Early Removal of Post-Operative Scabs After Follicular Unit Extraction Using a 2% Salicylic Acid Keratolytic Shampoo: A Multicentre Descriptive Pilot Study
May 2026
in “
Frontiers in Medicine
”
Studysummary In this study, a keratolytic shampoo with 2% salicylic acid was found to effectively reduce scab severity in male patients after hair transplantation without causing adverse symptoms, leading to high patient satisfaction and no recorded adverse events. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a 2% salicylic acid keratolytic shampoo for early scab removal after follicular unit extraction (FUE) in 21 male patients. The shampoo, used twice daily starting 48–72 hours post-surgery, significantly reduced scab severity without adverse effects, although erythema temporarily increased after washing. Patient satisfaction was high, with 76.2% noting reduced scabs and 67% willing to recommend the product. Despite the positive outcomes, the study's single-arm, non-controlled design and small sample size mean that larger, randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the shampoo's efficacy in enhancing healing and patient comfort post-hair transplantation.
