Please Help My Acne Problem
It sounds like the acne on the upper thigh is really keratosis pilarsis, or
KP. It’s the growth
of excess skin around hair follicles, and is usually present on the upper arms
and upper thighs.
There is really no cure, but some treatments prove effective: Go to the drug
store and get a Buf
Puf. It can help exfoliate and smooth the area. You can also try a 12% OTC
lactic acid cream,
which also serves to exfoliate dead skin cells. A doctor can also prescribe
stronger lactic acid
products as well as creams like Retin A, which contain vitamin A derivatives.
This is one of the
newer approaches to KP, and my doctor loves this new idea. Like any acne
product though, these
products take a few weeks to see results.
I think it’s also worth trying a body wash specifically targeted for body
acne, like the one
from Neutrogena. It’s also summer– it’s hotter, and we sweat more. The
exacerbation of your
acne may just be from the excess sweat and oil production in the summer. If
that’s the case, just
treat any acne on your body the same way you would acne on your face.
I hope this was helpful!
–Karyn