger]

Clare: since using coconut oil on my arms, my KP has cleared up significantly! Maybe about 50% (at least that's how it looked today). And I haven't even been using the coconut oil every single day! So, thanks for suggesting it :) I really want to get into dry skin brushing as well. I know it's not just good for the skin, it's also a lympathic cleanser.

[Clare]

Yea! I'm so happy for you...to help you remember the C.O., use an empty little jar or ramekin so you have some in your bathroom. I keep a little glass jar with a screw cap on my bathroom counter since it is my everything lotion and deodorant. Also on the diaper changing table. I have to refill these from the kitchen every week or so. My mom keeps a giant jar from her online orders under her bathroom sink at her house in addition to the kitchen. Great for sunburns, too. My husband came back from our camping trip with the Birkenstock foot burn :-)

[RawSinger]

My husband came back from our camping trip with the Birkenstock foot burn :-)

lol, well not really. You mean he has a sunburn in the shape of the cut-outs in the top of the sandal?? Ahhhh, men.

[Eva]

OH MY!!! I can't believe no one said anything about oil pulling yet!!!

Go to www.oilpulling.com for more information.

Alba (she is living in Paris and not really posting these days) had some skin problems, including some pimples, scars from pimples of days gone by, and also keratosis pilaris (am I spelling that right??).

It took a few weeks, I believe, but oil pulling 2-3 times per day completely got rid of it for her!

I had the same problem that was pretty bad when I was your age, littlemarie! It did ease up and with raw is completely gone (with or without oil pulling for me at this point).

You can VERY inexpensively get rid of it by doing the following:
-eating raw and as simply as you can enjoy ;)
-drinking a lot of water
-oil pulling at least 2 times per day with (the non roasted) sesame oil
-and dry skin brushing with a rough bristled brush to get rid of dead skin

It WILL take some time, but if you do all of the above religiously you WILL completely get rid of your KP.

I'm "bumping" the oil pulling thread so you can see some information about it. If you look on page 12, you'll see the girl who started the thread talking about this. :)

[Eva]

And by the way -- it makes me laugh every time I hear something is incurable!!! NOTHING is without a cure. Sometimes we may not know it, but there is always some cure out there waiting! You just have to find it!

[RawSinger]

Hey Eva,

Is there a brand of brush that you would reccommend for dry skin brushing?? I know it should be made of natural bristles and most likely have a long handle but that's about all I know.

I am starting to really believe that no ailment is incurable. Even serious illnesses like cancer, if caught before the very end-stage, can be cured, in my opinion.

[Eva]

Hi Francesca!

I use a BIG body brush I got from The Body Shop -- here I just snapped a photo so you can see it in case that's helpful for some reason. http://flickr.com/photos/evar-b/2511185368/

I actually don't use it very often these days! The way you are supposed to do this to both help with circulation and remove dead skin is by brushing before showering and clockwise toward your heart.

I think. ;)

[Eva]

I am starting to really believe that no ailment is incurable. Even serious illnesses like cancer, if caught before the very end-stage, can be cured, in my opinion.

Pretty cool stuff huh?

Ya know what I just realized, though. I think it was a few months rather than weeks before Alba was completely healed from the KP doing that stuff. Still that's good, though! Better than NEVER!

[littlemarie]

Thank you so much Eva!;) :D :o :)