What are these bumps on my arms?

Q: Dear Nurse:

I have many little bumps all over my upper arms. I've had them for as long as I can remember. They look like I have the goose bumps but they never go away. If I scratch them they turn white and I can also scratch them right off. Please tell me if I can get rid of them and how without seeing a doctor. Thanks!

A: Dear Patient:

It is always difficult to know without looking at these bumps. But, it sounds like a seborrheic dermatitis. This is not a disease, but a condition seen frequently in people. It tends to be worse in the winter months and better during warm weather.

Moisturizing this area with vaseline cream seems to work the best, and leaving your arms unconvered as much as possible will also help.

Good Luck, Cariliondoc
from: http://www.carilion.com/yw/html/qaskin.html#qaskin8

Problem: Since I was five or six, I have had little bumps on the backs of my upper arms and now they have spread to other areas of my body. They don't hurt (although they itch sometimes) but they are very annoying. I read that these are Keratosis pilaris, a genetically inherited skin disorder caused by the skin's inability to exfoliate itself. Does this sound right? If so, what treatment options are available?

Solution: The diagnosis sounds fairly right-on. Keratosis pilaris is very common, finding a home on the upper arms, thighs, and shoulders. Keratosis pilaris tends to be more severe during the winter months but no one is sure why that is the case and it definitely isn't consistent for everyone. Basically, the bumpy rough spots are clogged pores that sometimes get red and irritated but rarely itch. Regrettably there is no available cure or universally effective treatment, though it is generally well accepted that unclogging pores and reducing inflammation can improve matters greatly (Source: eMedicine Journal, July 2, 2001, Volume 2, Number 7).

Lactic acid (a very effective form of alpha hydroxy acid) can help exfoliate skin cells, but lactic acid isn't effective for dissolving lipids, so it can't penetrate into the pore and exfoliate the lining of the pore that is a major cause of the problem. For that, you would need a beta hydroxy acid product with the active ingredient salicylic acid and a pH low enough for exfoliation to occur. It is also helpful to avoid bar soaps that can irritate skin or cause clogged pores. A gentle body shampoo is best. The recommendation to scrub away the plugs can mean you inflame the area and still leave the skin feeling rough and bumpy below the surface where the abrasive can't reach.

Another common condition that can manifest itself as visible red bumps on the arms and thighs is bacterial folliculitis. This inflammatory condition involves an infection of the hair follicle by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. It begins with mild swelling and redness around the hair follicle and may eventually become small, inflamed pustules. This condition is most common in persons with a lot of body hair, but can occur on anyone. The most common form of prescribed treatment is a course of oral antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins) but topically applied antibiotics are also helpful (Source: The Skin Sourcebook, 1998, pages 162--164). You can also try treating the affected area with daily application of a product containing 5% or 10% benzoyl peroxide. This topical disinfectant is often helpful in keeping these inflamed, acne-like bumps under control.

Paula Begoun
from: http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/article....FER=SKIN&ID=105