i think allergy, hypertension, stress. I think it doesnt flare up so much in the morning because we are calm and also... maybe we dont have clothing that is bad for our skin on at night and making us overheated. Also it can be it needs some moisturier to flare a little and again the skin can go red when we get over heated or exercise a little, or when its too cold sometimes as well. it may be to do with calcium i dont know. I sometimes think flaxseed oil helps a tiny bit.

It must be genetic and not just due to environmental factors. My son has it on his face and the worst aspect of it for him is his loss of eyebrows. We have tried everything from retin-micron A, elidel, differin, moisturizers, to homeopathy. Sorry to say, nothing seems to work. One derm told us to live with it. It seemed harsh when she said it, but unfortunately I think she was right.

I've had it since I was a toddler and I'm 30 now. Mye KP is always absolutely constant except in very cold weather such as now when it gets much worse. I don't have any medical conditions and no changes in diet in all my 30 years have made any difference. For me I think it's just genetic and I have to live with it. I accept that may not be the case for everyone.

I'v had KP since I can remember, it used to be on the back of my arms and the lower half of my legs, after my preganancies it has spread to the upper parts of my legs and my butt!! I find that the KP gets worse in the winter months, partially due to the extreme cold temperatures and partially due to the drying effects of central heating in the house. What I hate the most is the spotty marks on my legs and arms.......it's hard to wear summer clothing that is revealing because I feel very self conscious. I find that Doctors are no help with KP and they have the attitude that this is not a life altering disease so we should just deal with it. I find that it is harder for women to deal with KP and personally KP has been a cloud over my head my entire life.....I've always tried to hide the KP. One of my son's also has KP.

Everyone needs to post a little family history on this. example:

mother: KP
father: no KP
sister: KP
me: KP
brother: no KP


This way we can construct a pedigree and see if it is indeed genetic, and if it is, is it the recessive gene or dominant.

It seems canadians and those in oregon/washington and those on the coast where it's cold have it the most. I think environmental factors play a role in this too, not just genetic. These are areas that get little sun because it is drizzling 350 days of the year. Plus it's damp and cold. I noticed that, wearing long sleeved shirts, and the KP just spread to my forearms as well. My face is red and I went to a dermatologist in december, he said he'd first get me on metrogel and azelaic acid and if that didn't work, some sort of sulfur treatment. I'm assuming the sulfur does something to the KP.

What i'm surprised about is the lack of responces in this thread. This is why it's so tough to find the root cause/s of this. cmon we need to work together.

I've noticed that when I wake up in the morning, it doesn't look as bad as later on in the day. It's gotten so much better since I've become a vegan. I'm looking forward to the future. I think it's only going to get better over time. Here is my family history:

Mother: No KP
Father: I don't know
Grandma: No KP
Grandpa: No KP
Uncle: No KP
Cousins: No KP

WHERE DID IT COME FROM!!!!????? LOL

Did they have KP at all, like in the past, as youngsters?

Just for the record, I'm taking minocycline, soo it can't be a bacterium (anaerobic at least).

I hate KP cause I work out and can't even show off my muscles, and everone thinks I'm on steroids because when you're on steroids you break out...

BTW I don't think it's from hormones because babies have it and I don't think 1 year olds have a lot of testosterone lol.

More family history posts plz

BTW here's mine:

Father: No KP
Mother: Yep
Half Sister1 (we don't share the same dad) Yep
Half Sister (Don't share same father) I dont think so
Sister: sorta but really mild, hardly noticable
Me: Yes unfortunately
Brother in law: Yes
Half Sister 1 has it, married brother in law who has it, and have a kid. I don't know if the kid has it. If BOTH my parents have it, AND my niece has it with both of HER parents having it, it could be possible that it's a recessive allele (gene). BUT if my dad never had it, but my mom had it, then it's probably a dominant allele. If someone else knows for sure what their family history is, please tell. Since it seems to be going both ways right now, it might not be genetic but rather some sort of unknown trigger.

Mold spores trigger lots of allergies and such. Most people with KP live in moist/coastal climates, where mold is common. Mold is mutagenic/carcinogenic and causes you to develop mold antibodies. Perhaps it's some sort of allergic reaction to mold? Mold is more common in the winter (on the coast) when it's nice and cool and damp and dark.

oh yeah this should be stickied.
I also notice like ingrown hairs in the red spots. theres like a loop of hair growing out of the bump, and the end is tucked back in the bump.. sometimes its completely in the bump.

Mother- NO KP
Father- NO KP
Brother- NO KP
Maternal Grandmother- NO KP
Maternal Grandfather- NO KP
Paternal Gramma- NO KP
Paternal Gramps- NO KP

WHY DID I GET IT?!?!?

__________________
Mirjana =)

I don't live in a coastal climate...I live in a very dry climate, which I think is the reason I have it considering I didn't get it until I moved here....

My dad has KP.
My sister and her daughter have KPRF..I got lucky I guess
those are the only people in my family that I know have it

Perhaps an adverse change in environment triggers it? It was exactly the opposite for me, moved from colorado to california coast...

I am a 22 year old male and seem to have the same problem as your son. I have a very small amount of eyebrow hair and am just coming to the conclusion that it may be KP related. I have tried alot of creams and even considered Rogaine but that only regrows lost hair. Considering I never had much to begin with i figured it to be a lost cause. I just discovered this site...http://www.eyebrowtransplantation.com/Index.html
I would reccomend you checking this out for your son. As soon as I save up enough money it will be #1 on my to do list.

That is a good point that i never considered. I live in Seattle, WA and have an extremely bad case of KP on my face and upper arms. The weather must be a huge contributing factor towards my skin problem.

Father: no
Mother: yes
Sister: yes
Sister: yes
Mother's Sister: Yes
Mother's Sister's Sons: Yes and Yes
Father's Side: No

Anybody see a pattern?

I've had KP since I was a toddler, my mother has it. I also grew up in a nasty environment so that couldn't have helped. I have Hidredenitis which is cysts as well.

I live in Alabama where it is very humid and hot most of the year. I have KP on my arms, back, legs, thighs, and backside. it's very unattractive and makes me self-concious even with my husband of five years.

Nothing I've tried has worked so far. I take six vitamins a day for my HS, so Vitamin A and flax oil have not helped me any.