KP, red faces and sparse eyebrows

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Originally posted by Ann

This board is a great place for people to swap ideas on what has worked for them. I recently listed what had helped my skin but forgot to mention one more important aspect that had helped. That is working on my self esteem and self image. Unfortunately this society puts a lot of importance on what you look like and it is natural for all of us to want to look our best - however I had to learn early on that I couldn't rely on my face. To build up my self image I would quote a verse from the bible daily to myself - the verse was "you are fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps 139 v14). If God said this about me who was I to argue! Not all reading this may believe in God, however you need to find a way to build up your self esteem rather than judging yourself on your looks. It's not easy - especially in your teenage years. I encourage you to use this physical problem as a springboard to develop other parts of your life.

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Originally posted by I agree with Ann 100% - kim r

Ann is right- believe in yourselves!!! Even if your self esteem is not where you think it should be...Fake It! If you keep faking it, it will become real! trust me, I have been there. To those of you who are in high school, or younger, go beyond your skin...really! I was soo self conscious at 14, partially b/c of KP. It was NOT my KP that was keeping the boys away, but my insecurity showed in the way I carried myself and how I handled others. By the time I was a senior, I had one of the hottest guys at my school (voted best body :0))as my boyfriend (and it lasted 5 years until I dumped HIM), I was a cheerleader, and an AP honors student. Little did I know (and I found this out afterwards) no one knew I had KP! And I wore NO makeup (and I have red cheeks...still do), shorts and tank tops all the time.
As you get older, other things are more inportant. People are far less critical. In fact, I worked with a friend for 5 years until we both realized the other had KP. The boyfriend I had before I met my husband had KP and I never knew until after we broke up (we remianed friends and it came up one day). My husband does not see my KP at all- he sees just his wife, his son's mother, his best friend. He only talks about KP when it is bugging me and he sees how it feels uncomfortable sometimes. KP is a royal pain in the butt, but I also suffer from chronic eczema on my soles of my feet, and I have conquered alopecia and let me tell you those were far worse than the KP. I am grateful I have my health otherwise, I can go snowboarding and surfing, watch hockey games and dance en pointe in ballet; I have great friends and a fantastic family. Live your life to the fullest - it is too short to be hard on yourself over something you cannot control (like the fact that I will never get the tv remote from my husband); live to the fullest and thank God or whoever else, YOURSELF, for all that you have and all that you are. Believe me, you are far too critical of yourself than other people are of you. I had a zit one day and my friends at work laughed that my face was not perfect. I looked in the mirror and I could see the redness through my makeup; they didn't and I couldn't figure it out.
You are all good people. I believe it wholeheartedly and so should you.

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Originally posted by Emily L

You guys are such an insperation. I had the same scenario with people didn't really know I had kp until they really really looked closely or something. And isn't it strange how we all knick-pick ourselves with our flaws and don't see the attributes? And other people see you completely different than you see yourself. I had seen a movie in high school where a genie or something granted a wish for a kid and he wished to have all this money and popularity and of course it backfired and he ended up with no friends. I had thought to myself, if only I could find out how others viewed me. Being a girl, I went through thinking my legs and rear were wider and bigger than they really are. And I wanted to know if people could tell that I had kp. I remember the controversial Buffy episode where she could read people's thoughts. A kid wanted to kill himself because he thought noone cared. Buffy finally pointed out to him, noone paid attention to his pain because they are all dealing with their own. When I was in high school, I thought the majority of the kids didn't have major problems. But when you're in high school, little minor problems can also be a huge deal. I finally just said, this is me, take it or leave it. I am now happily married, trying to go back to school if I can figure out what I want to be, I may be starting my own business at home, and I have a great cat that I adore. I have finally gotten over the morons who picked on me and thought they were better than others from high school. High school is not the real world, Thank Goodness! God bless and everyone take care of yourselves externally and internally. Emily

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Originally posted by Mel

If this board is great it is because of all of you out there. Really, I am so touched on how everyone
continuously reaches out to others, providing support, advice, encouragements, and ways on living with KP. You are right, we should develop our inner beauty as well as our outer beauty. Through prayer, mediation, or even work we should all be able to reach a peace with ourselves and a self
appreciation as well. Lots of love, Mel