Hi everyone! I'm thrilled that a forum such as this exists on the web! I have a lot of posts to read and to catch up on!

I'm a 23 year old female, and I think I've had KP ever since I started to care about my appearance (when I was a young teen). I live in Texas, and I hate feeling so self-conscious wearing sleeveless shirts in the summer. I always catch myself looking at other people's arms and wish that I had "smooth" arms like theirs.

I didn't see a dermatologist until I was about 21. He said that I had had this "problem" because of the soap I used, and because of the tight clothing I wore! I told him: A) My younger sister and brother had this "problem" too, and we all lived in different states (thus the chances of us using the same soap were pretty slim, since I usually get whatever is on sale), and we have all had this problem since we were teens. Also, if soap had really contributed to this problem, why did I have these bumps specifically on my upper arm area and on my upper thigh area? B) I don't have a great body where I want to flaunt it with tight clothing, and even if I did, I wouldn't wear tight clothes! And also, I would never be permitted to wear tight clothes at work! And again, why did I have this problem focused on the areas I mentioned above? The audacity!!!! Naturally, I got a second opinion, where I was told about KP, and prescribed Carmol?? It didn't work.

I read somewhere that those with KP tend to have flare-ups more in the winter? I tend to have it more in the summer.

Well that's all for now, I look forward to learning more about KP.

Michelle
M.L.S. Student--Texas Woman's University

I'm Nicky. I live in the HEB area. Living in TX is hard for us as its soooo hot. Wish I felt comfortable going sleeveless. I do a lot lately...my comfort comes first. I know what you mean about looking close at everyones skin and feeling envious.
There are many regimens that work. I currently use sulfur soap w/ stiff brush once a day, moisturize w/ Neutrogena 24 hr moisture or switch out w/ Amlactin. I still have bumps but not as bad. For me the key is staying really moisturized. It is a never ending battle.
It's nice to meet a someone local with this disorder. This forum is addictive. I check at least 2 times a day for new ideas and products.
Have a nice day! Nicky

hello. i have a question regarding climate. i keep getting it into my head that living in a warmer climate would eventually help the KP, specifically a climate that is quite warm all year round. i've never been to Texas but considering where it is located i would assume that your winters are fairly warm? i guess it depends on what part of the state you're living in, but since i live in Canada, it's bound to be warmer than here. anyway, do you not find that living year-round in a warmer climate helps your KP even a little? like i said, i keep thinking that it would and for some reason i can't get it into my head that it doesn't make a difference. i think i'm just looking for an easy solution i guess. you know - "i'll just move to a warmer climate and voila! everything will be better!" maybe not, though.

Hi Nicky,

Which HEB area do you live in? Did you mean the grocery store HEB, or is that an acronym for a town in Texas (you know how there are so many towns here...hard to keep up with all of them). I think I will definitely follow your advice, and try the sulphur soap and everything else that you suggested. I became *very* irritated with my arms a few weeks ago..and do you know what I did? I got a pumice stone, (yes...I know...) and took it to my arms. My God, what the heck was I thinking or on that day? It just became so aggravating. Needless to say, I won't ever be doing that again. I know I'm not the only one in this group who has tried something stupid like what I did! Or maybe I am...

Michelle

Hi there Hopeful!

I lived in Washington D.C. for a little over four years, and while the winters there weren't unbearable, they were cold. I still had the flareups in the D.C. summers, but then again, D.C. could get up to the 90s. As for Texas, I'm originally from San Antonio (South Texas), and currently live in North Texas (Denton--45 minutes outside of Dallas). The winters can get rather cold up here in North TX, and in fact, we get the snow, but the South doesn't. I *think* that in the winters, I just don't pay attention to my arms/legs as much. Being bundled up underneath all that clothing and all.

Personally, in my own experience, the warm weather does not help the KP, but seems to make it worse for me. Truth be told, I never *really* paid attention to see how it was during the winter. I'll have to pay attention to it next time around.

I don't think it has much to do w/ warm weather as it would to humid weather. I live in Phila. and it's humid all of the time even in the winter, I see no difference in my kp w/ it being humid.

I'm in southeast Texas and heat and humidity are NOT helpful to KP!! (and right when going sleeveless is most comfortable!) We'd love to have you in Texas, but don't move down under the mistaken impression that it will help your KP..... (in my humble opinion -- others may differ!)

Thats funny, no I mean the Hurst-Euless-Bedford area...I live close DFW Airport.
I hope sulfur soap works for you. You can order it at sulfursoap.com. It smells yucky, but it helps to use Dove afterward.
I am 33 and a stay at home mom, but at your age KP was super hard for me to deal with. I believe it really inhibited me socially. I was invited to swim parties w/ college friends, but declined because "my chicken skin". I rarely dated. Back then I had no clue what it was. Dont hold yourself back because of this bumpy little problem. I would love to be 23 again! hee hee. Right now I just want to keep the bumps under control. I fear the day when my daughter asks"what are those bumps Mommy"? Someday there will be a cure, hopefully...Have a great day, Nicky

Nicky,

I've been here in Denton since January, and I still don't know half of these towns in my area! Thanks for clarifying what HEB *really* meant. Don't know why I have HEB on my mind, they're a humongous grocery chain slightly south of us.

I know what you mean by being socially inhibited. *sigh* Out of curiousity, do any of your siblings have KP (if you have siblings?). My parents don't...yet out of the four of us siblings, three of us have it. My sister being the worst. Hers goes a little further down both arms..

Michelle

I live in the Dallas, TX area and I absolutely hate the summers. 1) because it's so dang hot and yucky and 2) because I don't do the things associated with warm weather because of my kp.

Having kids and friends with pools, we are constantly being invited to swim. I hate the fact that I always have to come up with some lame-ball excuse in order to get out of wearing a swimsuit in front of people. I hate the fact that I can't do the shorts and short sleeve shirts and bathing suits that I want so much to wear in the summer. But the fact remains that I have KP terribly on my arms and legs and no amount of confidence will help you overcome the stares and comments of friends and family. I've often wondered how much better it would be if we moved up north where it's not so hot. I wondered if my KP would do better in cooler climates. My KP does NOT get better in the summer. I think sweating and humidity and oil make it worse.

I check this site frequently now not so much for ways to treat the KP but to get reinforcement that I'm not alone when I feel like I'm at a low again. None of the treatments people have described up to this point have been very effective for me. So it gets me super bummed out and then I feel like I'm all alone again battling this.

thanks for your replys everyone. well, back to the drawing board i guess. i was told by my doctor that moving to a warmer climate could "sweat out" the KP but i think he may have been quoting a textbook as opposed to actually giving me an answer he thought would help. figures. actually, people who live in warmer climates have year round access (in some places anyway) to the sun which means they can work on their KP longer than those of us that only have a few months of warm weather. too bad tanning is so bad for you. not that that's stopping me or anything...