Hello, I just joined the forum a few days ago...hmm right now i'm feeling kind of down. I know KP shouldn't control our lives, but it's just really hard to deal with at times. I've been through a lot (self-image wise) i'm currently dieting and have lost over 50 pounds! I'm getting a lot more attention from guys and feeling a lot better about myself, but now I have this fear of getting to close (no longer because i'm overweight, but because of my skin). I have real bad KP on my upper and lower arms, same on my legs. I used to have KP only on my upper arms which probably started around age 12-13...but It spread all over by 15...and has continued to worsen. I'm now 20 and see no signs of it diminising. I've tried products of course...but no results. I know wishing for what you can't have is wrong but, why can't I have "normal" skin. I would even get chemo treatments to
improve, only thing that scares me is possible hair loss other than that I think it would be worth it. OK I have to stop feeling sorry for myself, it's just that my KP was so purple and red today due to the cold, I got depressed. Sorry i'll be happier later.

Hi Rozy, reply is a little late but hope it helps. Congrats on the weight, that's quite an accomplishment! You should be proud of yourself...oh and you may have heard this a billion times but don't stress over guys! If a guy truly cares, he won't care that you don't have the most perfect skin the world. Everyone has flaws, some just hide them better than others!! You don't have to be "perfect" to feel that way. Staying positive about all areas of your life and don't let KP get in the way of living a happy, wholesome life.

There is some great advice on the board about dealing with relationships. I don't think it's wrong to wish for better skin, it's really a lot of trial and error, in the meanwhile I don't recall who had mentioned it but don't let KP define you! And remember you can vent here anytime!

Thanks Nala...I am feeling a lot more hopefull, i'm accepting this new struggle, grateful I'm alive and healthy...but I will try to make the best of things and have the best looking KP I can have . LOL

KP sucks but losing your hair with chemo would be worse...trust me. I had alopecia aerata at one point (another lovely auto immune disorder like KP) and lost silver dollar size patches of hair.
It sucked. It was wierd- it would happen when I was emotionally stressed and then go away after I dumped that boyfriend. This happened 2 or 3 times. I finally outgrew it, but it was definitely no picnic.

Hang in there. Having a support group online and live helps. But you have to believe in yourself from the inside out. You are young and I hope your perspective changes as you get older. Its like a treasure hunt and you have to find the lotions/peels/allergies, etc that help/hinder your KP and go from there. Don't expect perfection because NO ONE is perfect.

Kim

Hi, I recently lost a lot of weight too (over 30 lbs) and I understand what you're going through...even though I get embarrassed about my KP on my upper arms, I still wear sleeveless shirts and if a guy doesn't like me because I don't have perfect skin...oh well ha!! I'm 33 and I'm too old to care what bozo men think about something so superficial as skin!

Don't worry, honey--things will get better--guys aren't worth stressing over!

Take it from an older wiser person who's been there done that

Yogagirl in Cali.

I know how you feel, I worry about getting into relationships with guys coz of my skin too. I always think woman are supposed to have smooth, clear skin. I wish I could have it. I know having smooth skin isn't everything in the world, but when it's bringing you down it's not good. Just remember you're not alone! ( I was so glad the day I found this board and saw there was other people out there with the same prob). And any guy who wouldn't like you just coz of your skin, isn't even worth getting involved with. But you shouldn't let your skin stop you from going out with guys you like.

Roxio - I totally understand. For years I felt the same. I hated wearing skirts and singlets because people would always ask if I had a "rash" or even "measles"! Please visit my thread in the General Discussion, I hope it will bring you hope because it worked for me...and no laser!

Hey! That's great you lost you the weight. You have to be really dedicated to do that =). I feel the same way about my skin. Guys have asked me out, and there's been guys I liked but I told them I 'didn't want a relationship'. Mostly because I feel ashamed of my skin. I realised now I shouldn'tve let it stop me.

I jus joined this site today, I have had Kp for as long as I can remember I am in highschool my junioir year and for some reason I thought hey maybe these things will go away but just the other day searching on the net I found out what the name of this condition was , so I went to see a doctor she said nothing could be done but suggested Retin-A I have read some scary stuff about this, How it causes irritation and even more reddness so im worried, I have k p on my arms, legs stretchmarks on the back of my neck, theighs and butt and My face gets reddish blotchy like a sunburn even tho I have no actual burns or any sun at all. Its hard for me cause I am the palest fair skin and my self esteem is pretty low Its hard to describe today at the doc's they were trying to offer me depression pills but I turned it down cause I think I can work that out on my own. It sucks haveing these noticble bumps and redness and in coldness everything turns reddish-purple its nearly impossible to hide everyday at school because I can hardly find a whole wordrobe of 3-inch quarter sleeves. I wish well for everyone here and hope that your conditions inprove , I hope I did not seem like I was whining but I just needed to talk this out to others who have this because I havent met anyone who has had it so I feel alone.

I bought a cream called Corium 21 it is said to be great for everything dry skin , excema, burns, Acne, cuts ((((Keratoisis)) and many other conditions. Its a Aloe thing and absorbs into 7 layers of the skin.. ( even tho I only thought there were the basic 3... epidermis, sub, dermal..) but o-well guess theres 7 in their judgement But I will try this and tell you how it goes , jus tright now Im wondering if I should try retin-A... anyways if anyone wants to talk yahoo Instant messaging or e-mail to discuss KP and treatments I would love that and appreciate it so much!!! Topazsd94@yahoo.com SkyeA89 (aol IM) Topazsd94

well just feel confident and get yourslef the best of treatment
that will keep you on with guys and also improve your confidence
wish you all the best

Wow, congratulations on the weight loss. The ONLY cure for obesity is getting healthy and in shape, not “getting a new attitude,” so you’ve already accomplished the hard part, and took the biggest, most important step. Good job.

The fear of intimacy or “getting too close,” however, probably stems from low self-esteem and the vicious cultural stigma placed on overweight people, which is bull****. Forty to 50% of people have KP, so maybe it’s not the bumps at all. Instead, it’s time throw out the old method of thinking as “the chubby girl with imperfect skin.” What do you think?

Chemo is a very, very BAD option, and I'd more readily suggest Accutane, but even that can have serious side affects and is only used in extreme cases of acne anyway, not KP. (Bible-toting Right-wing reactionary types have also imposed stricter regulations on the drug and women’s rights by straining doctor/patient confidentiality if they use it, but that's another discussion.)