Aa
K.p. Chicken skin!! help... i want it gone!!
hi, i have a skin disorder known as "chicken skin" keratosis pilaris. It is getting very embarrassing for me, people always ask what is on my arms... now it is getting worse is now on my legs and a couple on my back... looks like its about to spread to my back area and maybe my chest area.... i really want to find a solution to fix this problem... im willing to try anything! i want it gone before it gets worse. Its making me feel very self conscious of my looks. please help!
It has only been during this past year that I found out what this condition is that I've had my whole life, eversince I can remember. I've seen the rough bumpy skin condition on my mother's arms, so I know which parent passed it on to me. There are various other theories out there, but the one theory that never wavers is that it's a genetic condition.
I keep reading on various KP sites that this is supposed to get better with age. Well, I must be one of the exceptions, because I seem to have KP in more places than I had when I was much younger. I am more fortunate than most people, because I have KPA. So, I mainly have to deal with the hard keratin plugs and not the major skin discoloration. Most people, including most of my friends, have no idea I even have KP, because I have KP in the Alba form.
Another thing that I have with it that seems contrary to what I keep reading that KP isn't supposed to be itchy. I beg to differ! The times when my KPA is at its itchiest are right after getting out of the bath or shower. After I've dried myself off and have gotten dressed I will get some really itchy spots that just nag at me 'til I just have to scratch that itch. I am always amazed that the itch is never relieved 'til I unconsciously end up scratching off a plug or two along the way. I have the KPA on the backs of my arms where it's at its worst, but the places that get the itchiest are across my shoulders, and down my entire back. Lately, I've been finding plugs under my arms and under my breasts, between my breasts and some on my upper chest and the tops of my breasts, and even on my abdomen. I've always had a few on the backs of my thighs, so that's not new. And, I've got a couple of patches on my face that I know my own mother used to assume was acne and blackheads. Nope, it's also KPA. I've gotten to where I know the difference between KPA and acne. Although, sometimes I'm amazed at the size some of those plugs get to be.
I'm more fortunate than some, from what I have read, because the hair that gets trapped in the keratin plugs is the superfine baby hair that is nearly invisible to the naked eye unless examining closely. Since this has always been such a curiosity to me, I could never help myself but to end up examining a bit closer.
My biggest concern actually has to do with the itching and inflammation I have to deal with, with the KPA. Since I'm dealing with a lot of allergies, too, I need a way to deal with the itching and inflammation without aggravating all my allergies. I have Celiac and just learned that the eczema that I've been dealing with is actually a symptom of the Celiac. Both the Celiac and the Eczema are auto-immune disorders, I learned recently. Clearly, both of these conditions are dealing with sensitivities and allergies to not only the foods I eat but everything my hands touch around me.
My doctor had me try the Ammonium Lactate lotion, made by Perrigo. So, now you know that this is not just "self-diagnosis", because my doctor wouldn't have prescribed the one thing made for KP if she didn't see and feel the KP for herself. My skin reacted badly to it. This doesn't surprise me one bit, because I have still one more auto-immune disorder that deals with allergies: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). So, clearly I am allergic to the modern world, too.
What kinds of things do you suggest to deal with the itching and the inflammation of the KPA for someone who is dealing with all these other issues that have to deal with so many auto-immune disorders that mainly deal with allergies?
I keep reading on various KP sites that this is supposed to get better with age. Well, I must be one of the exceptions, because I seem to have KP in more places than I had when I was much younger. I am more fortunate than most people, because I have KPA. So, I mainly have to deal with the hard keratin plugs and not the major skin discoloration. Most people, including most of my friends, have no idea I even have KP, because I have KP in the Alba form.
Another thing that I have with it that seems contrary to what I keep reading that KP isn't supposed to be itchy. I beg to differ! The times when my KPA is at its itchiest are right after getting out of the bath or shower. After I've dried myself off and have gotten dressed I will get some really itchy spots that just nag at me 'til I just have to scratch that itch. I am always amazed that the itch is never relieved 'til I unconsciously end up scratching off a plug or two along the way. I have the KPA on the backs of my arms where it's at its worst, but the places that get the itchiest are across my shoulders, and down my entire back. Lately, I've been finding plugs under my arms and under my breasts, between my breasts and some on my upper chest and the tops of my breasts, and even on my abdomen. I've always had a few on the backs of my thighs, so that's not new. And, I've got a couple of patches on my face that I know my own mother used to assume was acne and blackheads. Nope, it's also KPA. I've gotten to where I know the difference between KPA and acne. Although, sometimes I'm amazed at the size some of those plugs get to be.
