Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment

keratosis pilaris laser treatment on the arms

Keratosis pilaris can appear on the arms, legs, face, and even buttox! This condition is a cosmetic concern and can occur at any age. You may have considered sugar scrubs and creams. Well, keratosis pilaris laser treatment is another option!

Your esthetician will determine the best laser device depending on the location, severity, and other factors. 

Why do people seek laser treatment for keratosis pilaris? After trying other methods to achieve smooth skin, laser therapy is appealing as a quicker method.

However, more than one session is necessary with keratosis pilaris laser treatment. It is standard in treating most skin conditions with laser therapy.

Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment & Cost

 What type of lasers can improve Keratosis Pilaris? Below is a list of different lasers used on patients with (KP) and the cost range of each treatment.

* Darker skin tones can experience hyperpigmentation. Therefore, requiring an esthetician familiar with treating these skin types.

Acupulse Co2 Laser for Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment

This Acupulse Co2 Laser comes with assorted heads and functions to deliver specified treatments to the skin.

The superficial modality caters to the epidermis, used to resurface rough skin and types of keratosis. It also minimizes the appearance of pores.

With this device, estheticians can readily modify the intensity of the application, adjusting to the limitations of different skin types.

This procedure requires prepping with topical ointments and prescriptions to prime the skin for treatment. Anesthesia can decrease discomfort during this process.

The cost of the Acupulse Co2 laser treatment depends on the intensity of the session. The cost can range from $600 to $2000 per course, with additional sittings needed for desired results.

Expect a downtime of 5-7 days for reduced irritation.

Fractional Co2 Laser for Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment

Fractional lasers, known as pixel lasers, focus on specific blemishes. Therefore, unnecessary areas avoid treatment. Think of it as a small fraction of skin is in laser.

Keratosis pilaris laser treatment using fractional lasers can smooth the skin and lighten hyperpigmentation.

In non-wounding fractional laser treatments, patients report heat and minimal pain. Prepping agents and anesthesia are generally not necessary. Additionally, the downtime is approx. 4 to 10 days.

The cost of Fractional Co2 laser treatment ranges from $200 to $4000 per session. It varies due to the intensity of the laser treatment known as ablative and non-ablative.

Pulsed Dye Laser for Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment

In darker skin tones, keratosis Pilaris spots are brown or black in appearance. However, lighter tones may experience white, pink, or reddish spots.

To eliminate the pink and red hues, Pulsed Dye Lasers are used to dismantle broken vessels. A cooling cryospray mists on the skin after each pulse for skin protection.

You can expect to feel small pops on the skin with each beam. Downtime can take 3 to 10 days.

The cost depends on the treatment and can range from $400 to $900.

Diode Laser for Keratosis Pilaris Laser Treatment

Diode lasers are widespread in permanent hair removal. The area is first outlined in sections to ensure thorough treatment. Then, a gel is applied to cool the skin and enhance delivery.

Using Diodes for Keratosis Pilaris laser treatment reduces the bumpy texture of the skin. However, they are not effective in eliminating redness.

You can resume life as usual following a diode laser treatment, with special precautions. Some of which is avoiding exfoliation and hot showers for two days. Additionally, keeping the skin moisturized.

Diode lasers are the least expensive of all laser treatments, ranging from $50 to $400 per session, depending on the coverage area. Handheld diode lasers are the most affordable and available for personal use.

Derma infusion

 An alternative to laser treatment, any skin type can reap the benefits of derma infusion.

It is a process where the skin is exfoliated and dispersed with nutrients. You might say it is a blend of microdermabrasion and a facial.

A wand with interchangeable heads glides over the skin. Levels of exfoliation adjust by switching the head attachment.

Vitamin C, acids, and moisturizing agents are concentrated into the pores, helping heal and brighten the damaged skin.

The skin may be irritated after the session, but there is no downtime. The cost range is $100 to $300.

The Takeaway

When it comes to Keratosis pilaris laser treatment, there are many options. Your esthetician will determine the most effective laser to use on your skin. The range in skin types means the cost is provided on-site after analysis of the area.

Some laser treatments are ablative. Generally speaking, they require more healing with each session. However, the number of sittings lessens.

The non-ablative procedures are practical for skin types prone to discoloration, requiring less downtime with more sessions.

With laser treatment for Keratosis Pilaris, it is possible to attain smoother skin and decrease visible spots. Expect multiple visits to gain results!

For darker skin tones, laser treatments for keratosis pilaris are not out of the question. With a trained esthetician, adjusted settings deliver results.

Read More:

Keratosis Pilaris – Prevent & Treat Strawberry Skin,

Strawberry Skin – 3 Ways To Improve Keratosis P.

Medaesthetics Clinic Keratosis Pilaris Treatment published Jan 16, 2019, Acessed October 2021
Vachiramon V, Anusaksathien P, Kanokrungsee S, Chanprapaph K. Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser for Keratosis Pilaris: A Single-Blind, Randomized, Comparative Study. Biomed Res Int. 2016;2016:1928540. doi: 10.1155/2016/1928540. Epub 2016 May 9. PMID: 27247936; PMCID: PMC4876199.
Schoch JJ, Tollefson MM, Witman P, Davis DM. Successful Treatment of Keratosis Pilaris Rubra with Pulsed Dye Laser. Pediatr Dermatol. 2016 Jul;33(4):443-6. doi: 10.1111/pde.12892. Epub 2016 Jun 10. PMID: 27282957.
Expert Perspectives: Michael Gold, MD, FAAD, AcuPulse Nov 7, 2012
Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery & rejuvenation How Much Does Acupulse Treatment Cost? Acessed October 2021
Derm sd Fractional Skin Resurfacing and Skin Tightening Acessed October 2021

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