Im certain its genetic, my mother has it as does my aunt... Im the only male so far tho... is it more common to one gender?

Its not as bad in the morning as it is by the end of the day. In fact, first thing in the morning my skin is really good.

My symptoms are mostly small bumps and red at the hair follicles on the backs of my arms. these are next to non-existent in summer and solariums definitely make a difference in colour and texture of the affected areas- redness obviously goes but the skin is smoother as well.

I really doubt diet does much, ive tried a few variants and havent noticed much difference there. But I have noticed that really fragrant moisturizers make my skin worse.... Palmers shea butter was the worse!

It seems as though I've chatted with more women about it, but then again, maybe that's because we're more chatty. I don't know if it's more gender-prone, but there seems to be a definite hormonal link, and you know how hormonal we get...

1) My bumps are more "closed." Not terribly "dry" looking. More looking like my skin is "faux marbled." Can't really *see* them, but running my hands over my arms, bumps can definately be felt.

2) I believe it to be genetic (mother has it, and she has several allergens)

3) My KP is along the outsides of my arms, buttocks, tops and backs of thighs.

1. Mine seems much worse. All my legs and arms are covered with red bumps. There is only some hair (very thin) on arms and legs.
2. I am sure it is genetic because my sister also has KP.
3. I have KP all over my body (excluding my chest).

I am a newbie, and actually just realized today, after poring over everyones various photos and discussions, that I have KP. My mom has it, but it has been attributed to her Lupus. My daughter (11 yrs) has it, but it has been diagnosed as a fungus. Unfortunately for her, it is on the left side of her face and eyebrow, mine is my legs and upper arms. So,
1. mine looks the same as yours, though not as irritated. However, I pick at the back of my upper arms (usually while driving), and then they look like your photos-LOL
2. Obviously, Genetics
3. Both my legs are covered, except for tops of thighs. Upper arms.

As an aside, I see you posted photos. Could you help me with that? It would be greatly appreciated. Also, have you thought about asking others to post photos? It would be interesting to see all the kinds of KP there are... Thanks!

1) My KP is similar to yours especially since I pick mine like crazy (I hate this habit and this horrible skin condition!!!)

2)Mine is definitely genetic, got it from my mom's side (thanks MOM!), my older brother has it, and my 2 year old niece has been most unfortunate to get it as well.

3) I'm lucky enought to have my KP everywhere except for the facial area. At first it was just the back of my upper arms, this has migrated to all over my arms, my shoulders, the sides of my torso, my chest specifically surrounding the nipple area, all over my upper legs, and of course the butt, it is most apparent on the arms though...

Forgot to add I'm male.

I know, I know, the picking is impossible!!! Ugh, I hated myself for doing it, and yet I had to get the gunk out! Ugh!
I'm glad you added that you were male, because it seems like a lot of members are female, and I'd like to have an accurate sampling for the research. Thanks!

Sure, psshosh. You just "Go advanced" when posting a thread, scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see "Manage Attachments". You'll have to disable pop-ups, but then it lets you upload files from your comp. to this site. after uploading, they'll appear down there with the "manage attachments" button. Then you just click and drag them up to the point in your post where you want them.
Don't worry, it took me a month to realize you could even post pics. Why don't you start a new thread called something like "Everyone post your KP pics here!" or something like that and then we can all compare and contrast! Good luck on your first new thread!

1) My KP was a whole bunch of white bumps with a mix of red bumps. Now it's just a few white bumps in clumps in different areas only on my arms with smooth spots in between. The only thing that really bugs me now is the little red dots that are smooth but noticeable.

2) My mum had KP on her arms just like me, hers went away when she got older.
3) My KP is located only on the top back part of my arms.

1. My KP isn't as deep as the pictures (but then ago, that looks freshly picked...) It's mostly red dots, small raised red bumps, and sporadic raised white bumps (that I ALWAYS pick... I am a scarred human being... ughhh)

2. I believe it's genetic because 2 of my sisters have it... I don't know if my parents ever did.

3. I have it on the backs of my arms, around my knees, top of thighs (have been getting better), underside of thighs (has been getting worse!), a little bit on my cheeks (not RF -- just random neutral-colored sandpapery bumps), a tiny bit on the underside of my forearms, and occasionally on the backs of my calves.

I'm female....

I'm glad you wrote that because I automatically imagined Jax from "General Hospital" when I saw your name *snickers* I'm a nut, I know!

1) Does your KP look like mine or is it different?
I never picked my KP, but yeah it looked pretty much like that when it would get bad.

2) Do you think you have "contracted" KP, or is yours genetic? -make sure you ask your relatives if they have EVER had it. They may not have even known it was KP...

I'm sure mine is genetic. I think my mother had a mild case of it, and everyone in my family has very sensitive skin that is prone to acne and allergies. With the acne, it's obvious that there is a genetic flaw where the pores and follicles do not slough themselves properly.

3) Where is your KP located?
I have it all over my legs, and I have a mild case of it on the backs of my arms. It is especially bad (very red and has large, spiny bumps) on the fatty areas of the leg, like on the sides of the hips, the back of the calf, and around the knees.
This is my theory on KP, that it is worse wherever the skin gets *coldest* on the arms and legs. This is why it tends to be the worst right on top of fat layers that face the outside of the body, but it does not occur over bony areas. Around the shins, ankles and the front of the thighs, there is less fat and the heat escapes there, so the skin is kept warmer.

Hmm... That's a plausible theory, thanks for posting!

I have heard no other theory that competently explains the strange pattern that KP takes, especially on the legs, and especially on womens' legs.

It would also explain why some women get it on their lower stomach after pregnancy (New fat accumulation there), and why it is rare on the forearms (very little fat there), but tends to occur in the first place on the arm where there is a fat deposit: behind the biceps.

It is also uncommon on the trunk, because this is the body's core and where it stays the warmest. Too, this could be why everyone's KP is better in the summer (warmer weather), and when they first wake up in the morning, because the skin has been kept uniformly warm all night. Then it quickly reddens and worsens as soon as the skin cools.

I don't think anyone has it all figured out, but this does seem logical.