I don't have a paleo answer, but treatment of keratosis pilaris (KP) is usually tri-modal: (1) moisturizers, (2) skin softeners and (3) anti-inflammatory.

Coconut oil is a good choice for a topical moisturizer. Fish, krill, and cod liver oils are probably worth a try to take internally.

Skin softeners that contain lactic acid and/or urea seem to work fairly well. Betamide lotion is an OTC product that contains urea + lactic acid, and it's available from amazon ( http://www.amazon.com/Betamide-Lotion-16-Ounce-Bottle/dp/B00068Y9VM ).

Finally, if you have redness, itching or a sudden flare-up of KP, a mild anti-inflammatory agent such as 1% hydrocortisone cream for 7 to 10 days may calm it down. For some, KP may be related to atopic conditions such as eczema and asthma, so avoidance of allergens can help.

There is this blog http://www.helpforkp.com/keratosis_pilaris_forum.html The thinking is that it is a genetic condition with parents passing it along to offspring. But I wonder if the environment of the parents is what causes the offspring to get the skin condition. As in rosacea and ezcema. Don't know. Just speculation.

Dr Art Ayers thinks that most of the problems we have with skin originate with the gut bacteria flora out of whack. http://coolinginflammation.blogspot.com/ Roam around his site.

He recently talked about oligossacarides being used as a fiber that ferments in the gut to heal the gut. Foods that contain oligossacarides fibers are Jerusalem artichokes, artichokes, burdock root, chicory, jicama and pectin. Look around his site. He does answer specific question directly.

I was able to find fresh burdock root in my local organic store. I chew on some every day. My cost was $6 a pound but you get a lot by the pound. And I found chicory and powdered burdock root at http://www.herbco.com/ Monterey Bay Herb and Spice.

Definitely eliminate the soy sauce. It contains wheat as well as soy.

Good luck.

Keratosis Pilaris came up as a question on Loren Cordain's blog last year http://thepaleodiet.blogspot.com/2009/11/paleo-diet-q-112709.html

The hyperkeratosis that occurs in the pores seems similar to what occurs as a part of acne. Cordain now thinks that this hyperkeratosis may be due to high insulin levels, acting by reducing levels of Insulin like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 (IGFBP-3) releasing IGF-1 to cause the over production of keratocytes that block the pore. Apparently in some people wheat can also result in lower IGFBP-3.

Cordain's main ideas are that high glycemic load carbs and dairy raise insulin, these raise androgen levels that also contribute. He thinks that omega 3 and 6 balance and dietary lectins, for example from wheat, may also play a role. If you are posibly sensitive to some common food lectins it could be worth experimenting without them. Was your diet any different when working on the farm? Another thought is that some people think reducing fat may lower androgens and increase insulin sensitivity in some people.

Not that this is probably very helpful to you as you already know about paleo eating but I thought it was interesting.

Another thought is that some people think reducing fat may lower androgens and increase insulin sensitivity in some people.

Avoiding hot water will protect the skin by removing less of the normal layer of oils on the skin surface. It is unfortunate that cold showers arn't as enjoyable.

Maybe avoiding soap would help too, in my experience soap is not really needed on the arms and legs. I find that briefly using a mildly abrasive sponge or sisal glove over the skin while showering removes dead skin and dirt without altering too much of the skins oils. There was not much soap in the stone age :)

It doesn't seem possible to fully get rid of it, except with advancing age. That said, BOTH vitamin A and vitamin D help me quite a bit. Given D's other benefits and A's potential antagonism of such benefits, I don't overdo A for the sake of my arms... By the way, I did try once a lot of A and it still only improves to a point.

Coconut oil applied topically can help but the two things that have made a dramatic difference for me are sunbathing regularly and/or water fasting with dry brushing. Amazingly smooth skin in both cases!

This is what worked for me: 1. Don't use soap, it's not needed is dries out your skin and makes me itchy 2. Take a long enough bath or shower that the keratin softens a bit 3. SCRUB! exfoliate with a bath mitt, salt whatever or once you get out use a dry towel scrub off loose skin 4. Next is chemical exfoliation, I use apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and apply it to my arms 5. then coconut oil for moisture

Do this at night or at least a few hours before you go anywhere and the vinegar smell will dissapate. Try it several times and see how it affects your KP

Jess

Hey Melissa, did you find a solution for this? My bumps came back recently. I used to get this as a teen, but it went away when I began to use a body puff and body wash in the shower - regular exfoliation. Now it's back, seems like the change of seasons brought it on, maybe hotter showers and drier skin. I'm applying Lac-Hydrin daily, it's an ammonium lactate cream that has helped in the past, but so far no improvement. Did you manage to succesfully hack your bumps?

Posters over at celiac.com say this is linked to gluten intolerance and influenced by essential fatty acid deficiency.

Is your soy sauce gluten free? Taking any fish oil?

I had it on both upper arms pre-primal, but it's gone now.

Until I saw this post I didn't even realize it was gone.

I have this as well, have had it since I was a pre-teen. Very annoying, and makes me a little bit self conscious about it since a girl in grade 7 stood behind me in a choir performance and yelled, "Ew what is that on the back of your arms!" ... To say the least that situation has stuck with me!

I had it without knowing what it was since I can remember. It has pretty much gone away post-sad. It very well could be grain related at least for me. I eliminated several ailments after removing grains from my diet.

I Hope I am not too late for this.

I've had it for 15 years. This is how I feel about treatment.

Dry Brushing every day for a minimum of 3 months and using a mixture of Jojoba & Castor Oil after the shower. Tried coconut but prefer to internally take it.

Its all about the gut though. There are creams and what not that will bring it down and keep it manageable and not appear so obvious.

Lately I started gettingit on my upper back. First time in my life as usually its all over legs and arms (mainly backs and sides)

Bread (Gluten), Sugar (Even the naturals like honey, rice syrup, coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice), DAIRY (due to the lactose)....Are the main culprits.

Cut them out completely. Minimum 3 months.

At the same time, get a great probiotic and take daily for the 3 months. Need to get gut flora strong and functional.

Get the Insulin levels down. ASAP

Well if the ONLY reason you are taking cold showers is to get rid of the KP you might want to realize that cold showers have MANY great health benefits not only better skin. Just saying, so you might want to keep that up even though it isn't exactly a pleasant experience. AFTER a cold shower is pretty good though you feel refreshed and energetic. It's supposed to give you all sorts of great mental and physical health benefits. I would rather suffer through a cold shower and gain the benefits than take a hot shower which is actually bad for you(not only your skin.) A luke warm shower might be alright though(not damaging but not really healthy either.)

One word: liver. 2 weeks of eating liver and my KP is totally gone.