Does Kratom Help with Bad Skin? A Research-Based Overview

Can Kratom help with bad skin, scarring, and other skin-related issues?

Written by: KRI Team

Last Updated: October 14, 2024

If you have spent a lot of time reading about kratom and what people use it for, you may have encountered some claims about it helping with bad skin, scarring, and other skin-related issues. How much truth is there to the claims that kratom is great for your skin?

It’s important to understand that there haven’t been studies that focus specifically on kratom and its effects on our skin. We are limited to the anecdotal evidence from kratom users.

Some kratom users report that kratom helps their skin, but more research is needed to determine the veracity of this claim.

Taking a look at the only studies that look at kratom and skin

While no one has designed a study to look at kratom’s effect on the skin, there have really only been two noteworthy studies that document the impact of kratom on skin.

Prevete et al (2022) described this 1932 study by Grewal, et al, which documented that kratom “was found to reduce heat sensitivity and electrical resistance of the skin, to improve muscular work, and to cause dilatation of the skin blood vessel.”

This means kratom may lead to:

Reduced heat sensitivity: Users of kratom may experience a decreased ability to sense heat on their skin.
Reduced electrical resistance of the skin: The skin’s natural resistance to electrical current is lowered, which could potentially be measured using certain medical devices.
Improved muscular work: Kratom appears to enhance muscle performance or endurance.
Dilatation of skin blood vessels: The blood vessels near the surface of the skin expand, which can lead to increased blood flow to the skin.

These effects suggest that kratom has both analgesic (pain-reducing) and stimulant properties. The reduced heat sensitivity and electrical resistance might indicate changes in nerve function or pain perception. Improved muscular work points to potential stimulant effects, while the dilation of blood vessels could contribute to a feeling of warmth or flushing.

However, it is crucial to note that this study was conducted in the 1930s, and there have been no additional studies to confirm these observations.

Kratom may cause hyperpigmentation of the skin

Frellick (2024) reported on a few recent studies that noticed a correlation between kratom use and hyperpigmentation of the skin, especially where the skin is exposed to the sun. Interestingly, the knuckles were unaffected.

The report explained:

A case report published in February 2024 in the Journal of Integrative Dermatology by Shaina Patel and Nathaniel Phelan. They describe a 30-year-old white male patient with dark gray-blue skin coloring on sun-exposed areas after years of kratom use.

A 2022 report published in JAAD Case Reports by Landon R. Powell and coauthors. They describe a 54-year-old White male patient with diffuse hyperpigmented patches on his arms and face in a photodistributed manner, with sparing of the knuckles, after 4-5 years of kratom use.

There have been no causation-proving studies on whether or not kratom causes hyperpigmentation, but researchers are taking note of the possibility that it could be a side effect of long-term kratom use.

What we don’t know about kratom & skin

Unfortunately, there are a lot of aspects of kratom that have not been studied. These are just a few of the areas where we need more research:

Cognitive effects
Reproductive health
Cardiovascular system
Gastrointestinal effects
Endocrine system
Immune system function
Sleep patterns
Psychological impacts
Drug interactions
Withdrawal syndrome
Genetic factors
Dosage standardization
Environmental impact
Social and economic impacts
Potential medical applications

When it comes to skin, there are a lot of studies we would love to see. Until studies like these are conducted, we won’t have a full picture of kratom’s effect on users’ skin:

What are the short-term and long-term effects of kratom on the skin?
What biological mechanism explains the possibility that kratom could cause hyperpigmentation?
If kratom causes hyperpigmentation, how prevalent is this side effect?
Can hyperpigmentation, if it is caused by kratom, be reversed?
What are the genetic factors that make people susceptible to kratom’s effects on skin?
Are there any skin benefits to taking kratom?

Without research, we will continue to be dependent upon very observational studies with very small numbers of participants and anecdotal evidence. The kratom industry has joined kratom consumers to call for additional research into Mitragyna speciosa so that everyone can use it safely and with minimal risks of side effects.

Anecdotal evidence of kratom helping people with bad skin

When searching for information about kratom and skin health, you may have found some articles about how great kratom can be for your skin. At the time of publication of this article, several of the sources that make these claims are doing so without any scientific evidence or anecdotal evidence.

Rather, they are making generalizations based on the properties of kratom.

For example, kratom has alkaloids, and some alkaloids have a positive effect on the skin, so some kratom vendors will claim that kratom helps with bad skin. Although it may be true that kratom could help some people’s skin improve, there are not any scientific studies to support this theory.

Kratom skin care products

If you want to give kratom skin care products a try, you will find some on the market that claim benefits like these:

Reducing skin oiliness
Lightening acne scars
Creating a more even skin tone
Helping with anti-aging
Reducing psoriasis issues
Exfoliation

There may not be evidence to support these claims, but improving your skin hygiene will certainly help your skin. If you develop good habits of cleanliness, moisturization, and exfoliation, your skin will thank you! Kratom-infused skincare products may not have the backing of hard science, but your skin will thank you for healthy choices.

The current state of research on kratom and skincare

The current state of research highlights a significant gap in our understanding of kratom and its effects on our skin. Anecdotal reports are limited, and observational studies only tell us so much.

Kratom appears to have the potential to affect users’ skin pigmentation, although more research is necessary to understand why that happens or how commonplace it may be. Ideally, future studies will evaluate the mechanisms by which kratom interacts with dermatological processes.

As kratom continues to grow in popularity, it is crucial to bridge this research gap. By addressing these unknowns, kratom users can more effectively conduct a risk-benefit analysis to help them make informed decisions about kratom consumption.