Acne Problem in Arms/ Upper Legs - What Can I Do?

Sounds like it is KP instead of acne. keratosis pilaris

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/keratosis-pilaris/DS00769

I got mine to go away years ago using Selsun Blue on my upper arms. My son had it really bad on his elbows about 2 years ago. He started using the Selsun Blue on them and it is almost completely gone. (his looked almost like raised scars it was so bad, b/c it itched and he would scratch it).

If it is KP, it is harmless, but annoying and embarrassing (otherwise why would you be posting about it, right?). But it can be treated. It is keratin clogged around the hair follicles, essentially.

The best thing I have found for problem skin is coconut oil. I whip mine with an electric mixer and add some Vit. E oil and tea tree oil, and then store it in a small canning jar. I keep a jar next to my bed for my feet at night, and one in the bathroom for all over. I also mix a small amount of the above with equal part baking soda and use that to wash my face. I rub it on and massage it in, and then lay a warm cloth over my face until the cloth cools, and then use it to gently wipe the "wash" off. Since I have started using this over other products my skin has never looked so good. It feels oily when you first put it on, but it absorbs very quickly. When I put in on my face as a moisturizer I wait about 2 minutes (while I put it on the rest of my body) and then gently wipe off any extra before applying my make up.

My son has eczema and coconut oil gets rid of those dry rough patches better then anything else we have used, including the steroid creams prescribed by his doctor.

It could be eczema. I wouldn't put acne products on it though that will only cause addtional dryness and make it look worse. I would actually try a moisturizer. Prescription drugs did not cure my eczema but Nuetrogena hand cream did😊

I'm not convinced this is acne...sounds more like eczema. A good moisturizer would do wonders, I imagine. Also, if you have a primary care physician, just have him/her take a look at it. You don't need a specialist for minor skin conditions.

Sounds like KP to me also. Mine has improved greatly since I started using homemade soaps that I bought off of Etsy. I seldom use lotion on my arms now that I am using the homemade soap. Actually using too much lotion will aggravate the KP more.

In the summer time you will also notice an improvement with exposure to the sun. That is what my doctor recommended. I do not like sunbathing so my arms would probably look better if I did spend more time in the sun. My left arm looks a lot better than my right since it is exposed to more sun while I am driving.

Your primary care doctor can probably treat it (at least if the doctor is an Internist).

Our dermatologist recommends using CeraVe soaps for our skin, and they have a lotion too. They are fragrance free, which is good for your skin. Fragrances can irritate and make you have skin problems. I'd also recommend maybe using fragrance free laundry detergent and see if that helps too.

I second coconut oil. I just use mine plain, not mixed with anything. Trader Joe's sells it in the cooking section. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature. Don't waste your money on cosmetic coconut oil.

Good luck!

This does sound like keratosis pilaris. I used to have it on the tops of my arms. The dermatologist had me treat it with a prescription cream, which I believe now is an over the counter cream that you can buy at the Costco pharmacy. It's called Amlactin. It doesn't smell great and is a bit sticky but it works. It also may make the areas treated sensitive to the sun.

This is probably not acne. Someone asked about bumps on their upper arms several months ago and a responder gave it a name along with web sites describing it. I don't remember what it's called.

Acne is pustules which can be punctured. What you describe is just bumps on a dry skin.

I'll try to find the article. Later: It could be keritosis pilaris as suggested by Victoria W. Here is a site with several pictures. http://keratosispilarispictures.net/

It could also be eczema. Is the skin red in appearance and somewhat flaky in appearance? Does it itch? Those are the signs of eczema.

I had something similar many years ago. My dermatologist called it encapsulated dry skin. It looked like acne, but was really flecks of dead, dry skin that appeared to look like pimples. The "cure" was less frequent bathing (every other day in winter, once a day in summer) and a body lotion with Royal Jelly in it (Jafra makes an excellent one).
Since there are several conditions that "match" your description, and the treatments are different, I would be seeking a proper diagnosis from a dermatologist.

Possibly a detergent?

Like some of the other responders, I think it sounds like keratosis pilaris.

My son has a mild case it on his cheeks. Oxy soap with salicylic acid is working well for him.

Most likely KP mentioned by another poster. I had similar issue and changing bath soaps/lotions got rid of mine and quickly. I recently have been using Ivory Soap which is very gentle and favorite lotion is St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea butter. Cerave soap and lotion is very good too! My 4 yr old has eczema and uses the Aveeno line and it really keeps his skin in check too. Also exfoliating at least once or twice a week with a gentle body scrub (mixture of brown sugar and olive or sunflower oil works great) helps also!