I definitely have KP, but I appear to have three variations.

1. The most common, the white/flaky/dry/goosebump type skin texture. This is on my upper arms and jawline, plus adds to a general roughness elsewhere.

2. Acne-like bums. Red bumps around my elbow, knees and thigh. Usually red and inflames but sparse.

3. The third though, I'm starting to wonder if it even has anything to do with KP. From ankle to upper thigh my skin is covered in red dots, but they are entirely smooth! It's like my pores are dyed red. But there is no irritation, no bumps or roughness. Just bright red pores. They fade in and out and I still can't figure out why. Sometimes I look down at my legs and save for a few dots around my ankle, my skin is a milky white. Then an hour later I glance down and I'm polka dotted. What in the world??

Every time I read up on medical KP things I read about the roughness and red bumps, but I never read about the smooth red dots. I see it in KP pictures and people in general discussion seem to talk about it, but how in the world would excess keratin cause it?? It doesn't make any sense and it's the one part of my KP I can't seem to understand and that doesn't seem to improve based on outside conditions.

Any insight?

I wanted to add, every time I Google specifically the red dots, I get a lot of information about "red bumps" and "smoothing lotions" but the thing is, my legs in those area are very very smooth. There is nothing bumpy about this redness. Exfoliation and lotion works on my bumpy areas but does nothing for the redness, which is all the advice people can seem to give.

my skin is very fair and so it's very noticeable. sometimes i look at my legs and think, "hey, my skin's not that bad." and then I'll be like, "why did i ever think i could wear these shorts? It's all red!".
it's so irritating and embarrassing! if i could just find something to cure the red dots i would be much more confident.

Has anyone tried an acne scar ointment or gel that might work equally to help with kp scars and red bumps?

oh yes.. we all have problems with the red dots with no bumps...
i hate it. its summer & i cant do nothing about it. UGHH. :[

not even dermablend or mineral foundation works for me. SIGH.

yea those red smooth dots u see are actually old KP that is in the healing process, like a red mark you know?

like when u have a pimple it leaves a red mark and then it fades in like 2 weeks

No, that's definitely not it. I have constant red marks from ankle to thigh and there have never been any bumps in most of the places. I only get bumps on my upper thigh and around my knees. My lower leg, calf-area is incredibly smooth and soft but completely covered in red dots.

My question is, what in the world is causing this? Excess keratin causes the bumps to form, but what would cause what look like pores to just be bright red, but completely smooth?

My bumps have decreased drastically by exfolation, more water, and Eucerin, but my red marks have a mind of their own!

Does anyone have any idea what would cause this? The keratin explination just doesn't seem to make sense in this situation.

I have those red marks too! Maybe its just from the bumps constantly being worn down, so now their just a red mark, where a bump used to be. I'm not really sure what they are, i can only guess.

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!!Αλλαγή για κανένα.!!

I've been doing some research and I think the red/brown dots are aftermath of irritation caused by keratin build-up in the follicles. The problem is that kp persists due to the hereditary effect so the underlying problem can't be easily solved. Only when the real problem is solved, thus complete annihilation of the bumps, will the dots completely fade away within six months like acne.

Exaaclty! it is like a red mark! i should know.. i have a couple of those on my thighs... and the best i can do to fade them is putting cream.

mausnonny - do you have any hair from ankle to thigh? if so, how much and where?

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- bd: 45 yo F; I stopped scrubs, using salicylic acid after shower + homemade lotion; Burt's carrot soap or clean&clear on face; homemade body butter with Citric Acid as AHA; reg. exercise; OilPulling; a basic multi-vite plus Vit D, o3s, spirulina; eating GLUTEN-FREE DIET for Celiac Disease, and not much dairy as I get allergic reaction; Arms 95% clear, face neck chest 90%, legs 90% clear, butt is 99% clear. All dietary treatments above help reduce my sinus congestion and joint pain.

Well, yes, I have normal amounts of leg hair. But I shave. I've tried not shaving (thinking I was irritating the skin) and there is no difference at all.