I've been reading these posts over the last few months, and although i find a lot of them helpful, some frustrate me beyond belief.

It seems that many of you are falling victim to KP, and letting it control your life. It is a very SUPERFICIAL problem, one that is neither debilitating, nor life-threatening.

I know it's especially difficult going through your teen years, fearing what others may think, but let's put things into perspective. If this is the only health problem we have to complain about, i think we're doing pretty good! What it comes down to is that KP is esthetically displeasing, and most of the time the only people that notice are ourselves.

Once we learn to ignore it, it starts to go away. Don't allow yourself to become obsessed, because that's when it truly gets you down, and becomes more of a psychological issue than anything else.

I'm not trying to anger or upset, I'm trying to encourage all of you to be stronger people and to overlook this very minor problem.

My best friend is suffering through a brain tumour right now, and it made me realize how petty i was being, thinking it was unfair i had to deal with KP.

I have my health. I should be happy, and so should you.

Rachelle, I'm sorry about your friend and I'm sorry if some of the posts make users here seem superficial, but this is a place where people can talk about a common problem and try to fix it. I think most people here like me have gotten little to no help from doctors and dermatologists so this forum is for people who are sick and tired of being told to ignore and trying to find their own solutions. I don't think anyone here is obsessed with KP but just trying to find something to control it so we can ignore it. I have gotten a lot of helpful information from this website so everyone keep posting!

Think you missed the point, "bingo".

I think this site is great, it's offered many ideas to help deal with kp, which is just as useful for me as the next person. What i have an issue with is hearing about people who isolate themselves from the rest of the world because they're afraid of what people might say/think:

Example: “I chose this screen name, Lone Wolf, because it pretty much describes me. If I do go to the beach, I go alone. And I stay away from people... I hate this lifestyle, but I don’t see myself changing anything anytime soon.”

Or this:


"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?"


Why miss out on potentially life-enriching experiences, especially when so many of us share the same condition? How cares what other people think? If it is a problem to others, then they have the issue, not us.

Maybe my post didn't make my thoughts clear, but it boils down to this. Should we look for a solution for KP? Yes. Should we let KP determine who we are and how we live our lives? Most certainly NOT.

It is true that stress and worrying/obsessing about your kp will probably make it worse. But this board is a place for venting and seeking comfort as well as exchanging treatment advice.

If someone here is sad because of how their life is affected by kp, regardless of the fact that it is not a life-threatening disorder, there is no reason why they cannot post about it and receive some comforting replies. This is a safe place for people affected by kp to talk to others who understand.

Everyone's posts and opinions and emotions are valid and allowed, Rachelle. I'm sorry to hear about your friend, but it sounds like you are one of the lucky ones who has found a way to get past their kp. Not everyone has been able to do that, and that is why this board is here - so we can all work toward a solution, and learn to be stronger (and hopefully less isolated) people in the process.

thank you Avencdelune, exactly my thoughts, i dont think people should judge other people by their posts and how kp is affecting their lives

Rachelle,

I too am sorry about you're friend. My best friend also had a brain tumor..my mom has Multiple Sclerosis, my grandma has breast cancer...
However I still struggle with my KP! I would never assume to compare my problem to theirs. And I don't think anyone else on this site would either.
My KP effects my life though. I can't go out in public without people noticing my arms..I can't take my daughter to the swimming pool or go to the gym without constant embarrasment because people stare at it. If that's superficial than so be it, but it has a major effect on my life and self-esteem.

You know "Rachelle" I think it's always a mistake to judge and invalidate people's feelings. You can't presume to know what's in someone's head. Of course, there are much larger problems out there, but to that person, this is a large problem...and it's NOT FOR YOU TO JUDGE. Perhaps it's the TONE of your message that is most offensive and not the point you are trying to make which is a valid point.

Hi, Rachelle

For one thing KP varies.I know allot of people have light KP or just ''spots'' & ''patches'' & some people have it all over there body to the extreme & some are unable to find anything to help so they come here.To try & get some help & lots of them like me...Didnt even know why their skin was the way it is till they came here.All KP is bad.And not easy to deal with.I am a teen & I live in Florida.And my KP is not something I just notice.Infact I may be enjoying myself for once not thinking about my many problems (KP included) & a family member will say something rude about my skin to me. They just dont understand...

I also think allot of people do have other problems....like me & KP is sorta like an ''additional'' problem & this is where I come to try & get help for this one thing......I think people should know they can come here & ask questions like

"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?"

This is where they can come to get those questions answered by people who know how they feel.And by coming to a place like this I think people do start to feel better...

Everyone has there own opinion & I really dont think people here are obsessed


~Vixie

Maybe a little obsessed... but definitively helpin' each other... great post VIxie!
on the other hand... let's not get carried away...


MArky

rachelle the problem is that there are people that their kp covered all their bodies, not just a ligth kp on upper arms...i dont think is a superficial problem.
i wish i only had kp in arms, in fact, i have in chest and i didnt care much...but now it spread on back and forearms and its going me nuts, i can get something with girls in nigths in discos and pubs.....but at the light of sun with those red spots in forearms...i think i have 0 posibilities
sorry for my english....spanish guy :P

KP is a pretty big problem for me, but it's not life damaging. I mean, I've seen so many kids around my age in my old country wandering around without a place to stay or food to eat, my problem isn't even a problem compared to that. It's still pretty bad, though, I can't help but feeling that way. But ever since I started wearing short sleeves, I feel a lot better. Only one or two people noticed it, though.

I certainly respect and appreciate your thoughts Rachelle and i wish i felt the way you do and even though I've gotten better the last couple of years, kp is especially difficult for younger people. I agree that it is superficial, however lets face it its hard not to be somewhat superficial these days and its really difficult to have this red dotted **** covering your skin and even though your right, its still heartbreaking to a lot of people including myself.

I agree with all that's been said so far.
I also want to add I worry a lot about my KP worsening, not only for cosmetic reasons, but because it is directly related to my other severe allergy and asthma problems. Whenever my asthma and allergies get worse, so does my KP. These are very real concerns in my life. I am constantly worrying about how I will pay for medications. I can't move to another state because I will lose my health insurance.

So when I worry or "obsess" about my kp (which i do obsess because I also have mental health problems that i have to pay for as well) it is in the context of my overall health of my body.

I hear you Rachelle, about how we should come from a place of strength. It makes me sad to hear girls and women say that they are having problems with intimacy because of KP. But I also know that people have complex reasons for having these problems. It's not simple vanity.

I don't think it's the teenage girls fault for worrying about her KP. It makes perfect sense in the environment she is probably living where only a few kinds of beauty are validated.

rachelle, i get your point... but you probably dont have kp as bad as myself or others here so thats why we obsess because its really horrible, bloody, discolored etc.

This is actually a really old thread and Rachelle hasn't posted since 2005 so I don't think there's much point arguing with her as I don't think she's here to listen!