Keratosis Pilaris

Anyone else have or had it?
If so, extreme or not? Have people stared?
Just wanted to see if there were other people on here that deal or have had to deal with it.

For those who don't know what keratosis pilaris is, it's a "common" skin condition known as "Chicken Skin Syndrome" -- a sandpaper-like manifestation of bumpy texture and appearance that can appear anywhere on the body except palms and soles of feet, but most often on upper arms and thighs. Sometimes mistaken for acne, but also sometimes appears as dark brown spots and often itchy. It's not contagious, nor is it in any way a medical health risk. It just affects the appearance and feel of skin. It's genetic. And there is no cure.

And it REALLY ticks me when people stare at my arms and legs with "WTF is THAT?" looks on their faces. I am perfectly happy with my body, and am perfectly fine with the fact that I have a number of acne scars on my face -- it's "normal." But I guess the "crap on my thighs" aren't. So I never wear shorts that are shorter than my knees. Ever. Because EVERYONE always finds the need to not only stare, but start whispering and some even exclaim, "Ew, what the hell is that?"
My own BEST FRiENDS screamed. SCREAMED. Told me to cover it the hell up, and kept going on about it being so gross. Even after I told them what it was, what it would look like and that I couldn't do anything about it BEFORE I came out in basketball shorts. It wasn't until I threatened to sock'em that they shut their traps.

It makes me feel like crap. And half the people I know DON'T say anything because they think I'll break their necks. And though I've found a response to the "Ew, etc..." that shuts everyone up, the roaming eyes make me feel like I have the Plague or something. I'm not a freaking circus animal.

Does anyone else have (or had) this?

I have never had this, but I know so many of us get this reaction for a number of different reasons and it is never pleasant. It is understandable when it is a child and they give an innocent reaction or comment, but when grown people have no respect, it is just sad. Too many will never understand a lot until the shoe is on the other foot.

Nice friends you got there.

I think I do have this, actually. On my upper arms. It's not too noticeable - sometimes people think I'm sunburned, or something, because it's more pink than the rest of my skin. I used to be really self-conscious about it, but then I found different things to be self-conscious about ; )

Don't let the snots bother you too much. Judging by your picture, you look just lovely, and YOU seem to know, at least, that it's not something worth freaking out over.

Haha, they're not used to seeing a more "severe" looking case of it -- it's more noticable on me since I'm pale as a corpse. But they got the point after I picked on their most sensitive attributes (I'm normally a mean person, lol).

But thanks :)
++ Yes, it normally irks me more when adults stare or burst out in rude comments... I get teens, 'cause since when were we never judgemental about everything? Especially appearences?

-shrugs.