Despite growing up in Puerto Rico, I’ve always hated summer fashion, especially sleeveless styles. It’s not about the styles themselves, but because they show off my arms to the fullest, revealing red bumps and dry skin caused by keratosis pilaris – a non-communicable disease that occurs when too much keratin is produced occurs, preventing hair follicles from growing.
As a kid, even the cheerleading uniforms I loved made me uncomfortable; I begged our coach to add turtlenecks under the vests, despite the 80-degree weather all year round (it didn’t fly, needless to say). Aside from the school uniform that had to be made of short-sleeved shirts, it was also the height of Millennium Bug fashion: tube tops, corsets, and out-of-the-way shirts with exposed arms that inspired my elementary school classmates and friends to ask questions about my “goose skin”.
Of course, I’m not alone: According to the National Institutes of Health, 50 to 80 percent of teens are affected by keratosis pilaris, while 40 percent of adults develop it over time. Most of the women in my family also have chronic keratosis pilaris. In my relatives this is normal and they think it’s just “dry skin”. However, when I see them happily enjoying their sleeveless styling options no matter the condition, I can’t see myself ever using my arms so freely.
Over the years, I’ve developed strategies, many of which involve wearing too many layers even in the heat. During high school and college, I developed a fascination with leather jackets, button-down shirts, and cashmere sweaters, which I wore no matter the weather. (At the beach, I prefer a long-sleeved sunscreen to a bikini). Yes, I’m hot, but that means no one will ever ask about my skin condition. Fashion is my armor and year-round fall and winter styles are my haven.
When I moved to NYC, I was so excited to finally be able to wear styles that covered my arms without serious heat and side eyes (you can imagine how weird I looked in a leather jacket in the Caribbean). When summer came, however, the same workouts started all over again: The red bumps and itchy skin got worse in the heat, and I covered my arms even as I melted under my button-down shirt. Still, my approach worked – no one asked me about my KPs.
A few summers living in New York, when a romantic partner asked me if the lump on my arm was contagious, I suddenly realized how much I was hiding behind my clothes. This completely shattered the little confidence I had built with the long sleeve armor. But it also made me realize that I didn’t fix anything – in fact, my keratosis pilaris got worse after covering my arms in the summer. I realized that if I kept hiding behind the layers – no matter how much I liked wearing them – I would never be able to control my skin and enjoy the shameless life.
Since then, I’ve slowly removed the layers: one summer, I switched to a short-sleeved shirt; the next I put on a vest. I’ve also researched skin care medications to manage itching and redness — including dermatologist-recommended salicylic acid creams and exfoliants like First Aid Beauty’s KP Bump Eraser Scrub and Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Lotion — and take care of Good for my skin and not irritating it. Even in the days when my KP had a plan of his own, I learned to show it proudly like the women in my family.
While I can’t say I’m beyond self-awareness, I’d much rather show my arms. Earlier this year, I was a bridesmaid at my cousin’s wedding and opted for the halter gown that many will see in the photos. This summer, I’ve been wearing everything from butterfly tops and denim sleeveless dresses to white tank tops, making summer freer, cooler, and more fulfilling than ever.
