Concerns · Breakouts, Scars & Texture · CityLink Mall
Keratosis Pilaris Treatment in Singapore
Chicken skin is harmless but stubborn. Daily care keeps it in check, and laser can help the redness, dark dots and roughness that home care leaves behind.
Written & medically reviewed by Dr Sin Yong · 8 October 2026
Quick answer
- Chicken skin is harmless but stubborn. Daily care keeps it in check, and laser can help the redness, dark dots and roughness that home care leaves behind.
- Medical, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic (Pacific Plaza, Orchard): Laser Toning.
- Assessment first; individual results vary. Medical pricing is given at consultation.
Keratosis pilaris, often called chicken skin, shows up as small, rough bumps that feel like sandpaper. It is most common on the outer upper arms, thighs and buttocks, and sometimes on the cheeks. Each bump may be skin-coloured, red or surrounded by a brown dot, and in Asian skin the dark dots are often what bothers people most. If you are searching for keratosis pilaris treatment in Singapore, you are far from alone: it is one of the most common skin conditions in teenagers and young adults.
The bumps form when keratin, the protein that makes up the outer skin layer, builds up and plugs the opening of each hair follicle. Instead of shedding normally, the cells stick together and form a tiny hard plug, sometimes with a curled hair trapped underneath. The tendency runs in families and is more common in people with dry or eczema-prone skin. Long hours in dry air-conditioning, hot showers and harsh soaps can make it feel rougher.
Keratosis pilaris is not an infection and is not caused by poor hygiene, so scrubbing harder does not fix it and often makes redness worse. It tends to ease with age but can persist for years. SkinRev does not currently have a dedicated session for it, so enquiries go to Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, who confirms the diagnosis and can use laser toning when daily care alone is not enough.
“Chicken skin can be smoothed and calmed, but it is a lifelong tendency of the follicle, so the goal is control rather than cure.”
— Dr Sin Yong, IN Eternity Clinic
- What it is
- Keratin plugs in hair follicle openings, often with redness or brown dots around them
- Usual sites
- Outer upper arms, thighs, buttocks; sometimes the cheeks
- Variants
- Keratosis pilaris rubra (marked redness), pigmented forms, facial forms
- Associations
- Family history, dry skin and eczema-prone skin
- Laser listed
- Laser toning: 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG at low energy
- Nature
- Harmless and not contagious; often eases with age but can persist
What goes where
The honest ladder:
non-invasive first, medical when it is needed
At SkinRev Lab · non-invasive
There is no non-invasive treatment at SkinRev Lab that changes this concern. We will say so at the first visit and pass your enquiry to IN Eternity Clinic.
At IN Eternity Clinic · Dr Sin Yong
Laser Toning — Low-energy 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser pulses, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, target the pigment around each follicle and help soften the look of roughness and redness. It is usually used for stubborn or pigmented chicken skin alongside a daily skin-care routine, not as a replacement for it. How it works
Enquiries to SkinRev Lab about medical treatments are passed to IN Eternity Clinic, where Dr Sin Yong performs them.
Most people should start with daily care: a gentle cleanser, lukewarm rather than hot showers, no harsh scrubs or loofahs, and a moisturiser with gentle exfoliating ingredients applied regularly to slightly damp skin. Give this around two to three months. See Dr Sin Yong if the bumps remain rough or red despite steady care, if dark dots are the main concern, if it affects your face, or if you are not sure whether the bumps are keratosis pilaris, acne or folliculitis. Itchy, spreading or painful bumps should also be checked by a doctor. Before a laser session, avoid sunburn or deliberate tanning on the area, and mention any eczema flare, since inflamed skin is better settled first. Laser and home care are then planned together, so you know which products to pause around each session and when to restart them.
Where this happens
Assessment and non-invasive care — SkinRev Lab, CityLink Mall #B1-28, 1 Raffles Link, Singapore 039393. Underground from City Hall MRT and Esplanade MRT; a short walk from Raffles Place, Marina Bay, Suntec and Bugis. Open daily 11am–8pm.
