Table 1. Summary of previous research on utilization of acids, steroids, and kinase inhibitors to understand and treat keratosis pilaris.
N/A: not applicable; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; M: molarity
| Author (year), sample size | Type of acid/steroid/kinase inhibitor | Acid concentration/steroid/kinase inhibitor dosage | Results |
| Tian et al. (2021) [5], 25 | Glycolic acid | 50/70% | 8-60% improvement (short-term). On 5-year follow-up, no change |
| Wiegmann and Haddad (2020) [6], 66 | Glycolic acid, salicylic acid | 50% glycolic acid, 0.5% salicylic acid | 90% had overall improvement with acne, and 70-80% had more smooth skin |
| Kootiratrakarn et al. (2015) [7], NA | Salicylic acid, lactic acid | 5% salicylic acid , 10% lactic acid | Salicylic acid improved appearance by 52%. Lactic acid improved appearance by 66% |
| Searle et al. (2020) [8], 38 | Azelaic acid | 20% | 92% showed significant improvement in hyperkeratosis and erythema |
| Siegenthaler et al. (1986) [9], 13 | Retinoic acid | 0.75 mg/kg of body weight per day | Increase in cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins leads to increased presence of keratosis pilaris |
| Tawil et al. (2017) [10], 1 | Nilotinib (kinase inhibitor) | 600 mg per day | Nilotinib induced keratosis pilaris |
| Boyd et al. (2012) [11], 132 | Vemurafenib (kinase inhibitor) | N/A | 52% of patients treated with vemurafenib had “rashes.” In rest of the patients, it helped with metastatic melanoma and keratosis pilaris |
| Tay et al. (2002) [12], 12,323 | Topical and systemic (steroids) | Topical steroid: 13% Systemic steroid: 1–7% | N/A |
| Liu et al. (2018) [13], N/A | Amino acid (expression of ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 12 and fibrinogen alpha chain genes) | N/A | Fibrinogen alpha chain gene coding for profilaggrin protein can impact keratin and acid levels. ATP-binding cassette subfamily A member 12 gene does not have an affect |
| Zenker et al. (2007) [14], 165 | Amino acid (expression of guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 gene) | N/A | Guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 mutated gene contributes to distinct phenotype of keratosis pilaris |
| Maghfour et al. (2020) [15], N/A | Azelaic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid | 20% azelaic acid, 5% salicylic acid, 10% lactic acid | Azelaic acid improved hyperkeratosis and roughness by 92%. Salicylic acid improved pigmentation and roughness by 52%. Lactic acid improved pigmentation and roughness by 66% |
| Pennycook et al. (2021) [16], N/A | Salicylic acid, glycolic acid | 6% salicylic acid, 70% glycolic acid | Glycolic acid improved the appearance of keratosis pilaris |
| Alai (2020) [17], N/A | Salicylic acid, kojic acid, azelaic acid, aminolevulinic acid, lactic acid, and glycolic acid | 2–3% salicylic acid, 15–20% azelaic acid, 10–20% glycolic acid, rest N/A | N/A |
| Dekio et al. (1989) [18], 1 | Acetic acid | 0.1 M | Produced fibrous proteins that contribute to keratosis pilaris |
| Saadi (2021) [19], 20 | Trichloroacetic acid | 20% | N/A |
| Barth et al. (1988) [22], 227 | Testosterone (steroid) | 1.1–8.8 nmol | Higher testosterone correlated to increased severity of keratosis pilaris |
| Edelstein (1955) [23], 1 | Hydrocortisone (steroid) | 2.5% | Diminishing of erythema |
| Jeffries et al. (2009) [24], 1 | Triamcinolone, hydrocortisone, mometasone furoate, clobetasol propionate (steroid) | Triamcinolone: 0.1%, Hydrocortisone: 2.5%, Mometasone furoate: 0.1%, Clobetasol propionate: 0.05% | With heat avoidance, lesions showed significant improvement |
| Zegarska et al. (2010) [25], 1 | Prednisone (steroid) | 20 mg per day | Gradual disappearance of lichenoid papules on extremities |
| Caytemel et al. (2020) [26], 1 | Methylprednisolone (steroid) | 6 mg per day | Large numbers of yellow papules on face and hyperproliferation of sebaceous glands |
| Leong and Aw (2016) [27], 1 | Nilotinib (kinase inhibitor) | 800 mg per day | Nilotinib induced keratosis pilaris |
| Shimizu et al. (2016) [28], 1 | Salicylic acid | N/A | Variable effectiveness |
| Gerbig (2002) [29], 20 | Tazarotene (acid) | 0.01% | Gradually faded and resolved within 4–8 weeks |
| Oro-Ayude et al. (2020) [30], 1 | Nilotinib (kinase inhibitor) | N/A | Nilotinib induced keratosis pilaris |
| Frioui et al. (2020) [31], 1 | Nilotinib (kinase inhibitor) | N/A | Nilotinib induced alopecia and hyperkeratosis |
| Kowe et al. (2021) [32], 1 | Nilotinib (kinase inhibitor) | 600 mg per day | Nilotinib induced localized keratosis pilaris lesions |
| Wang et al. (2018) [33], 14 | Amino acid (expression of fibrinogen alpha chain gene) | N/A | Created profilaggrin which contributes to keratosis pilaris due to influence on keratin |