Acne Keloidalis Nuchae is a condition of folliculitis that forms painful, itchy lumps and bumps on the back of the head and neck. These bumps can go untreated for a long duration of time, due to their preliminary resemblance to a barber’s rash. For most patients, the journey to recovery starts with an internet search: “How to get rid of bumps without surgery on the back of my head?” A countless number of perplexing choices might pop up. Even primary care providers (PCPs) and some dermatologists might be puzzled by this very modest question, “I have a bump on the back of my head, what is the medical treatment?” This is because AKN is an unfamiliar condition to many health care providers. However, there are several options concerning bumps on back of head treatment. Medical bumps on back of head treatment is one of those options.
Medical Bumps on Back of Head Treatment: How it Works
At Dr. Umar’s Los Angeles AKN Clinic, Dr. Umar (aka Dr.U) has successfully treated numerous patients afflicted with this follicular condition, both with and without surgery for bumps on the bumps on back of the head treatment. Advanced conditions of acne keloidalis nuchae many times involve surgical intervention. For a promising reaction to non-surgical treatments, acne keloidalis nuchae must be treated at its initial phases. Of the non-surgical treatment methods, only laser treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae gives a chance at permanent results. The use of medications would typically result in improvements to the physical look of the lesions and symptomatic reprieve, but the benefits are most times provisional and might recur with the complete removal with medical bumps on back of head treatment.
What Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Looks Like
The following signs and symptoms of AKN might include a combination of:
- Pimple-like bumps on the bumps on back of the head and neck, typically at the nape area (though rare, these bumps can advance to cover the entire rear scalp)
- Larger bumps on the rear scalp that have begun to coalesce into a large, flat lesion
- Tufts of hair clumping and growing between lesions
- Hairless, tumor-like formation, similar in appearance to a keloid
- Pain
- Itchiness
- Total hair loss in the affected area
- Discharges (i.e. blood or pus)
- Odor
Stages of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae
Through years of advanced education and study, Dr. Umar has established his own classification system to index and identify the various manifestations of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae. The disorder naturally advancements together in the severity of the abrasions as well as their spatial delivery across the scalp and the back of the head. The specific form, as identified by Dr. Umar, is as follows, in correspondence with the diagram below to :
- Papules: The bumps appearing, each measure smaller than 1cm in diameter on back of the head.
- Nodules: The bumps appearing, each measure larger than 1cm in diameter on back of the head.
- Papules (Merged) and Nodules: The bumps begin to connect and coalesce on back of the head.
- Keloidal Tumor/Mass: into a tumescent mass, the bumps on back of the head have mutated, accompanied by hair loss, or tufted hair growth in the infected region.
- Flat Plaque: The keloidal tumor transforms into, one large, flat, thick, and hairless site of infection.
How to get rid of razor bumps on neck overnight
When one notices the tiny, bumpy growths (papules stage) spreading, it is the correct stage to seek the help of a dermatologist, who will most likely recommend prescription medication, over surgery. Once past the nodules stage, and noticing a merging, it could be too late for effective relief from AKN without surgery. Medications are important to keep the disease under control, at this stage, minimizing discomfort, and reducing inflammation for the medical bumps on back of head treatment.
Video: Before and After Medical Bumps on Back of Head Treatment
Noticing the signs and symptoms early can open up options for non-surgical acne keloidalis nuchae treatment using prescription medications and injections. These medication based therapies, however, are often temporary, and rarely result in permanent remission. Their purpose is keeping the symptoms suppressed, limiting the pain, itching, and inflammation, and preventing the condition from advancing. If the medical bumps on back of head treatment halts, the condition will progress, even if the lesions seemed to disappear or lessen while on medication. Depending on the stage, treatments can include:
- Antibiotics – topical and/or oral
- Retinoids – topical and/or oral
- Steroids – topical and/or injectable
- Laser therapy
Steroids
Steroids are used primarily for its anti-inflammatory properties and the atrophic effect it has on the lesion. The inflammatory response to hair follicles, caused by AKN, induces the lumps to form. The persistent lumps and inflammation trigger a dysfunctional repair process, leading to thickening of the skin and the development of scar tissue. Steroids actually disrupted the disease at its origin. Steroids can be used topically or through intralesional injection, which is a direct injection into the bumps in back of the head. Intralesional injections are more effective than topical treatments from steroids used for medical bumps on back of head treatment.
