Red Light Therapy for Keratosis Pilaris: Bumps, Redness and What the Evidence Shows

Red light therapy for keratosis pilaris works best as an add-on: the closest evidence suggests it may calm irritated skin and smooth the surface around the bumps, while creams with lactic acid or urea do the work of softening the plugs. The trials that measured keratosis pilaris itself used clinic lasers and intense pulsed light, while red LED research comes from reactive and rough skin elsewhere. Below: what each light changed in the trials, how to pair light with creams, timelines, safety, and device settings for arms, thighs and adult cheeks.

Key takeaways

• In a sham-controlled trial of 23 adults, four sessions of intense pulsed light, 4 weeks apart, reduced roughness on the upper arm by about 13%, while the sham side stayed about the same. Maitriwong, 2019
• In a 2022 split-body trial of 21 adults, a 755 nm laser improved the plugged follicles by more than half in 57.1% of treated arms, against 14.3% of untreated arms. Li, 2022
• A cream with 10% lactic acid, used twice a day, reduced keratosis pilaris lesions by 66% in 12 weeks. Kootiratrakarn, 2015
• In a pilot of 30 adults with sensitive facial skin, twice-weekly 630 nm red LED light cut the average symptom score from 54.7 to 14.4. Sonbol, 2020
• The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says to give any keratosis pilaris plan 4 to 6 weeks before judging it. AAD

Does red light therapy for keratosis pilaris help?

It can help as part of a routine, mainly for the look and feel of the skin around the bumps rather than the plugs themselves. The strongest keratosis pilaris light therapy results come from clinic lasers and intense pulsed light (IPL), which smoothed roughness on the upper arm in controlled trials.

The NHS calls keratosis pilaris (KP) "a very common harmless condition where small bumps appear on your skin". The bumps form when keratin blocks hair follicles. NHS DermNet puts it at 50 to 70% of teenagers and 40% of adults, most often on the outer upper arms and thighs. DermNet

The KP light trials were all done in clinics:

Study	Light	Energy per pulse	Sessions	Roughness and bumps	Redness
Maitriwong 2019, sham-controlled, 23 adults	IPL, 645 to 950 nm	15 to 18 J/cm²	4, every 4 weeks	About 13% smoother vs no change on sham side	Measured redness unchanged
Ibrahim 2015, split-body, 18 adults	810 nm diode laser	Not given in abstract	3, 4 to 5 weeks apart	Better than untreated arm	Unchanged
Saelim 2013, split-body, 17 adults	1064 nm laser	34 J/cm²	3, every 4 weeks	Fewer bumps	Improved
Li 2022, split-body, 21 adults	755 nm laser	14 to 18 J/cm²	4, every 3 weeks	Over 25% smoother in 20 of 21 arms	Improved
Alcántara González 2011, case series, 10 people	595 nm pulsed dye laser	5 to 9 J/cm²	2 to 7	Not the focus	Fully clear in 3 of 10, over 75% clearer in the other 7

Sources: Ibrahim, 2015; Saelim, 2013; Alcántara González, 2011; the others are linked above.

A 2024 review of 52 articles found that lasers and light have the most substantial evidence base for KP, while noting "further studies are needed before firm recommendations". Wong, 2024 In the UK, KP laser treatment is usually not available on the NHS. NHS

Can red light flatten the rough bumps on the upper arms?

Light does not dissolve keratin plugs, so creams that soften keratin stay the main tool for the bumps. Red light has smoothed skin texture on the face and body over about 15 weeks, which may help the skin around the bumps feel less rough.

In a 2014 study, adults had 611 to 650 nm red light twice a week for 30 sessions. Wunsch and Matuschka, 2014

• Roughness score: fell by 1.79 with red light and rose by 0.95 in the untreated group.
• Design: adults with ageing skin, not KP, funded by the lamp's maker, with a non-randomised comparison group.

For the plugs, creams have the clearest numbers: in a 12-week trial, 10% lactic acid cream reduced lesions by 66% and 5% salicylic acid cream by 52%. Kootiratrakarn, 2015 See red light therapy for skin texture for more smoothing research.

Can red light calm the redness of keratosis pilaris rubra?

Red light may help redness that comes from irritated, inflamed skin around the follicles. Redness from widened small blood vessels is a job for a vascular laser such as the pulsed dye laser, because LED light does not close vessels.

