Hi! I have had kp for several years now and I will be 33 soon. I never noticed this in my younger years or maybe it just developed as I got older. I have been to the dermatoligist, and she did tell me it was kp, but never explained why and what caused it. She prescribed Retinal A, which I used for a while, but it seemed to make it worse, so I stopped using it. Before I finally went to the Dr. I always thought it was a bad case of acne, and I have and do pick at it. I am at the point now where I don't wear short sleeves, even when it is hot. I am very self consious of this. I have done some reseach now, and know the Dr. knew what she was talking about, but just did not educate me. I have been using the Retinal A again, just started on monday, and have been using a lotion, and exfolitating. I use the retinal A at night, and Euercin during the day. Also I have been using an astringent. It looks really bad right now, plus with the picking that doesn't help either. Has anyone else had a problem of it getting worse before it gets better? Any other suggestions would be really appreciated. I am so thrilled I can use this to tell about my kp and not be embarrassed about it.

has anyone got a good solution for the picking? It's such a hard habit to break, I can manage a week at most without doing it and then I have to attack it again. I wonder if hypnotherapy would work, I guess it would be expensive but worth it.

I was able to stop for a really long time but it is a really hard habit to break. What I noticed is that now that my skin is softening up and all the hard patches ar turning into soft little bumps I want to start squeezing again. I just try to get my mind onto something else. Turn on the T.V, or get a book, knit, find some busy work to do. That seems to keep my hands and mind occupied enough to keep myself from damaging my skin. I also sometimes just grab some lotion and rub it in. it seems to help fill that need to scratch and pick.

they say it take 10 days to form a habit and 30 to break it. I know that picking at them is a bad habit, but I find myselft doing it anyway. Since I have started treatment, I have gotten better. I keep telling myself, If i get rid of it by picking at it, it will heal faster. So untrue, just makes it worse. Im in the 5th day of treating mine, it seems to look better but is still ugly. My presc. says it may take up to 6 weeks to see a diffenence, hopefully i'll have patience. Any sugguestion would be great.