Pseudofolliculitis describes folliculitis caused by ingrowing hairs in the beard area and on the back of the neck. This condition results in small papules on the areas of skin described (1).
This condition is worse in people with naturally curly hair and Afro-Caribbeans (1).
Scarring commonly occurs associated with this condition (1).
- pseudofolliculitis barbae (also known colloquially as 'ingrown hairs' or 'razor bumps') is a common chronic inflammatory disorder occurring most often in regions of thick hair growth after shaving (2)
- pathogenesis involves creating a sharp tip by shaving the distal end of the hair that enables intrafollicular and transfollicular penetration of thick hairs into the dermis
- as the hairs grow, they coil back into the dermis, causing an inflammatory reaction
- characterized clinically by multiple painful, pruritic erythematous papules and, less commonly, pustules, nodules, or abscesses; hyperpigmentation, hypertrophic scars and keloids can also occur
Reference:
- 1) GP magazine (14/9/01), 38.
- 2) Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Schaffer JV. Dermatology. 3rd ed. New York: Saunders; 2012.