I think that in one way, its good to have a site like this in order to share information about this very minor skin condition (though all I've really learned is that there seems to be no way to get rid of it permanently). But after reading about the way having keratosis pilaris effects people's opinion of how they look, Im really wondering if all this attention you guys are giving this isnt doing more harm than good. I've seen people here refer to it as "really ugly" and even as a "disease". Here I was, looking up keratosis pilaris on the internet out of curiosity (I've had it since I was a kid) and now I have a disease??? My God! Who knew!

Ok, ok... I realize that Im a guy, and women are much more critical of the way they look generally (Im married, so believe me, I know how obsessed women can be with how they look...my wife doesn't have a single wrinkle on her face and still thinks she needs a facelift). But let me tell you that from a guy's perspective, this means nothing. I mean literally, absolutely NOTHING. If I met a woman I was attracted to, I wouldnt even notice. And I cant imagine that any guy I know would feel any differently either.

Its very easy to look at something you dont like about the way you look, and magnify it way out of proportion... especially if its something that not everyone has. But, I think you all should go out and buy sleeveless shirts right now and stop worrying about it. You're probably all very sexy and attractive.

If you just have Kp on your arms and legs it's not that bad. I have KPRF and it is much worse than most KP sufferer's could imagine. If you don't have KP on your face then you are very luckly.

hey fred

wheres your kp and how much do you have? maybe you dont think its a big deal because you might not have it as severely as others or maybe you do. but im just wondering. some ppl have it really bad. i have some on my legs but its not too noticeable so i can still wear shorts. its mostly just on the backs of my arms but theres a good amount there. some ppl dont have too much on their arms. theres this one girl in my summer school class right now and she has it but its not that bad, its not all over her arms, so she still wears sleeveless.

have you ever seen anyone with a severe case?
i hope youre right about guys not caring too much.

This probably doesn't help, but I think KP would be considered a disease. As I remember, a disease is anything really that affects regular body function.

Also, a lot of people here (myself included) are teenagers. If you don't remember, teenage years are when you are at your most self-conscious, and seeing "flaws" like KP only make it harder on you.

However, I do agree that some people do care about it too much. KP doesn't ruin your life. It can only do that if you let it.

Some peoples KP are very bad. At times when my KP was at its worst and if I wore shorts or short sleeves, I would get random people who would ask what is wrong with me? Doesn't really help self-confidence much. Plus, you see all these people with beautiful normal skin and you wonder why you? Through consistent treatment and years of trying to figure out what the heck is going on, at 24, it seem my KP is getting better, but it still isn't gone. It also has its days of recurring with increasednredness which keeps me from wearing shorts or short sleeves sometimes. I try not to let it affect me, but alas, it does. Even though I've overcame a lot of fears it is still a big part of my life. I shyed away from relationships throughout my early 20's because I was so ashamed and my KP when it was really really bad, but now I have a g/f who really loves me and doesn't care about my KP. Well, that is probably because my KP is much more under control and my arms and legs are smooth now, but just have little discolored spots on them.

What's the big deal?

Evidently you've never been teased about always having a red face. You've never looked at pictures of people with 'clear' complexions and wish you're face could look like that just once.

I'm 29 - and it is a big deal to me.

KP on its own isnt nothing and i tottaly agree with you on that one fred, but KPRF is much worse cause it effects the face, chronic facial redness and flushing as well as spider veins, is not fun at all, you have to continually avoid such things as heat, cold, humidity, strenous activity, it can reallly be a debilitating disorder.

Micky -- be careful with the statement that normal KP isn't anything. I only have KP and although I am happy that I don't have it on my face, it is still a problem for me.

I think it all depends on the severity of KP that each person has. Some people might have an extremely mild case of it...like Fred, possibly...while others might have to a point that it is a debilitating disorder.

I personally am still too self-conscious to wear shorts in the summer because the back of my thighs used to looked like raw ground meat. My elbows are like sandpaper - I've actually scratched people with them. And I do have it on my face - which has been a source of embarrassment my whole life.

Everyone's experience with KP is different.

Blessings

It is a big deal when its on the face.

Im a quietly confident person who can talk about anything untill someone says oh look you've made him blush even when im not.

what kind of problems do you experience, iam intrested, cause i have KP on my arms and back and its not that mild either but its really not that bothersome.

If some of you don't have it on your face - or see a big problem with having KP - then why are you posting on this particular board?