Medical treatment — IN Eternity Clinic, 9 Scotts Road, #12-01 Pacific Plaza, Singapore 228210, beside Orchard MRT (three stops from City Hall on the North-South line). Mon–Sat 11am–8pm, closed Sunday. Treatments are performed by Dr Sin Yong. WhatsApp +65 8815 3008.
What the research says
The evidence,
with sources
A detailed review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology describes keratosis pilaris as a primary disorder of the hair follicle and its oil gland, arising from inherited gene changes or acquired disruptions in skin-cell signalling. It covers topical, systemic and energy-based treatments and concludes that the usefulness of several types of laser deserves wider recognition. A systematic review of light and laser studies, covering 17 studies and 175 people, found that devices are emerging as promising options for a condition that still lacks an effective long-term treatment, though most studies were small.
For the 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser specifically, a pilot study of 12 people with keratosis pilaris found improvement in both skin texture and dark discolouration after a course of treatment, with high satisfaction and no significant side effects. The authors were careful to say that this laser may not be a first-line therapy, but could be an option for keratosis pilaris that does not respond to usual care. Larger controlled studies are still needed, so individual results vary. The published studies used several different types of device, and in practice the choice depends on whether redness, dark dots or roughness is the main problem for you, which is why the plan starts with a careful look at your skin.
References
- Wang JF, Orlow SJ. Keratosis pilaris and its subtypes: associations, new molecular and pharmacologic etiologies, and therapeutic options. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2018;19(5):733-757.
- Kechichian E, Jabbour S, El Hachem L, Tomb R, Helou J. Light and laser treatments for keratosis pilaris: a systematic review. Dermatol Surg. 2020;46(11):1397-1402.
- Park J, Kim BJ, Kim MN, Lee CK. A pilot study of Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser treatment in the keratosis pilaris. Ann Dermatol. 2011;23(3):293-298.
Common questions
Your questions,
answered
What is the most effective keratosis pilaris treatment in Singapore?
For most people, the foundation is consistent daily care with gentle exfoliating moisturisers and no harsh scrubbing. When bumps, redness or dark dots persist, laser can add to that routine. Laser toning with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser, performed by Dr Sin Yong at IN Eternity Clinic, is the medical option listed here. The two are usually combined, because the follicle tendency itself does not go away.
How much does keratosis pilaris treatment in Singapore cost?
Pricing for laser toning and any doctor-led plan is given at consultation at IN Eternity Clinic, because it depends on the size of the area and the plan agreed. SkinRev does not list a dedicated session for keratosis pilaris, so there is no SkinRev price for this concern. You can enquire at SkinRev in CityLink Mall and we will route you to IN Eternity Clinic.
Can keratosis pilaris be cured?
Not in the sense of switching off the tendency, because it comes from how your follicles shed keratin, often inherited. Many people find it eases with age, and regular care keeps the bumps flatter and smoother. Laser can soften stubborn redness, dark dots and texture. If you stop all care, the roughness usually returns gradually, so maintenance is part of the plan.
Should I scrub my chicken skin?
It is tempting, but harsh scrubs, brushes and loofahs tend to irritate the skin and make redness and dark marks worse, especially in Asian skin. Gentle chemical exfoliation through a suitable moisturiser, used regularly, is usually kinder and more effective than physical scrubbing. Avoid picking at the bumps too, as this can leave marks that last longer than the bumps themselves. Pat skin dry after showering and moisturise straight away.
How does laser toning help keratosis pilaris?
Laser toning uses short, low-energy pulses of 1064 nm light that are absorbed by pigment around the follicles, which helps the dark dots fade. The heat also seems to soften the roughness and redness in some people, as shown in a small study of this laser in keratosis pilaris. A course is usually planned at consultation, and daily skin care continues alongside it.
Is keratosis pilaris the same as acne or ingrown hairs?
No, although they can look similar. Keratosis pilaris bumps are small, rough and usually not painful, and they sit on the arms, thighs or cheeks in an even pattern. Acne tends to include blackheads and tender red spots. Ingrown hairs and folliculitis can be itchy or sore and often follow shaving. A doctor can tell them apart, which matters because each is treated differently.