Small pimples on my upper arms

stacey1979 · Jan 15, 2008, 11:34 AM

i have had this for all of my life. I am now 29. I have a very bad habit of picking at them and making my arms look real ugly for weeks till they heal. I would do anything to get them gone or close to it. I don't have insurance so any other ideas would help. Please help me. Thanks Stacey

XOXOlove · Aug 17, 2009, 09:28 AM

i do the same thing!! it's worse on my left arm. after i shave i just rub it gently with a pumice stone. it stops the ingrown hairs and blackheads from forming.

Duy_Nguyen92 · Aug 29, 2009, 01:14 AM

man.. i understand how you feel! i'm 16 years old and i've had these arm pimples all my life... my dad has them and my mom doesn't so i guess i got them from my dad.. my brother's and sisters have them but they're small dots, and mine are like.. pimples, not with liek white heads, as if there were white things UNDER my skin so it's a little bump and i have popped mine a lot... and my left arm is reallly badly scarred compared to my right... i do feel bad that you have them too.. because i don't konw what will work, and like you i don't have insurance to go to the dermatologist.. =/.... and like no matter how much i touch them.. it's still there it doesn't go away... sometimes i feel that nothing will work and i'm doomed to have it because my father has them and i'm going to have to suffer with them... well i would just have to say.. try to deal with it the best way you can.. because i don't think it'll go away.. if you have had them since you were like a kid.. :[ good luck in getting rid of them.

ChihuahuaMomma · Aug 30, 2009, 04:47 PM

I've honestly found that going to a Dermatologist for Keratosis Pilaris is a waste of time and money, because they will just give you recommendations of what to do when you get home. There is no known cure for this.

AyKay · Oct 8, 2009, 07:29 AM

Ive got that problem too, however it didn't get bad till about a year ago (im 23 years old) its very hard not to pop the pimples on my arms and now ive taken to picking my scalp as well and biting the skin on my lips til they almost bleed, its really gross but i cant stop. I also pick the skin around my fingers and have to cover them with band-aids just so they can heal a little!! This condition is rough and embarrassing. i haven't found anything to help the problem, just wanted to say your not alone!!

ChihuahuaMomma · Oct 8, 2009, 10:21 AM

I just starting using HEMPZ lotion and it works (for me). The bumps and redness is all gone. But for the ingrown hairs I still use tweezers to get them out.

AZ_Brie · Oct 15, 2009, 02:01 PM

I'm 26 also suffer from Keratosis Pilaris (my sister as well). I have looked into this several times - I live in Arizona & the dry air makes this worse!

I've tried various srubs, exfoliants, lotions, and creams (I'm a beauty product junkie). I saw the best results when I was using Neutrogena Sesame Body Oil in the shower, at the end of my shower. Not only were my arms much better within about a week, but my entire body was buttery soft!

biged622 · Oct 18, 2009, 06:59 PM

I also have this condition. I often pick at the pimples too, leaving all kinds of scarring. Rubbing a pumice stone (get it in the skin care section) on the area every day and applying some type of medicated lotion usually helps a lot. I just forget to do it a lot. Don't feel too bad guys because it could be worst, you could have it on your face for the rest of your life. So just do what you can to reduce the pimples and ingrown hairs.

10fareed · Dec 31, 2009, 10:14 PM

i learned that what seem like pimples is actually hair that's forming. the best thing to do is leave your arm alone and exfoliate. i also have scars from when i picked on my arm when i was younger, now the scars are just fading away very slowly.

ChihuahuaMomma · Dec 31, 2009, 11:26 PM

I've began using Dermarest, it's a formula designed for Psoriasis but it calms the redness and makes my arms smoother. Love it.

Elsie71 · Jan 20, 2010, 05:56 AM

I had this too, it's called keratosis pilaris and it's not acne. It's the way our skin naturally exfoliates - not very well for those of us who have it. Through trial and error I finally found a few simple things (and inexpensive and natural) work to really help reduce it tremendously. Raw, unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar will quickly reduce the bumps and smooth the skin (results within a few days). You can purchase this in the organic section at the grocery store. Night time is a good time to apply it to your skin with a cotton pad, as it does have an ordor. Apple cider vinegar helps with acne also.
Another product that works is Dr Bronners soaps (I specifically use the liquid peppermint). You can order online from Dr Bronner web site. Whole Foods also carries it.
Another product that works great is Zum soap (I use the peppermint lavendar) and can be ordered from Indigowild.com. Whole Foods also carries this, but it's less expensive if you order online.

These are the only 3 things I have ever found to almost completely remove the bumps. When you wash in the shower, use a loofa to help exfoliate the skin - DO NOT SCRUB - let the loofa work for you.