It’s a Skin Condition, Not Goose Bumps!

I’ve had little white bumps on my thighs and elbows for a while now, years even. They don’t hurt, they don’t itch; they’re just there. Normally I pay them no mind, but for the past few weeks my skin’s been…bumpier. The white rounds have appeared more raised, and their numbers have risen. My upper legs feel almost sandpapery, and it makes me sad. I’ve exfoliated in the shower, I moisturize (occasionally…), and they never really go away.

I reached a turning point this past weekend, when I was sitting in my boyfriend’s car with my legs hanging out of a dress. He asked me innocently, “Are you cold? Your legs are all goose-bumpy.” Argh! Mortified, embarrassed and angered I got to the office Monday morning and did some research. Though I had a suspicion I already knew what it was.

Lately I’ve read much material on a skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris. It’s comprised of little bumps on the skin that don’t itch, don’t hurt, and tend to get worse when skin is extremely dry. Being a lazy moisturizer and someone who loves showering in almost-scalding hot water (both habits I’m trying to break), I know my body is pretty dehydrated. So I made an appointment with my dermatologist to see if I indeed had a case of Keratosis Pilaris. And in the meantime I got myself a moisturizer with alpha-hydroxy acids, namely C. booth, derma C 24, Alpha Hydroxy Acid Maximum Moisture Daily Body Lotion ($15, amazon.com). This acid is a major exfoliator, and after one use of the lotion—just one!—my legs felt amazingly smoother. But the tough formula also left my skin a bit red, so I’m going to use it every other day until I get the real word from my derm.
I’ll let you know my diagnosis, but in the meantime readers, tell me, have any of you dealt with a condition like this?

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