I noticed some common trends in regard to KP that I can identify with:

-Condition develops in many people around age 10 or 11

-Condition seems to be less severe immediately after waking from sleep.

Could this be due to some type of hormonal disturbance or something else? I am aware that during sleep, skin cells shed faster, but I don't think that's all there is to the story. Why is it that ages 10 and 11 seem to be the ages the majority of people experience KP (judging by the poll/survey thread recently conducted)?

Also, many women report KP after pregnancy, again, indicating a hormonal relation.

So does anyone have a clue as to what this all points to? Could it be some kind of hormonal imbalance that doctors are unaware of?

Specifically, does anyone here have an idea of the shifts that take place in a person turning age 10 or 11? Reading the age of onset thread really set off a lightbulb in my head. When I first saw the title of the thread, before I even clicked on it, I was ready to type in "10 or 11" ... when I saw the multitudes of people listing this as their age of onset, I was floored.

I think this is a big clue as to what is really going on with this condition.

stinger -
all cells in our bodies have the same genes but at times parts are silenced by the epigenome depending whether they are supposed to be skin cells, heart cells, bone etc... Epigenetic constructions can change especially during critical periods such as puberty or pregnancy.
"The Greek "epi-" prefix of the word "epigenetics" implies features that are "on top of" or "in addition to" genetics, and the current usage of the word reflects this—epigenetic traits exist on top of or in addition to the traditional molecular basis for inheritance."

check this link and watch the video for good explanation:
NOVA | scienceNOW | Epigenetics | PBS

One great example they used was a cat and her clone - it's under "Video extras" at the above link. The cat has certain colors in her fur, her clone has different colors. they should be identical, right? same DNA, etc... well, epigenetics affected changes. The main clip summary is: " Our lifestyles and environment can change the way our genes are expressed, leading even identical twins to become distinct as they age." As in, even identical twins' genetic transcript will look different after 40 years of different lifestyles even tho the genetic transcripts looked the same earlier in life.

also, Scientists alter the epigenome in mice (giving them different colored coats and different levels of fat in their bodies) by feeding them certain kinds of diets. these epigenomes are passed on to their children. One of the researchers says, implications "for human health if there are genes like this in humans, basically what you eat can affect your future generations. so you're not only what you eat but what your parents and grandparents ate."

Additionally, KP is linked to eczema. Eczema can be cause by the absence of a gene. Similarly, epigenetics can mask a gene, making it seem absent. SO some people may have this form of eczema from an actual lack of a gene and others might develop it from a gene being masked or "covered up" by hormonal or lifestyle (dietary, smoking, drinking, etc...) or environmental factors. They could even inherit this epigenetic masking making it seem "genetic". I wonder how many years it will be till we can have this tested so we can each more readily treat our KP depending whether it's truly genetic or if it's epigenetic.

- bd