How Red Light Therapy Can Help With Keratosis Pilaris ?

What is Keratosis Pilaris ?

Often called “chicken skin” or “strawberry skin” keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common and chronic skin condition. It’s caused when hair follicles become clogged by keratin and skin cells. Keratin is  a protein that the body naturally makes and is the main component in our hair and nails. Although KP can feel dry and bumpy, it’s usually painless, not contagious and doesn’t pose any health concerns. However, there isn’t a cure that completely gets rid of KP, only methods that  minimize texture and the appearance of redness and bumps.

What Causes Keratosis Pilaris ?

While KP is caused by excess keratin production and buildup in hair follicles, the root cause of the condition isn’t known. Some speculate that KP has a hereditary component while others point out that KP has been linked to other issues such as eczema conditions like atopic dermatitis. Even weather can impact KP flares with the skin condition typically worsening during dry cooler weather.

How to Improve the Appearance of Keratosis Pilaris on Skin ?

While there is no true cure for KP, there are many ways to improve the appearance of those rough tiny bumps on the skin like via exfoliation. According to this study, “your skin renews itself every 28 days. As you age, your skin takes longer to renew,” which means that exfoliation is important to help speed up skin cell turnover. To minimize bumps caused by KP and improve skin texture, exfoliation and moisturization are key as long as they’re not overdone. Moisturizers containing ingredients like urea are beneficial post exfoliation to soften dry skin and pull moisture into the skin’s barrier and even red light therapy can help. This 2022 study showed a “32% improvement in skin texture after 8 to 10 weeks irradiation with NIR.” 

Ways to improve KP:

• Exfoliate manually with a scrub or loofah
• Exfoliate chemically with AHAs and BHAs
• Use a retinol to speed up skin cell turnover
• Use an at-home RLT device

How Can Red Light Therapy Help With Keratosis Pilaris?

Properly exfoliating and moisturizing are the most common methods for addressing the look of KP, but LED light therapy can also help especially with at-home tools like the LumaLux Face Mask, LumaLux Face Neck and Dec and the LumaLux Dome Face and Body which covers a broader surface area than just the face mask. 

With red light therapy and “strawberry skin,” any redness or inflammation on the skin can be calmed through regular sessions. Red light therapy is known to boost collagen production which can cause skin to feel plump and smooth over time, and it’s generally good to use on sensitive skin and can even aid in wound healing.  LED Light Therapy works on the surface to promote faster wound healing, ease inflammation and soothe any itchiness too. However, near-infrared light emits wavelengths of 810 to 850 nanometers to penetrate deeper into the skin tissue, muscles, and bones. The settings on the Alora Age Renewal LED Panel offer deep cellular penetration and the LumaLux Face + Pro LED Red Light Therapy Face and Neck Mask  offers more deep infrared light therapy. 

Combining RLT with exfoliation, topical treatments, and moisturizing can be an effective way to clear up some of the signs of KP. However, there are limitations to what RLT can do, and it does not help with getting rid of clogged hair follicles by dissolving the excess keratin buildup. 

A Red Light Therapy Routine for Keratosis Pilaris

1. Make sure your RLT device is clean before use
2. Check that your skin isn’t irritated or flared up
3. Use a mild cleanser (make sure there are no active ingredients or irritants like fragrance, AHAs or BHAs in your soap)
4. Use your preferred RLT device per its instructions
5. Use a gentle, fragrance free moisturizer on the area to soothe dryness and restore the skin barrier
6. Wait 12 to 24 hours after your RLT session before using topical products that contain active ingredients like AHAs, BHAs and retinols. 
   

Frequently Asked Questions

Can red light therapy completely cure Keratosis Pilaris?

There is currently no permanent cure for Keratosis Pilaris, as it is largely a genetic condition. However, red light therapy is an excellent tool for managing and drastically reducing its appearance. RLT helps calm the inflammation (the redness) and speeds up cellular healing, keeping the skin significantly smoother and less noticeable with consistent use.

How long does it take to see results for KP using red light therapy?

Because KP involves a buildup of keratin that needs to clear out, patience is required. Most people begin to see a reduction in redness and inflammation within 3 to 4 weeks of consistent use (3–5 times a week). Improvements in skin texture and roughness typically take 6 to 8 weeks as the skin completes its natural renewal cycles.

Does red light therapy help with the dark spots left behind by KP?

Yes. Keratosis Pilaris often leaves behind hyperpigmentation or dark, stubborn marks (known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) after the bumps flatten out. Red light therapy stimulates cellular turnover and improves local blood circulation, which helps fade these dark spots and evens out your skin tone much faster.

LED Panel

Alora | Age Renewal LED Light Therapy Panel

Target up to 5 skin layers with advanced blue, infrared and red light therapy contour panel

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LED Panel

LumaLux Dome | Face & Body LED Red Light Therapy Device

8 wavelength full body LED light therapy device for skin rejuvenation, fine lines, acne, muscle recovery and mood boost

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