Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. 2. Treatment

Abstract

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a minor disease affecting essentially only and almost all Negroes who shave. It results from transepidermal or transfollicular penetration by sharp incurving beard hairs. Because of a continued requirement by the U.S. Army for clean-shaven faces, a significant racial furor and hostility has been aroused, and definitive medical care has been difficult to achieve. The disease can be cured only by complete cessation of shaving but it can be adequately controlled in most patients by carefully shaving the hairs neither too close nor too long and by meticulous lifting out of penetrating hairs.

Diseases of cutaneous appendages

“…Pseudofolliculitis barbae ('razor bumps') refers to lesions of the beard area. 478 Pseudofolliculitis is an inflammatory response to an ingrown hair. 477 Pseudofolliculitis consists of papules and pustules in close proximity to hair follicles.…”

Treatment of Pseudofolliculitis With a Pulsed Infrared Laser

“…2000;136:1343-1346 P SEUDOFOLLICULITIS BARBAE is a relatively common disorder that occurs in glabrous skin with coarse, curly hairs. [1][2][3][4] It is a frequent disorder of any hairbearing skin with thick, curly hairs that are removed repetitively by shaving, waxing, or plucking. Prevalence figures are only available for pseudofolliculitis barbae occurring in the beard area of African Americans who shave, and range from 45% to 83%.…”

Pseudofolliculitis Vibrissa

“…The pathogenesis of pseudofolliculitis was described 25 years ago,14 but some controversy over management per¬ sists. [5][6] Pseudofolliculitis most commonly affects the beard. However, it has been reported to occur on the scalp on children,7 in the pubic area,-on the neck," and, infrequent¬ ly, in the axillae in women.…”