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Management

Authoring team

  • management involves avoiding a close shave, advising the patient to shave in the direction of the hair growth, growing a beard, use of chemical depilatories (1) - however often these treatment options achieve only short-lived improvement in the condition (2)

  • topical retinoic acid used alone, or in combination with a mild topical steroid, can sometimes be of benefit

  • physical modalities such as electrolysis have also been used in the treatment
    • but this technique can cause pigmentation abnormalities, scarring, and residual keratin abscesses from fragmentary destruction of the hair follicle (2)

  • only definitive cure for this condition is permanent removal of the hair follicle
    • laser hair removal with a variety of laser systems [diode (800-810 nm), pulsed Alexandrite (755 nm), Neodymium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG (1064 nm), and pulsed non coherent light source have been used (3)

Reference:

  • Practitioner (1998), 242, 292-6.
  • Halder RM. Pseudofolliculitis barbae and related disorders. Dermatol Clin. 1988;6:407-12.
  • Perry PK, Cook-Bolden FE, Rahman Z, Jones E, Taylor SC. Defining pseudofolliculitis barbae in 2001: A review of the literature and current trends. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002;46:S113-9
  • Bolognia JL, Jorizzo JL, Schaffer JV. Dermatology. 3rd ed. New York: Saunders; 2012.

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