Acne Keloidalis Nuchae is believed to be caused when curly hairs grow back into the skin, causing the immune system to attack the hair follicle. However, not all AKN patients have curly hair. Here are two examples of patients who have straight hair. Neither are of African descent.
It is believed that Acne Keloidalis Nuchae occurs when curly hair grows back into the skin, causing an immune system reaction where the follicles become inflamed.
However, the condition also occurs in straight haired patients. It is not exactly clear why this happens.
Before and After Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Surgery
This patient had AKN for six years. Medications did not help. The lesion often felt itchy and painful. And it would also fill up with discharge. As you can see from his images, he has straight hair.
According to his interview, he said that he was given pills in the past. This was most likely some type of antibiotic to kill bacteria that was exacerbating the inflammation. Microbes can certainly contribute to the body’s inflammatory response. But this is probably one of several factors that contributed to Acne Keloidalis Nuchae.
This patient was able to get rid of his AKN through surgical excision. This left him with a linear scar on the back of his head. But it was deliberately aligned with his posterior hairline to make it cosmetically acceptable.
Here is another example of a patient with straight hair who suffered from Acne Keloidalis Nuchae.
The bumps seen on the left are an example of AKN in its early stages. Due to the hair loss that resulted, he chose to wear a longer style.
They had not yet eventuated into advanced plaques. Although he had the option of choosing medication for his treatment, the patient decided to have surgery done to remove them completely.
Like the other patient, the procedure was a successful cure for the Acne Keloidalis Nuchae. The linear scar was barely noticeable due to its strategic placement along the hairline.
This enabled the patient to be able to finally cut his hair short. And like others who succeeded in getting rid of AKN, he felt a new sense of freedom in his life.
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae predominantly affects males of African descent. However it is not uncommon for it to show up in other ethnicities as well. Early treatment is essential for making it go away.
