Exfoliating thighs
October 20, 2018 9:39 PM Subscribe
The skin on the back of my thighs is bumpy (from what seems like ingrown hairs) and I have a tendency to unconsciously pick at the bumps, resulting in little spots that bleed and sometimes scab or get hyperpigmented. I think exfoliating regularly will help. But what’s the best way to exfoliate the back of one’s thighs on a regular basis?
I was also going to say Korean scrubbers. Better even to take a long bath first. The longer you soak, the better the results.
posted by praemunire at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 9:53 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sort of related, I've had the same thing on the back of my thighs for as long as I can remember. A few years ago I changed to a standing desk and the bumps went away noticeably. Then when I left that job and went back to sitting, they came back. Could be something to think about if it's feasible.
posted by monologish at 9:54 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by monologish at 9:54 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Neutrogena Body Clear® Body Scrub
for physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation (salicylic acid) in the shower
Cerave SA Lotion or Cream
after the shower, for chemical exfoliation (salicylic acid) and to hydrate your skin, which keeps it from producing the excess sebum that helps clog up your pores
This combo is readily available at big box / drug stores and pretty inexpensive as far as skincare though. It's the only thing that helps my body acne and keratosis pilaris, and ingrown hairs are a pretty similar problem; your pores are getting capped off with excess keratin, or plugged off with dead skin cells, and gross stuff (and a hair) are getting trapped inside. You need to exfoliate off the cap (not scrape it off with a fingernail), keep the pores clean/healthy and their sebum production under control, and keep the skin hydrated so it regulates itself.
There's also tons of scrubby washcloths and mitts, if you don't feel like anything I just said applies to you! Be aware that a lot of them (like the Salux brand) are made out of latex, however, and a good chunk of people out there (me!) have skin sensitivities to latex. There's plenty of non-latex options, just something to be aware of as you shop.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:54 PM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
for physical exfoliation and chemical exfoliation (salicylic acid) in the shower
Cerave SA Lotion or Cream
after the shower, for chemical exfoliation (salicylic acid) and to hydrate your skin, which keeps it from producing the excess sebum that helps clog up your pores
This combo is readily available at big box / drug stores and pretty inexpensive as far as skincare though. It's the only thing that helps my body acne and keratosis pilaris, and ingrown hairs are a pretty similar problem; your pores are getting capped off with excess keratin, or plugged off with dead skin cells, and gross stuff (and a hair) are getting trapped inside. You need to exfoliate off the cap (not scrape it off with a fingernail), keep the pores clean/healthy and their sebum production under control, and keep the skin hydrated so it regulates itself.
There's also tons of scrubby washcloths and mitts, if you don't feel like anything I just said applies to you! Be aware that a lot of them (like the Salux brand) are made out of latex, however, and a good chunk of people out there (me!) have skin sensitivities to latex. There's plenty of non-latex options, just something to be aware of as you shop.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:54 PM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
You also want a lotion that exfoliates, and for your specific situation I recommend Amlactin.
posted by padraigin at 9:57 PM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 9:57 PM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
I have this. It's one of the ways that keratosis pilaris manifests. I've tried so many lotions, and this Gold Bond Rough and Bumpy Skin formulation is the best one and it works the fastest.
posted by quince at 10:03 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by quince at 10:03 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
I had that on my upper arms, not thighs. I used Lush’s Buffy Bar two or three times a week and it cleared right up.
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:28 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Weeping_angel at 10:28 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Adding on to the Korean / general north east asian scrubber advice, this works really well after a sweaty yoga / cardio session. I have the bumps on my arms, and I get rid of most of them this way.
posted by batter_my_heart at 11:50 PM on October 20, 2018
posted by batter_my_heart at 11:50 PM on October 20, 2018
I had this too. Any part of me that has hair + pressure gets these bumps... so my knees and elbows get them from normal bending actions; backs of my thighs from sitting; and the roundest part of my calf muscles... from skinny jeans (!)
Nothing worked for me until I did laser hair removal on the parts of my legs that were prone to the bumps- now I have no more bumps in those places (but I still do around my elbows, so the laser was the cure, not a coincidence). If you have hair that's several shades darker than your skin, laser might be a great solution.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:28 AM on October 21, 2018
Nothing worked for me until I did laser hair removal on the parts of my legs that were prone to the bumps- now I have no more bumps in those places (but I still do around my elbows, so the laser was the cure, not a coincidence). If you have hair that's several shades darker than your skin, laser might be a great solution.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 12:28 AM on October 21, 2018
If it’s keratosis pilaris, Sali Hughes had a column about how to treat this a few years ago, there are a few recommendations there. The Palmer’s body butter is the cheapest but it has a strong scent I couldn’t get on with, I’ve also seen Eucerin 10% lotion recommended which is unscented.
posted by ellieBOA at 12:55 AM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ellieBOA at 12:55 AM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
I have a cheap ($3) back scrubber bath brush I got at the grocery store that exfoliates almost too much. You have to be careful how you use it because it’s so sharp. The plastic bristles can’t cut you but they really dig in and scour!
So if you want strong exfoliation for cheap, consider trying something like that.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:53 AM on October 21, 2018
So if you want strong exfoliation for cheap, consider trying something like that.
posted by SaltySalticid at 4:53 AM on October 21, 2018
Personally I prefer chemical exfoliations (such as salicylic acid) to physical exfoliation (such as a scrub or scrub mitt), especially if you have sensative skin. Note, however, that if you shave, the SA lotion can burn a bit if you use it the same day.
posted by Brittanie at 7:36 AM on October 21, 2018
posted by Brittanie at 7:36 AM on October 21, 2018
I use the korean mitts and also usually have a tub of some sort of exfoliating scrub like this. It's the last step I do in the shower, both the back of the thighs and the back of my arms/triceps.
posted by like_neon at 4:35 AM on October 23, 2018
posted by like_neon at 4:35 AM on October 23, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by ananci at 9:49 PM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]