I'm more fortunate than some, from what I have read, because the hair that gets trapped in the keratin plugs is the superfine baby hair that is nearly invisible to the naked eye unless examining closely. Since this has always been such a curiosity to me, I could never help myself but to end up examining a bit closer.
My biggest concern actually has to do with the itching and inflammation I have to deal with, with the KPA. Since I'm dealing with a lot of allergies, too, I need a way to deal with the itching and inflammation without aggravating all my allergies. I have Celiac and just learned that the eczema that I've been dealing with is actually a symptom of the Celiac. Both the Celiac and the Eczema are auto-immune disorders, I learned recently. Clearly, both of these conditions are dealing with sensitivities and allergies to not only the foods I eat but everything my hands touch around me.
My doctor had me try the Ammonium Lactate lotion, made by Perrigo. So, now you know that this is not just "self-diagnosis", because my doctor wouldn't have prescribed the one thing made for KP if she didn't see and feel the KP for herself. My skin reacted badly to it. This doesn't surprise me one bit, because I have still one more auto-immune disorder that deals with allergies: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). So, clearly I am allergic to the modern world, too.
What kinds of things do you suggest to deal with the itching and the inflammation of the KPA for someone who is dealing with all these other issues that have to deal with so many auto-immune disorders that mainly deal with allergies?
Hi,
Keratosis pilaris (KP, also follicular keratosis) is a very common genetic follicular condition that is manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin and hence colloquially referred to as "chicken skin" as well as "meat bumps". It most often appears on the back and outer sides of the upper arms (though the lower arms can also be affected), and can also occur on the thighs and tops of legs, flanks, buttocks.
It occurs as excess keratin, a natural protein in the skin, accumulates within the hair follicles forming hard plugs (process known as hyperkeratinization). Bearing only cosmetic consequence, the condition most often appears as a proliferation of tiny hard bumps that are seldom sore or itchy.
Many KP bumps contain an ingrown hair that has coiled. The hair grows inside the follicle, often encapsulated, and can be removed, much like an ingrown hair, though removal can lead to scarring.
There is currently no known cure for keratosis pilaris. The condition often improves with age and can even disappear completely in adulthood, though some will show signs of keratosis pilaris for life.
There are effective treatments available which make its symptoms less apparent like exfoliation, intensive moisturizing cremes, lac-hydrin, Retin A and medicated lotions containing alpha hydroxy acids or urea which when used on the affected skin can temporarily improve the appearance and texture of affected skin.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris
Keratosis pilaris (KP, also follicular keratosis) is a very common genetic follicular condition that is manifested by the appearance of rough bumps on the skin and hence colloquially referred to as "chicken skin" as well as "meat bumps". It most often appears on the back and outer sides of the upper arms (though the lower arms can also be affected), and can also occur on the thighs and tops of legs, flanks, buttocks.
It occurs as excess keratin, a natural protein in the skin, accumulates within the hair follicles forming hard plugs (process known as hyperkeratinization). Bearing only cosmetic consequence, the condition most often appears as a proliferation of tiny hard bumps that are seldom sore or itchy.
Many KP bumps contain an ingrown hair that has coiled. The hair grows inside the follicle, often encapsulated, and can be removed, much like an ingrown hair, though removal can lead to scarring.
There is currently no known cure for keratosis pilaris. The condition often improves with age and can even disappear completely in adulthood, though some will show signs of keratosis pilaris for life.
There are effective treatments available which make its symptoms less apparent like exfoliation, intensive moisturizing cremes, lac-hydrin, Retin A and medicated lotions containing alpha hydroxy acids or urea which when used on the affected skin can temporarily improve the appearance and texture of affected skin.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratosis_pilaris
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