DermNet names "Pulsed dye laser or intense pulsed light" for KP redness. DermNet In the case series above, 595 nm pulsed dye laser cleared the redness fully in 3 of 10 people and by more than 75% in the other 7, with bruising for about 2 weeks. Alcántara González, 2011

For inflammatory redness, the red light research is encouraging:

• Reactive skin: in the sensitive skin pilot, 28 of 30 people reached at least a 60% drop in symptoms, and itch fell from 5.5 to 1.3 out of 10. It had no comparison group. Sonbol, 2020
• Mechanism: a 2017 review called "an overall reduction in inflammation" one of its most reproducible effects. Hamblin, 2017
• Guidance: the AAD lists "rough-feeling skin, redness" among the things red light may help. AAD

Harvard Health notes that exfoliants "do not relieve the redness or itching". Harvard Health See red light therapy for redness for how to tell the two kinds apart.

Why do laser results for KP not transfer to an LED device?

Clinic lasers and IPL deliver a strong burst of energy in milliseconds that heats the follicle, once every 3 to 5 weeks. Red LED light gives a low, steady dose over minutes, about twice a week, and works differently.

The KP laser trials used 5 to 34 J/cm² in a single pulse. The red LED studies below spread about 7 to 10 J/cm² over a whole session.

Study	Who	Light or product	Dose	Minutes	Sessions a week	Course	Result
Sonbol 2020, no control group	30 adults, sensitive facial skin	630 nm red LED, 10 cm	7 J/cm²	3	2	Up to 8 weeks	Score 54.7 to 14.4
Wunsch 2014, non-randomised controls	Adults, ageing face and body skin	611 to 650 nm red	About 8.5 to 9.6 J/cm²	12 to 25	2	30 sessions	Roughness down 1.79

So the 810 nm laser results do not carry over to a home LED device, even though both use near-infrared. Our article on cold laser therapy vs red light therapy explains the difference.

Can you use red light with lactic acid, urea or a retinoid?

Yes, as long as the skin is calm and unbroken. Use light first on clean, dry skin, then apply your urea or lactic acid moisturiser, and keep retinoids for the evening.

The AAD advises a moisturiser with urea or lactic acid within 5 minutes of bathing, at least 2 or 3 times a day. AAD

• Order: light on bare skin, then the acid or urea cream, then moisturiser.
• Acids: if skin stings, move exfoliating acids to evenings without light.
• Scrubs: gentle only. The AAD warns scrubbing "tends to irritate the skin and worsen keratosis pilaris". AAD, self-care
• Retinoids: at night, and never left on under a light session.

Topical and oral retinoids appear on DermNet's list of medicines that can make skin react to light, alongside doxycycline. DermNet, photosensitivity Our precautions rule out use with photosensitising medication, so anyone taking a medicine should check with their pharmacist or doctor before using the device. For step order, see red light therapy before or after skincare.

Is a red light mask suitable for keratosis pilaris on the cheeks?

For adults, yes, as a gentle add-on to cleanser, moisturiser and any cream your doctor suggests. Red, rough cheeks in children and teenagers are a matter for a doctor and moisturiser, not a device.

The cheek form is called keratosis pilaris rubra faciei. The Australasian College of Dermatologists says it is most common in children and adolescents and often improves with age. ACD It puts a soap-free cleanser, moisturiser and keratin-softening creams first, with laser or IPL only after a dermatologist's advice.

• Mode: Red mode only (665 nm red with 850 and 1064 nm near-infrared).
• Blue light: keep the blue mode off red cheeks and dark marks.
• Eyebrows: KP along the eyebrows with hair loss is a separate variant for a dermatologist.

Will light help the dark marks KP leaves on brown or black skin?

Marks fade over months, and red light at low settings may help the skin settle, but darker skin needs extra care with any light. The AAD notes that darker skin tones are "more sensitive to visible light, such as red light", so see a dermatologist first.

KP bumps can look darker on brown or black skin. NHS The AAD caution covers all red light. AAD

• IPL trial: pigment rose by 2.5% on the sham side and did not rise on the treated side. Maitriwong, 2019
• 755 nm laser: 3 of 21 people had temporary darkening, two of them with skin type IV. Li, 2022

Our precautions advise against the panel for Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI. With the mask, use the red mode at the lowest brightness. Our guide to red light therapy for hyperpigmentation explains why red is preferred over blue on marks.

