People i think there is a big conneciton between this disease and the demodex mites. we have to go to a clinique, Dermatologist or something were you can test if you are affected by the demodex mites. we have to solve this problem by ourselves, so have must sick our heads together and find as much information as we can. I will go to a dermatologist and will update. But i think this is the breakthrough for al our kp and kprf suffers.

Sorry, there is no correlation between mites and kp. The cause of KP is really quite simple. KP is a disfunction of the sebum gland within the hair follicle. Without sebum, the follicle plugs.

We all think we know the answers.................

accorddude why be so submissive? last week i never knew that there was such a mite that lived in the hair follicles of the face. After doing some research it turns out these mites can cause inflammation especially in the evening when they are most active. i'm sure this strikes a chord with most Kprf sufferers as being the prime flushing time. Also it turns out that these parasites feed on sebum and one type even lives in the sebaceous gland. If your theory of there being a disfunction here, how do we know this isn't a factor in the cause.
Many rosacea sufferers have found relief from getting rid of these mites. I have never ever seen anyone mention it as a possibility as a factor for Kprf but does that mean that it isn't?
How do we expect to find a cure for our infuriating afflicton when people dismiss any new theory that arises?

I just hate to see people waste their time with theories. The known medical cause of KP is a lack of sebum production within the hair follicle. THIS IS A FACT. Ask your dermatologist.

For a mite to live in your hair follicle it has to be open. KP is a condition in which the follicles plug with keratin that would otherwise be broken down by your bodies sebum production. It is not physically possible for a mite to live in a KP affected hair follicle.

What's sebum?

It's the oil your hair follicles produce. It's acidic which breaks down keratin and softens the outer layer of the skin. Sebum is your bodies natural way of exfolliation. The sebum gland id located below the surface of the skin. Sebum travels up the hair follicle removing keratin cells with it. Since it's below the surface of the skin, KP starts below the surface. This is why exfoliating doesn't really help. You can remove the bump on the surface but the hair follicle is still plugged beneath. This is what makes it so hard to treat.

With all due respect accordude I have only heard this theory of lack of sebum from yourself. I haven't heard it from any dermatologist or in any research text. It was my understanding that the specific causes of kp and kprf were still unknown. If you have evidence to suggest otherwise then i'm sure many people would like to see it. How can you explain the open pored appearence of kprf when flushing of even the appearance of sebum pustules on the face?
The truth is there are many theories as to the cause of our condition. It's easy to dismiss ideas but alot harder to back them up. Thats why the few sufferers there are of us on this forum need to subjectively discuss treatments, causes and new ideas with each other. That seems to be the only way we will get any progress on our condition as there seems to be very little concern or understanding from the medical condition.

A link for your education.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sebum

"Sebaceous glands are involved in skin problems such as acne and keratosis pilaris."

Acne - sebum overproduction.
KP- sebum underproduction.

accordude, hi, there's no need to be so straight forward, but thanks anyway for the info. It's really interesting, if so, i have a question for all of you :

DO YOU HAVE LOW OR HIGH TRIGLYCERIDES ??

(The composition of sebum varies from species to species; in humans, the lipid content consists of about 25% wax monoesters, 41% triglycerides, 16% free fatty acids, and 12% squalene (Cheng 2004).)

I happen to have very low triglycerides and feel lucky about it: "In the human body, high levels of triglycerides in the bloodstream have been linked to atherosclerosis, and, by extension, the risk of heart disease and stroke."

how about you?

that's all, by the way I thought mites where a good excuse anyway...

Greetings,

Marky

http://dermnetnz.org/acne/sebum.html here you can read about the lack of testosterone and other hormones...

It explains why KP/KPRF are more common on females, males have more testosterone.

Treatment:
The amount can be increased by other systemic medications:

• Testosterone given to prepubertal males
• Progesterones with androgenic properties such as medroxyprogesterone, levonorgestrel
• Phenothiazines

Testosterone is excluded for most of us at this forum i think
Don't know if males have progesterone and i don't know what Phenothiazines is :P

I think scientists just arent really too interested in curing kp. Because if they know sebum is the substance lacking, then why havent they come up with sebum injections or something, They have insulin, hormones, and all sorts of things that if people are lacking them, they have come up with a way to provide. I think we need more attention, its not fair! They don't know that this condition is very irritating and even depressing at times!

I would hardly count one line in wikipedia as medical evidence. I have researched this theory and this is the only text i could find that links sebum to kp. I'm not discounting that there may be some link between the two. It's interesting that testosterone deficiency causes lack of sebum. A few months ago i was convinced that my kprf was linked to hormones. My general body hair has normally developed (i'm mid twenties) except on my face where my beard growth is fairly mild. The test however showed i had a higher than average level of testosterone. Maybe the is a localised deficiency?

Its good that people on this forum are starting to discuss causes and thories at least. I often feel that some people just visit here just to find out about 'the magical cream thats going to cure them'. Well if that existed none of us would be here or have an issue. I strongly believe this condition can be cured with some serious input from the medical/dermatological profession. But until they realise the severity of our plight it is up to us all to try our best to understand and maybe better treat this unfortunate affliction!

There will never be a magic cure that will treat this.

Beard is genetic, it has little to do with testosterone. If it only had to do with the amount of testosterone all arabs would look like Arnold S. :P

As you can read in the link i pasted it's not only the hormone testosterone that causes KP/KPRF. Read 'Hormonal control of sebum' (http://dermnetnz.org/acne/sebum.html).

To much of these hormones causes acne (much lipids etc) and deficiency causes KP/KPRF. Thats why you're skin are dry at the affected area(s).

We have a deficiency in testosterone and other hormones that causes dry and red skin.

You can also read in the link that oestrogen decreases the amount of sebum. My sister who's also affected with KP and KPRF had increased symptoms when she was close to the birth of her first child (1 week ago).
Oestrogen increases in women when they are about to have a baby...

I think the hormone theory is quite convincing. Don't you?

then how can one have BOTH?