TLDR A 37-year-old man with hair loss and skin issues was successfully treated with oral antibiotics, highlighting the need for early treatment. Long-term care includes low-dose antibiotics and avoiding caps and wigs.
In 2019, a case study was conducted on a 37-year-old African American man with a history of androgenic alopecia and acne keloidalis nuchae, who was diagnosed with folliculitis decalvans, a chronic disease causing severe hair loss and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. The disease, which is not fully understood, likely involves an inflammatory response to Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was treated with oral antibiotics, reducing inflammation and bacterial load. The study emphasized the importance of early recognition and treatment to limit irreversible hair loss. Various treatments were mentioned, but their efficacy varied or they were used in limited cases. Surgical hair transplants were discouraged unless the patient had been disease-free for several years. Long-term management involved tapering oral antibiotics to the lowest dose that maintains remission and avoiding caps and wigs, which can harbor Staphylococcus aureus.
41 citations,
June 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some treatments for folliculitis decalvans work well, with tetracyclines and a mix of rifampicin and clindamycin being most effective.
65 citations,
November 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” The document concludes that early recognition and treatment of primary cicatricial alopecia is crucial to prevent permanent hair loss.
43 citations,
January 2015 in “Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery” Most patients improved with oral antibiotics, but some needed long-term treatment or had minimal response.
12 citations,
February 2013 in “Journal of Cutaneous Pathology” The document concludes that choosing the right biopsy site is crucial for accurate alopecia diagnosis, and combining methods can improve results.
112 citations,
July 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Folliculitis decalvans is a rare scalp condition causing scarring hair loss, treated with long-term antibiotics and other medications, but it often comes back and is hard to manage.
114 citations,
April 2004 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation causes dark skin patches and needs personalized treatment.
254 citations,
December 2003 in “Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology” Accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment are crucial to prevent permanent hair loss in cicatricial alopecia.
September 2021 in “CRC Press eBooks” Acne keloidalis nuchae is a hair loss condition affecting men of African descent, causing scar-like bumps on the scalp and neck.
July 2018 in “Elsevier eBooks” Acne keloidalis nuchae is a chronic skin condition more common in African men, causing itchy or painful bumps and can lead to permanent hair loss if not treated early.