Why does KP flare in winter, and does it overlap with eczema?

KP gets worse when the air is dry, and it is more common in people with eczema or dry skin. Light does not add moisture, so moisturiser stays the base of the routine all year.

The NHS says KP "may improve in summer and worsen in winter". NHS DermNet links it with dry winter air, atopic eczema and changes in filaggrin, a skin barrier protein. DermNet

• Bathing: warm, not hot, for 20 minutes or less, once a day at most, with a humidifier in heated rooms. AAD, self-care

If eczema patches sit on the same area, use light only on intact skin. Our guide to red light therapy for eczema covers that overlap.

How long before keratosis pilaris looks smoother?

Give any routine 4 to 6 weeks, as the AAD and Cleveland Clinic advise, and judge red light at 8 to 12 weeks. The laser and IPL trials measured results at 12 to 16 weeks.

Cleveland Clinic expects improvement within 4 to 6 weeks of treatment. Cleveland Clinic The AAD says treatment "cannot cure keratosis pilaris", so plan on maintenance, such as twice a week. AAD

KP tends to come back when care stops. Over 60% of surveyed dermatologists saw it return within three months of stopping salicylic acid and moisturiser. Greenzaid, 2023

Take photos at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 in the same light and season. KP also "often (but not always) clears up during adult life", say UK dermatologists. BAD, 2021

Who should not use light on keratosis pilaris?

Do not use either device during pregnancy, with epilepsy, a thyroid condition or thyroid medication, photosensitising medication, or on broken skin. Bumps that have been picked or scratched open should be left until the skin has closed.

The NHS advises: "do not scratch, pick or rub your skin". NHS Once the skin has healed, light can return to the routine.

• Panel: not if breastfeeding or preparing for pregnancy, after sunburn on the body in the past 2 weeks, with seizures triggered by light, or for Fitzpatrick skin types V or VI.
• Age: KP peaks in the teenage years; for anyone under 18, ask a doctor before using a device.
• See a doctor: if KP is itchy, inflamed, scarring or causing hair loss.

How do you use a Kivorla panel or mask for keratosis pilaris?

Use the panel at 12 inches on arms and thighs, 10 to 15 minutes per area, 2 to 4 times a week, after a short, dim start. On adult cheeks, start the mask in the red mode at 50% brightness for 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week.

The 9-Spectrum Red Light Therapy Panel carries 480, 590, 630, 660, 670, 810, 830, 850 and 1060 nm, each dimmable from 1 to 100%. At 640 x 230 mm, it suits a broad area such as an upper arm or thigh. For thighs and buttocks, the closest evidence comes from the upper arm trials.

• Position: hang it on a door or wall with the included door hook, pulley, hanging cables and screws, level with your upper arm, or stand it upright on the floor for thighs.
• Arms: turn the outer arm toward the panel, then the inner arm.
• Channels: lead with 630, 660, 830 and 850 nm, and set 480 nm to its lowest level.
• Timer: from 1 to 30 minutes. If no time is set, the panel stops at 5 minutes.
• Goggles: wear the included pair every session.

To stay near the gentle sessions in the LED studies:

• Shorter timer: begin at 3 to 5 minutes per area.
• Dimmer channels: turn near-infrared down first.
• Distance: keep to 12 inches for a broad area.

Leave at least 6 hours between 30-minute sessions. A controller is included.

The 4-Wavelength Red Light Therapy Mask is a cordless, full-face silicone shell with one eye opening and no diodes over the eyes. Brightness is 50, 70 or 90%, with a 5, 10 or 15 minute timer. Move to 10 minutes only if any flush fades within the hour. The manual allows 10 minutes up to 4 times a week at high brightness, or 15 minutes up to 3 times a week, and never more than 20 minutes a day. For KP on the neck, which the mask does not reach, use the panel. Stop if redness lasts hours or a rash appears.

Standard shipping to the US, UK and Germany is free. Read the precautions before ordering. Under our return and refund policy, returns are accepted within 30 days: an unopened device with its seals intact is refunded less a 10% restocking fee, and an opened device that is undamaged and complete is refunded less 20%.

Kivorla devices are general wellness devices, not medical devices, and are not intended to treat keratosis pilaris. See a dermatologist for KP that is itchy, inflamed or scarring, keep using the creams your doctor recommends, and do not use either device on children.