General tips
- Keratosis pilaris (KP) often does not cause any symptoms and does not require treatment as it frequently resolves or becomes less noticeable with age.
- Those with extensive KP or symptoms like irritation may desire treatment to manage the condition.
- Treatment aims to reduce roughness and follicular accentuation.
- Avoiding drying, irritating soaps helps prevent making KP worse.
- Cleansers containing 2% salicylic acid or glycolic acid can be beneficial for treating keratosis pilaris.
- It is recommended to apply a moisturizing, emollient-rich lotion or cream to skin after bathing.
- If keratosis pilaris lesions develop pustules indicating a possible bacterial infection, topical antibiotics like clindamycin lotion may be used.
Topical treatment options of keratosis pilaris
- Keratolytics
- Salicylic acid lotion (6%).
- Urea cream (20%).
- Lactic acid 12%
- Topical retinoid : not suitable for large areas and it may cause irritation.
- Topical tretinoin such as 0.025% cream.
- Topical 0.01% tazarotene
- Chemical peels
- 70% glycolic acid for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Trichloroacetic Acid 20%
- Short-term low-mid potency topical steroids can reduce substantial erythema of inflamed KP lesions.
- Applying a 20% urea cream 1-2 times per week is recommended as maintenance therapy.
Laser treatment options of keratosis pilaris
- Fractional CO2 laser therapy.
- 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser.
- Pulsed Dye Laser Combined With Alexandrite.
- Nd:YAG Laser.
References
- Keratosis Pilaris[link]
- Light and Laser Treatments for Keratosis Pilaris: A Systematic Review [link]
- Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of Trichloroacetic Acid 20% Versus Long-Pulsed 1064-nm Nd-YAG Laser in the Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris[link]
- Comparative study between the efficacy of fractional CO2 laser, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm), and both types in treatment of keratosis pilaris[link]
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