Yeah, it bothers me.
My kp isn't as bad as it could be, but it's gotten worse over the years.
I'm 18 now, and very much celibate still. I don't see myself as very attractive to begin with, and to know that no matter how much I dress myself up, what lies beneath is not in any way attractive is pretty crushing. In short sleeves, I can't even dance with a guy for fear I'll disgust him.
It's very common here (Ireland) but it doesn't help much- the fact that there are still smooth-skinned people swanning around with no idea of what keratosis even means just fuels very, very teenage thoughts of "But it's not FAIR".
For me it's just one more aspect of insecurity that's proving very difficult to rid myself of.

hi everyone. thank god i found this forum, i completely relate. its so annoying when people just dont understand or say dont worry it will go away. ive had it since i was 12/13 and its horrible and got worse. i worry about the boyfriend thing, like i think, if i had perfect skin would i want a boyfriend with kp all over him, and in this shallow world the answer is no. hence the depression, i just always feel like crying. and when peoplpe compliment you, you just think, imagine fi u knew about kp. or people say well its not that noticable, but it is, and plus they feel HORRIBLE. oh god i hate this soooo much.

I have it everywhere and pretty badly at that. But it's only in the last few months that it affected my depression directly(I was already depressed as it was). Right now, I haven't found a solution yet but my skin FEELS normal. It still looks the same though. I don't let it affect my life or how I interact with people. I don't avoid flirting for the sake of protecting myself in the future for when I have to explain it to her. But whenever I think about my KP and my hopefully soon-to-be GF I panic. I guess it's only natural. But I try not to think about it. My ex accepted it so she could as well. And by the time we have a need to be intimate it might already be gone.

Well i did what i said i'll do and lie and bake in the sun. Yes i got a tan but a SUN RASH TOO. All over my forearms.

Oh come on guys, its not that bad.. and trust me on that i have serious KP. :P



i'll post a better reply soon and yeah im new so hi

For anyone taking anti-depressants:

Antidepressants and other meds can cause nutritional deficiencies.
Go to:
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Index (CAM)
Click on depletions, and then click on anti-depressants.
You'll see more detail but:

"Medications

• Fluoxetine
  • Prozac®
  • Prozac® Weekly™
  • Sarafem™

Depletions

Melatonin Reduced levels of melatonin in the body have been associated with sleep disturbances and jet lag.

Protein & Amino Acids

Protein deficiencies are characterized by weakened immune status, including increased susceptibility to infection, impaired wound healing, muscle and weight loss, growth retardation, and deterioration in skin and hair condition."



just fyi.

KP has severely impacted my life. I've had KP since I was a teen that started very mild and has only gotten worse with age. Basically as the adolescent and early adulthood acne cleared up, KP took over. Now it is on most of my body except my face.

To count my blessings, I have what is shaping up to be a great career. I'm good looking and have a good physique from working out and trying to eat healthy. But lately KP has hindered me from even going to the gym. People I know, including some family and friends, have asked me if I'm gay because they can't understand why I don't have a girlfriend or wife. I'm sure they're saying even more than I know behind my back.

Today I'm 29 years old. I'm convinced I would be a more social person and married if it wasn't for KP. Part of me thinks I shouldn't be so self conscious, just live my life as though KP didn't exist, and ignore the negative press because there is someone out there that won't care that I have KP. That may be true but it's easier said (or imagined) than done. Maybe I could find an attractive mate that has KP, but I would feel guilty about having kids and giving it to them. I think I would have to adopt instead.

I'm a Christian, God-fearing man, but at times wonder what the use is in praying about this. Maybe it's because I'm a realist, and a genetic condition takes a miracle or huge medical breakthrough (another miracle no doubt) to cure. For now it seems I'm meant to have KP, but what is His purpose? To teach me humility? Sympathy for others? Am I supposed to be single? I'm so confused. And somehow I feel ashamed for how much I've let this impact my life, because lots of people are worse off than me. It's just frustrating and leaves me in a permanent rut.

Why are YOU trying to justify what you believe your GOD did to YOU?

Either way, there is no reason.

everything happens for a reason. the fact that you or I can't make sense out of it doesn't change that.

jason, im sure theres a nice girl out there for you. maybe you can find one in this forum. that would be nice. wouldn't it?
maybe you could start a blog and put pics of yourself on there. maybe youll meet a nice girl. at the very least it will give you some hope.
yah theres a reason for everything that happens ... but that doesn't make it a good reason. im sure god isn't sitting in heaven selecting people to give skin diseases to. haha

__________________
Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security.
Benjamin Franklin
************************************************** *******
Come and join the new KP Singles group

Click here to visit the KP Singles Group.

I'm 16 Years old, and have KP. Until i was 11 or so i never really noticed it. It started being a problem in changing rooms before and after Hockey games, i would just blame it on my pads and such. It wasn't to bad until about 15 or so. That's when i really noticed it was problem. I have it on my arms, thighs, and stomach. My parents thought it was eczema, so got treatment for that, which did nothing. We finally went to the dermatologist and he found out all about it, and prescribed some medicines. I have been using a lotion and a rub on liquid thing. Not really noticing a difference after a month. Its starting to really be a problem because of Summer. People always ask me why i won't get in the pool. I tell them im self conscious and such, but its just to hard to understand. So i have to tell them i have a skin- disease , and if that isn't embaressing enough, most of the time they ask if they can see it or if it's contagious. I already suffer from chronic depression and anger problems, so needless to say, this doesn't help. Thanks guys for letting me vent, and if anyone has advice for a 16 yearold going through this. . . feel free to post it.