What is Keratosis Pilaris (KP)?

Hi!

Welcome to the KP Community

Keratosis Pilaris is a very common genetic follicular disorder manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin. Primarily, it appears on the back and outer sides of the upper arms, but can also occur on thighs and buttocks or any body part except palms or soles.

An excess of the protein known as Keratin, accumulates within the hair follicles forming numerous tiny rough bumps on the skin. Sometimes, these bumps can become irritated causing the follicles to redden excessively.



KP is often misdiagnosed and treated as acne. Most types are evident during teen years. It can also appear at any stage of life.



Several different types of keratosis pilaris, includes:

• Keratosis Pilaris Rubra (KPR): red, inflamed bumps.

• Keratosis Pilaris Alba (KPA): rough, bumpy skin with no irritation.

• Keratosis Pilaris Rubra Faceii (KPRF): reddish rash on the cheeks. Some sufferers experience a flushing and blushing sensation.

• Ulerythema Ophryogenes (UO): Is a related skin disorder which includes scars, atrophy, and alopecia in the eyebrow area.

• Keratosis pilaris Atrophicans Faciei (KPAF): Small scar-like depressions in the face. Sometimes accompanied with redness.

No picture available in our forums, yet.

• Keratosis Follicularis Spinulosa Decalvans: KFSD is very rare and affects the skin and the eyes. It can cause thickening of the skin of the neck, ears, arms and legs, especially the palms and soles. KFSD sufferers also experience loss of eyebrows, eyelashes and beard, baldness thickening of the eyelids and corneal degeneration. The term comes from the Greek for snake. Decalvans refers to the loss of hair.

No picture available in our forums, yet.


Treatment:

There is currently no known cure for Keratosis Pilaris (KP); however, there are effective treatments available in our forums. Some of our members have different theories on which factors activate the symptoms.



Some of the most popular treatments discussed in our forums are:

• Oil Pulling (OP)
• Food Sensitivity Test-Diet Changes and Supplements
• AHA Lotions
• Seabuckthorn treatments-Demodex Parasite
• Exfoliations
• Urea
• Moderate Sun Tanning
• Candida Free Diet

Browse our forums and discover what people around the world are doing to treat their KP.

Please, feel free to join our friendly community. Here you can post and share with us your experience.

-KeratosisPilaris.org: The biggest KP Community on the internet!

Please feel free to add any other valuable information on KP below.

Thanks!

Oh, my goodness. I have finally firgured out what this bumpy area on the backs of my legs arms, and now upper back are!! I do believe it is KP... I have been reading all over the web and I am sure that this is what I have. Funny thing is, I don't recall having it before I had my son, then it started, and after I stopped breast feeding him, it got worse. Weird! But I have been reading and am going to try a few things- like no longer loofah-ing the heck out of it! I might try a milk bath or two, maybe some coconut oil (Mom left some last time she visited and went baking-crazy!!Thanks, Mom!), and Eucerin Plus has been highly recommended. So, wish me luck, and if any one else has suggestions, that would be great!! Thanks! C.

Hi Chaton:

Welcome to the community!

Some people manifest KP after pregnancy. It is also believed that some hormonal changes activate disease. There are some threads about KP after pregnancy.
for those who've been pregnant
KP ONLY after pregnancy???
KP and pregnancy


I'm also experiencing some kind of bumps (no redness at all) in my arms after I had my baby 3 months ago. I have been scrubbing them with a nice scrub that I found at Walmart and they are disappearing.

hello all i am very glad to find this site. My son 16mts old has this on his cheeks, and it has been a struggle to find out what was going on with my son. lots of great info. keep it commin guys. thanks again.