Red skin

[barclay]

I have noticed that on the back of my arm at the top the skin is all blotchy with little red spots.Its like burst blood vessles or something, and it is really bothering me. I know its gonna be summer soon and I want to try and get rid of it as soon as I can. Does anyone have it? Or know how to get rid of it? I thought by having a bit of a tan it wouldnt be so noticeable, but it still shows in the summer. Can anyone help??

[curiosity]

Is it dry and pimply in places also? it could be Keritosis Pilaris...but don't panic it just has a scary name. This isn't serious it's just that people who suffer from it find it unsightly as you yourself do. If it is this, it is very common especially in fair skinned people, and I bet someone else you know has it (there was 6 people at my new year party). It is known as a "familial" condition in that it runs in families. If you google it you will get more info to decide for yourself if it is this. If so treatment is moisturising & exfoliating, microdermabrasion cloths work well. The sun helps also. However if you go through a GP/ dermatologist they prescribe Retin A gel (The very very expensive ingredient in anti aging creams) Have a look on google first cos it might not be this, but if it is this, it may be worthwhile getting the gel (although I admit I use my daughters on my face!!) Americans are far better at seeking treatment for this than UK people, who tend to shrug it off, but go for it. All that said I hope it's something temporary that will go anyway! Good Luck

[curiosity]

Sorry forgot to say, it is something to do with the rate at which your skin cells are renewed and viatamin A speeds up this process hence the Retin gel. The top of the backs of the arms is the most common place for people to have this, so someone with a mild form will only probably notice it on the backs of their arms, when you research it you will see people with it on their face & thighs. I have it on my arms & legs, but my daughter mainly on tops of arms and her cheeks. Sorry for rambling on, it might not even be this.

[morg_monster]

I used to have something similar, I never went to the doctor about it so I don't really know what exactly it was. I got a pair of those exfoliating gloves (they sell them in the body shop, superdrug, boots etc) and when I'm in the shower, I put the gloves on, squirt the shower gel onto the gloves and use those to wash with, giving my arms and the back of my thighs an extra good scrub. It worked a treat (using body lotion as well) and in a few weeks the bumps were gone. When I'm away on holiday and forget the gloves, it does come back a little.

It may be that my problem was just dry skin rather than keratosis, but it might be worth a try before seeing the doc.

[teag1rl]

Hi I've got red dots on tops and backs of my arms. have never got to the bottom of this, and might just be coincidence, but when I lost weight a few years ago the red dots went. I've got red dots again now, but I also got the two stone back!