Intralesional injections also help combat pain, itchiness and pus discharge. Lidocaine may be administered 2 hours before injection to numb sensations of pain and discomfort. The suggested steroids for AKN are the following:
- Prednisone
- Halobetasol
- Triamcinolone
- Clobetasol propionate
Antibiotics
Antibiotics infrequently aide the condition, but help with the drainage of pus and blood. If antibiotics are authorized by your doctor, they should be applied or ingested for a full cycle lasting approximately 3 months. If drainage does not lesses and abscesses persist, oral prednisone (a steroid) can be taken with the course of antibiotics. The prescribed antibiotics for AKN:
- Minocycline
- Erythromycin
- Rifampicin
- Clindamycin
- Doxycyclin
Minocycline and Doxycycline are favored because of their good coverage as well as their innate anti-inflammatory properties for medical bumps on back of head treatment.
Retinoids
Retinoids can be typically prescribed when the disease is advancing rapidly. While the exact mechanism for its impact on Acne Keloidalis nuchae is unknown it is believed that retinoids can lessen inflammation of the infected tissue, slow oil production, and reduce bacteria (which also, in turn, helps with drainage). If taking oral retinoids before surgery, a washout period (stopping the medication) of 12 months is advised in order to prevent wound-healing complications during medical bumps on back of head treatment.
Retinoids drastically shrink the skin’s oil glands by 35-58% and curb oil production by about 80%. The bacteria that provokes acne lives in oil produced by the skin. Therefore, retinoids could help diminish the bacterial presence associated with AKN. These bacterias proliferate in the moist environment of the AKN lesions. It also helps to shed dead skin cells. This, in turn, prevents clogged pores. The recommended retinoids for AKN include:
- Isotretinoin
- Tretinoin
- Adapalene
- Tazarotene
How to Treat A Bump on the Head
When considering an approach to addressing a bump in back of the head, steroidal treatment creams may seem like an acceptable non-surgical alternative for medical bumps on back of head treatment. Yet, this drug-based treatment can come with a variety of complications. The patient seen below came to Dr.U Skin Clinic with small but noticeable Acne Keloidalis nuchae pustules on the back of his head. Dr. Umar administered steroid creams with high potency. The lesions responded to the treatment. Within two months significant improvement had been shown, but, after another two months, the bumps returned, ending the remissions cycle. Steroid medications may treat symptoms of AKN such as inflammation, itchiness, and may even reduce the size of the lesion, but does not target the root cause of the condition. This same patient is now considering laser therapy to remove the lesions that returned after medical bumps on back of the head treatment.
Why do I get razor bumps on my neck?
Even though the exact cause of AKN remains unknown, Dr. Umar is confident that the condition typically begins with haircut and irritation of the hair that culminates in an ingrown hair. Next an inflammation is provoked that causes hypertrophic fibrotic response to cause the keloidal lumps and pus. Dr. Umar also believes that there is likely a hormonal basis for the disease. It almost exclusively occurs in males and is commonly a lot similar and often associated with another male hormone associated condition, acne vulgaris. This overall opinion is a result of Dr. Umar’s extensive research and experience in treating AKN patients using, lasers medication, ablative therapy, and also surgical excision for bumps on the back of the head treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions – Medical bumps on back of the head treatment
Why do I get razor bumps on my neck?
Dr. Umar has come to the conclusion with confidence, that the condition usually starts with a haircut and/or irritation of the follicle, which culminates in an ingrown hair. Next, an inflammation is provoked that causes hypertrophic fibrotic response to cause the keloidal lumps and pus.
What is the medical term for bump on head?
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae is the medical term for the folliculitis that forms painful, itchy lumps and bumps on the back of the head and neck. These bumps can go untreated for a long duration of time, due to their preliminary resemblance to a barber’s rash. These pimple-like bumps on the back of the neck, at the nape area, can advance to cover the entire rear scalp.
Can I follow a DIY guide on how to get rid of razor bumps on neck overnight?
A DIY guide on how to get rid of razor bumps will not results in overnight success. Self-diagnosing and treating is not recommended. It is the right time for nonsurgical, medicinal treatment of acne keloidalis nuchae, when someone notices papules at the first stage, before spreading occurs. Once past the nodules stage, and when they merging, it could be too late for effective relief from AKN without surgery.
Further Reading
Read these tips on how to avoid AKN razor bumps from frequent head shaving.
Learn how treating ingrown hairs can help remove AKN head bumps.