Hi im new here and im glad i joined this site because i have no one to speak to about KP. Before I used to wear anything i wanted and i wasnt too worried about my KP, even though i have KP on my arms and legs. But recently the KP has spread to my back. This depresses me because I feel that I can no longer wear wut i want. I cover myself all the time now. I wear t-shirts whenever possible and if i do wear a tank top i put something over it. I am ashamed of the appearance of my skin and how it feels. This is very debilatating for me because I feel that i have to isolate my self from guys. I am 19 and I have never had a boyfriend and i would like to have one. There is someone I am speaking to. We've known eachother since JHS but i have not seen him in 3 yrs. We started talkin again because I saw him on facebook and i wanted to catch up. We have really good conversations and we speak everyday. I like him and he likes me. Hes in Florida at the moment because he goes to college there and he works but he does live in my neighborhood. Hes coming soon and he wants to see me. I am very nervous. I feel that when he sees me he will stop talkin to me because of the way i look. I am startin to thinks of way to avoid him but I really dont want to.
Should I see him and get my heartbroken in the process?
or
Should I isolate myself from him and other guys and never experience anything and save myself the pain?

When is he coming?? Have you started any kind of regimen to make your K.P. look better? Also, start going to the tanning bed which will help lots! Use AmLactin because it made my skin really smooth by the third day it was so soft. And then when he gets here, just use a little foundation to help disguise it. If you cant reach your back, I know that there are spray foundations to even out skin tone, like the Airbrush Nylons, and there might be other stuff, too. I know my friend used some kind of skin airbrusher for prom a few years back, and it really worked well. There are things you can do.... But whatever you do, DONT MISS OUT ON A GOOD THING!! All because of stupid K.P. Who knows, he probably wont even care! Just play up your best features and I doubt he will even be looking at your K.P. at all...

i hope ur right shay. Hes comin in early Aug. so i guess i have some time but i feel its not a long time from now. I am treating by KP by usin Ammonium Lactate and im watchin it with Neutrogena's Body wash.I read somewhere that usin something that contains salyclic acid will help treat the KP. Hopefully this works.

I hate to tell you this, but the odds that it will clear up by Aug. are slim. I've been doomed with this for years and years and nothing works. I've Isolated myself and now I have noone. Don't end up like me, just meet the guy and try to ignore the KP, maybe he will too.

You should definetly go see him and try not to think about your Keratosis Pilaris. I know it is hard and we KPers really think everyone is paying attention to it... when in reality they aren't.

If this guy doesn't like you anymore because of your KP, then he probably isn't the kind of guy you want to be with. It sounds like you know this guy really well if you talk to him every day and you both like each other... so concentrate on that, rather than your KP. You can't shy away from relationships just because of your KP.

I suggest you spend the next months working on your KP. There are alot of great suggestions on this forum. Take some time to read them and start experimenting with products. If push comes to shove, then find clothes that cover up your arms, and make you feel comfortable.

I suggest using a Buff Puff in the shower with some Salicylic Acid wash (this helps break down the keratin buildup in the follicle). After you get out of the shower use some AmLactin, and then re-apply when you go to bed. You can also try tanning. I just went on vacation and got a really bad sunburn (do not recommend), but it reduced my KP by 75% and you can't see the redness anymore. I would recommend going to a tanning bed a couple of times to see if this helps any. May not be a long-term solution, but would help in your case.

If you have any questions about treatment, feel free to ask me. Also everyone is very helpful on this forum. Let us know how things turn out and Good Luck!

hey suffering, sometimes i use a salt scrub in the shower and it helps to smooth my skin. also, this one time i used this ointment i think it was called hydrocortisteroid you need a prescription for it. you can ask your derm for it. anyways i used it to help with the redness and it worked pretty good but you can only use it for like 2 weeks straight cuz of some weird side effect that itll thin the skin and possibly cause stretch marks. anyways the tube ran out before it could even get to that point. you should try it for the redness.

also, my cousin had kp all over her arms and her derm recommended betamide lotion and she used it and it went away! you should be able to get it like at a drug store, no prescription needed. i cant guarantee it will work cuz you know what works for one person might not work for the fellow sufferer. i still have yet to try it. im just lazy to go buy it cuz nothing ever works for me so whats the rush. not to mention hers went away so fast it seemed too good to be true so with my luck it probably wouldnt even make a dent.
good luck.

Also, try using sulfer soap with the AmLactin. What i do is take the bar of soap, rub it on my arms, and let it sit for a min. I don't use a buf puf but I use a little bit of the St. Ives Apricot Scrub and gently rub it all over my arms while the sulfer soap is still on. It makes them really smooth when the two products are used together, but remember to rub gently because you dont want to cause too much redness.

Hi, you more than likely won't be able to get rid of all the KP in that short of a time, but you can start your treatment and start smoothing out your skin. You goal in the limited amount of time would be to reduce the bumps and smooth out your skin as much as possible. It really will be a gamble whether he will be a totally superficial guy or one who understands. Hopefully, if dreams come true, he will be type of guy who will sympathize with you and help you out and give you enouragement. So, if you really know this guy, do you think that he will understand? Maybe you should just out and tell him before hand so that you will find out before you get too attached. I know it's hard, but there are a lot of people who have gone through the same thing as you. Don't feel alone because I was the same way for years.

Now on to the fun part, taking care of your KP. I've found that getting rid of the roughness of KP is fairly simple and takes carefull exfoliation. It's jus the redness which is the main problem. Don't loofah too often, because the pores are already aggrivated and it just makes it way worse. I extremely gently loofah once to twice a week, no more. I tried lots of lotions, but what is working for me for the first time ever is using a moisturizer with Salicylic acid(Neutrogena Skin Smoothing lotions) and I quit scrubbing and using harsh soaps in the shower. The lotion smooths out my skin and makes it much easier to remove the clogged up pores without having to scrub the daylights out of my skin. Apply the lotion straight after you get out of the shower to hold in the moisture. That is the only time you should apply the moisturizer because I found using a moisturzier too much can also clog up your pores and spread KP! So, my advice is to take it slow and don't get all crazy at first. It will take a little bit of time so let your skin get used to whatever you are going to start doing on it. KP is already aggrivated sensitive skin, it's easy to over do it. Good luck!

I have KP and was very conscious of it but my dream man loves me anyway. If you don't draw attention to it chances are he won't even notice. Play up your best features, be yourself and project confidence and think positive. If he's gonna fall for you your KP is not gonna stop him. He'll love you for you, imperfections make us who we are and are lovable. Would you reject him for having it? I doubt it. Love the whole you and others will too. Good luck!

Don't let KP control your life. I was terrified, like you, that no guy would fancy a girl with bumpy, red arms and legs. But they do. We girls are so much more than our outer shell!