Apr 13 2007
Skin Problem
Ever since I was a kid, I have had a skin problem that was diagnosed by the dermatologist to be Keratosis Pilaris (see picture). According to the dermatologist, it is a benign condition that appears on the dorsal surfaces of the body, particularly the arms, legs and cheeks. It is apparently an inherited condition and it seems my mother has a mild case of it. The dermatologist also said that it was more prevalent in people affected by hay fever.
Although the condition doesn’t need to be treated, some people opt for treatment because it’s aesthetically unappealing to walk around like a freshly plucked chicken. The dermatologist offered some creams for me to try but said that nothing has really been proven to get rid of it.
Since I was quite young at the time, I wasn’t really bothered by it. I wasn’t into aesthetics so I elected not to do anything about it. Additionally, the dermatologist said it would improve as I got older. What he neglected to tell me was that in 20% of patients, it gets worse. Now that I’m three decades old, I’ve come to accept the fact that I’m part of the 20%.
When I became a Vegetarian, I noticed some improvement of my skin. Although it didn’t completely go away, it no longer got inflamed. When I became pregnant, I started eating meat again and my skin got worse. I can only conclude that it is partly affected by my diet although there is no scientific evidence to support this. Alternatively, it could also be affected by hormones - although there is nothing to support this either.
It seems to have gotten worse, especially on my legs, so I have been tempted to get a second opinion from another dermatologist. Hmmm… am I getting vain in my old age?
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