Will laser hair removal help with keratosis pilaris texture and discoloration? (Photos)

Question

I have keratosis pilaris on my upper arms. I’m currently using a physical exfoliant (African net towel) as well as chemical exfoliants (Amalactin 15%, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid) to help treat my KP. My KP is smooth but I cannot fade or lighten the dark spots. I was wondering if laser hair removal will help with both texture and discoloration? If not what will help with the discoloration since my texture is currently smooth? I have attached pictures

Laurie A. Casas, MD, FACS · Answer

Laser hair removal may help reduce future KP flares and improve texture by decreasing follicular inflammation, but it usually does not fade existing dark spots. Since your texture is already smooth, continued heavy exfoliation can actually slow fading. The best approach now is to scale back exfoliation, focus on pigment-targeting ingredients like azelaic acid, niacinamide, or tranexamic acid, add a gentle retinoid a few nights per week, moisturize well to support the skin barrier, and use sun protection on your arms. These steps are far more effective for lightening KP discoloration than laser hair removal.

Certain in-office treatments can improve discoloration, but it’s crucial to choose both the right treatment and an experienced provider, as improper technique or device selection can actually make the pigmentation worse.

Certain in-office treatments can improve discoloration, but it’s crucial to choose both the right treatment and an experienced provider, as improper technique or device selection can actually make the pigmentation worse.

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello my name is Ranen and I am an Aesthetic nurse at Aesthetic skin.  Thanks for sharing the details and the images. I’ve looked closely at your photos. Your situation is actually quite common: keratosis pilaris (KP) often improves in texture with exfoliation, but post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH)—the dark spots—can linger long after the bumps have smoothed out. Let’s break this down carefully.  
Laser hair removal primarily targets hair follicles, not the pigmentation or the keratin plugs in KP. Here's what you can realistically expect:  Texture (KP bumps): Since your KP is already smooth, laser hair removal will not improve KP texture. It may prevent future ingrown hairs, which can help avoid additional irritation and dark spots. Discoloration: Laser hair removal is not effective for fading KP-related hyperpigmentation. In fact, in darker skin types, certain lasers can temporarily darken the skin (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation), which could worsen the spots. So in short: laser hair removal won’t directly help fade the dark spots from KP.

Will laser hair removal help with keratosis pilaris texture and discoloration? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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