Keratosis pilaris treatment paradigms: assessing effectiveness across modalities

Abstract This review aims to present a comprehensive synthesis of the existing treatment modalities for keratosis pilaris (KP) and evaluate their therapeutic efficacy. KP is a prevalent chronic dermatological condition typified by its unique ‘chicken skin appearance’, with the cheeks being the most commonly involved sites. Numerous therapeutic interventions have emerged, given its substantial prevalence and impact on skin aesthetics and psychological wellbeing. Nonetheless, a consistent therapeutic response has been challenging to achieve. This review endeavours to collate and critically appraise the current treatment landscape for KP. An exhaustive literature search was performed using databases such as Ovid, PubMed and Scopus. From an initial count of 459 articles identified after deduplication, 52 were selected for inclusion after a thorough full-text examination for articles with concrete outcome data highlighting the efficacies of different therapeutic modalities; articles that lacked data or were tangential to the core focus on KP treatment were excluded. The included articles were then catalogued based on the nature of treatment strategies and their respective outcomes. Among the various therapeutic interventions, laser and light modalities appear to be supported by the most substantial evidence base. Notably, the Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium–aluminium–garnet) laser, attributed to its longer wavelength, emerged as a preferred option. While other therapeutic avenues have also exhibited notable improvements in skin texture and discolouration relative to baseline, the inconsistency in outcome measures underscores the need for a standardized, KP-specific scoring system to foster a more coherent comparison across treatments. Based on the current evidence, Nd:YAG laser therapy demonstrates promising effectiveness with a relatively favourable side-effect profile. However, the landscape of KP treatment is multifaceted, and further studies are essential to solidify recommendations.