To assess efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL) activation of silver nanoparticles (SNA) versus IPL alone for treatment of keratosis pilaris.

The primary objective of this pilot study is to assess efficacy and safety of intense pulsed light (IPL; StellarM22™ Universal IPL, Lumenis Ltd., Yokneam, Israel) alone versus combination of IPL activation of silver nanoparticles (SNA) for treatment of keratosis pilaris.

Prior to first treatment, right and left arms of 10 enrolled subjects will be randomized to combination treatment with IPL activation of SNA (i.e. intervention arm) versus IPL alone (i.e. control arm). The intervention arm will be pre-treated with sugaring to epilate existing hair. This arm will then be treated with 0.5mL of nanoparticle suspension administered with a standard infusion paddle for 5 minutes prior to IPL treatment.

Following nanoparticle infusion, excess suspension will be removed from the surface of the skin with a pre-moistened wipe. Once all visible suspension is removed from the skin, the area will be cleansed with an alcohol wipe. If the alcohol wipe shows that the suspension is still present on the surface of the skin, additional pre-moistened wipes will be used to cleanse the skin until the alcohol wipe comes away without visible suspension. IPL will then be applied to the intervention arm.

Treatments will be repeated three times, spaced four- to six-weeks apart. After completing all three treatments, patients will return for macroscopic and dermoscopic photography at 1 month and 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult males and females aged 18 or older with clinical diagnosis of KP of the posterior upper arms.

• Subjects in good general health based on investigator's judgment and medical history

• Understands and accepts obligation not to receive any other procedures on the treatment area through the length of the study

• Understands and accepts the obligation and is logistically able to be present for all visits

• Is willing to comply with all requirements of the study and sign the informed consent documents

• Must be willing to maintain usual sun exposure for the duration of the study

• Subject agrees to avoid tanning or use of sunless tanner during the entire course of the study

• Subject agrees to avoid any changes in current skincare regimen.

• Negative urine pregnancy test result at the time of study entry (if applicable)

• For female subjects of childbearing potential, must be willing to use an acceptable form of birth control during the entire course of the study. All systemic birth control measures must be in consistent use for at least 30 days prior to study enrollment.

  1. A female is considered of childbearing potential unless she is postmenopausal, without a uterus and/or both ovaries, or has had a bilateral tubal ligation.
  2. Acceptable methods of birth control are: oral contraceptives, contraceptive patches/rings/implants, Implanon®, Depo-Provera®, double-barrier methods (e.g., condoms and spermicide), abstinence, and/or vasectomy of partner with a documented second acceptable method of birth control, should the subject become sexually active.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Female subjects who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or breast feeding during the study
• The subject is hypersensitive to light in the visible and/or near infrared wavelength region
• The subject is taking medication which is known to increase sensitivity to sunlight
• The subject has a seizure disorder triggered by light
• The subject has a pacemaker
• The subject has a metal implant that interferes with the transmission of energy to the electrical field
• The subject has any embedded electronic devices that give or receive a signal such as Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICD) or Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) devices: treatment may interfere with the functionality of the device and/or damage the electronic implant
• Gold or metal allergy
• The subject has nerve insensitivity to heat in the treatment area or in the neutral pad placement area or a neuropathic disorder
• The subject has used topical keratolytics, retinoids, chemical or mechanical exfoliative treatments in the 30 days prior to application of study treatment
• Dermal fillers, biostimulators, laser treatments, or other energy-based light treatments during the 6-month period before study treatment
• Subjects with tattoos in the treatment areas
• Subjects with a significant history or current evidence of a medical, psychological, or other disorder that, in the investigator's opinion, would preclude enrollment into the study
• Subjects with a history of or presence of any skin condition/disease (including but not limited to any visible rash, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, actinic keratoses, neoplasm of uncertain behavior, or untreated keratinocyte carcinoma/melanoma, etc.) in the treatment area that might interfere with the diagnosis or evaluation of study parameters
• History of keloid or hypertrophic scarring
• Subjects with an active bacterial, viral, or fungal infection of the treatment areas
• The subject has a significant systemic illness, such as lupus, or an illness localized in area being treated
• Subjects planning any cosmetic procedure to the treatment areas during the study period, other than the treatment that will be performed by the investigator
• Presence of incompletely healed wound(s) in the treatment area
• Current participation or participation within 30 days prior to the start of this study in a drug or other investigational research study

Blinded Investigator will be unaware of which arm received which treatment