This is my first time here, so hello to everyone. Im pretty sure i have had KP all my life. But i never knew what it was. My father also has it. But it is very mild. Growing up, it was also very mild on my upper thighs and back of arms. I was raised in Nor Calif. During the summers i was always in the sun. The KP was not noticable ever. so it never was a issue. Last Nov2006 i had my first child and we moved from calif to New Mexico. When he was 1 month old. My KP became very bad. Now it is even worse and i just started doing research because i hate it. I was wondering if it was brought on by my Pregnancy. THe dr. told me it could be alot of both. Pregnancy and the dry air.
So im reading everyones post and hoping to find something that works for me.

I dont know anyone in my family who has this, but likewise I definitely think this was brought on by pregnancy as I cant say I noticed ever having a problem beforehand. Like you its only recently I started doing research as I hate it so much. Hopefully we will all find something that works for us, xx

Hi - I have had KP since I can remember and I have got 2 children. The KP spread onto my legs from just my arms with my first child, worstened on my arms and I have just had my second child and it seems to have spread up onto my bum now and I am praying that it doesn't go onto my back or stomach or anywhere else! I did take viatmins during both my pregnancies and don't think they have any benefit or detremental affect towards the KP, I think it is a hormone thing as a friend of mine got KP on her arms during her pregnancy, when she had never had it in her life before. This thing is awful, I can't stand it, I did read on here a post about someone who used extra virgin coconut oil, I got some and have been trying it but not sure if I am using it correctly. Any info greatly appreciated!!

Hi there- I'm new to the site. I'm 36 and have had bumpy skin for as long as I can remember. I had my first child 6 weeks ago and it definitely got worse. Bummer. So, I went looking on line to see if others had the same experience and I find that it is so. Well, since my shower time is limited to how long baby will sleep without me near (not very long), don't know if I'm going to be able to do much for it in the near future, but I will come to this site and look for a remedy when I can.

Hi all - I forgot to mention this, there's a great short (15 minutes or less) Nova bit on epigenetics. Will help you understand why pregnancy triggers our KP. I linked to it in my blog here. The scientists and narrator have made it about as easy for a layperson to grasp as I think they could.

"...all cells in our bodies have the same genes but parts are silenced by the epigenome depending whether they are supposed to be skin cells, heart cells, bone etc... Epigenetic constructions can change especially during critical periods such as puberty or pregnancy."


http://www.keratosispilaris.org/memb...t-you-eat.html


It helps me absorb the idea that my diet can help or hinder my efforts to keep my KP and skin cleared. And No, KP doesn't define me (but that's how it seems if you only know me on this forum but what's this forum about anyway?) but it is a quality of life issue to some degree, especially when it's _itchy_. bd

Has anyone ever suggested to you that you shouldn't have children because your genes were so detrimental? I recently got a pm from johnE who was helpful at first but then started inserting some of his "opinions". I don't even know what to write back, mostly because I don't have children and I haven't really thought that far ahead. I just found it incredibly insulting:

to me it sounds like he wishes he had never been born because of his kp and is projecting that onto other people, but that's just my 2 cents. I'm blocking him as I find that little tirade incredibly offensive to all women with kp.

He's being annoying all around..... Don't listen to him. What would he say about people who have a disease in their family, like cancer? it can possibly get passed down, and those diseases KILL people. Or what about someone who is bipolar, that gets passed down often. Same with Inflammatory Bowel Disease!!! Honestly, there are SO many diseases and allergies and genetic problems out there. If we all decided not to have kids because of them, there wouldn't be many people alive! There's no such thing as a genetically perfect individual.

I know others may differ, but I view KP as a cosmetic problem, not a major health problem. It can mess with our heads if we let it, but mainly this is an issue of appearance. If that is how I or others view KP, that is not a reason for not having children, if children are wanted. Even if KP was a major health issue, it is still a very personal and individual decision as to whether or not to have children. I agree, EK, that there is no such thing as a physically perfect person. If one wants to be a parent, it is one of the most satisfiying experiences in life, KP or not. My son, who also has KP, would agree, now that he is a parent himself and loving it.

kebod

Mine go much worse after my first child was born and go much much worse after my second child. It has never been this bad before. I did not know untill today what it was even called. I felt like a freak. I feel better now I know I am not alone.

hi:

my name is Tina, I'm new here, I read the post and I would like to recomend to all future mothers to make some exercise when they are pregned, there are a lot of exercises that we can do, or try to eat more healthy food like vegetables or fruits, that are reach in vitamins.

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I'm agree with you Tina, exercise it's an excellent way to recover your shape after pregnancy.

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Hi I am new here and my name is Tina too. Call me T. I have had kp since I can remember. it was bad as a teenager but it was only on the back of my arms. I got prego at 17 and the kp wasnt as bad due to tanning I think. Anyways after I had my first son in 95 it went away and I didnt see it again till 2002 when I got prego and had a miscarrage. It showed on my theighs put wasnt all that bad. Tanning took it away for me. Then in 2005 got prego again and after giving birth in 06 it was all over my arms including forearms yuck!!! I wore long sleeves all summer long to hid it. I was misserable. I wasnt able to try tanning due to time and money but I was taking hair ,skin and nails pills by an online store called Youngevity. After 6 months it was all gone...YEA!! However I became prego again in 2007 and just gave birth. I have it all over again and worse than ever.I cant escape!!!! I am on the pills again but its only been 2 months and its all over me this time. Arms, calves,theighs, butt,around the knees ...everywhere and bad. I feel disguesting and want to cry!!! I have tried lotions this time with no reaction. Someone save me!!! I am trying to hang in there hoping the pills work again!!! I wish I had the time and money to go tanning. btw I burn easily and tan only in tanning booths starting at 5 min and working my way up over time to 20 min. Maybe its the slight burning I get in the booths that helps somehow?!! Good luck to all of you !~~T

Hi Tina,

It isn't the burning per se, UV light is one of the few things that actually completely clears up KP. It slows down the production of keratin in the skin cells. If you think about it, primitive humans were exposed to the sun a great deal more than we are now. It's likely that our skins actually need a good dose of UV to function properly so I'm not surprised at all that it clears up.

Be careful with the tanning booths. Burns and cancers are caused more often in booths than in natural sun. Spend your 5 minutes out in the sun and then add sunscreen. Go up to 10 the next day and so on. The bulbs in booths leak the more harmful UV rays almost ALWAYS.

My KP always clears up in the summer too when I get out in the sun. But somehow never on my fanny where the sun don't shine.. hee hee... Good luck!

LauraAnn

My Kp cleared up during my 3 pregnancies, then came back after delivery. There could be a hormonal connection or possibly the slowed digestion and more effective absorbtion of nutrients does it. Also, an increase in blood volume and circulation could be connected. I do get somewhat better in warmer weather and with regular exercise.

My two cents worth--

I took vitamins during pregnancy and still got KP. I think it has more to do with hormonal changes during pregnancy that can cause or increase KP. I also think there are many different causes of KP. A hormonal change may just be one of many.

kebod