KP Say What?

All My life I have suffered from a skin condition that I never was able to get an answer to. Yesterday, while getting a facial from my lovely and talented friend that Mans the counter at Origins, I was able to get an answer and after looking it up online, I discovered that she was absolutely correct.

Keratosis Pilaris is a skin condition in which the skin over produces Keratin and clogs up the hair follicle, thus resulting in tiny skin colored bumps. It is painless and harmless but cosmetically displeasing.

My whole life I have been embarrassed about my skin condition, often hiding my arms under longer sleeved shirts. It is pointed out by almost anyone who sees it. They usually mistake it for bug bites, sun burns, rashed, 'ouchies' (referred to by the kids) and even chicken pox. The condition is also called "chicken skin syndrome".

The good news is that there are several products out there that are proven to reduce the visibility of the KP. Unfortunately they cost a good penny. However, I feel like after a lifetime of living with this unsightly "arm acne" it is a good investment. I can't believe that I am now at that age where I can say "When I was younger we didn't know such and such" but I can honestly say that when I was younger and had it looked at by doctors and dermatologists, nobody seemed to have an answer. I'm glad that after 24 years I was able to get one!