Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

Snapshot

A 16-year-old African American boy presents to his pediatrican’s office for razor bumps. He started shaving 2 years ago and has had intermittent rashes after shaving. He reports that the rash is both itchy and painful but seems to improve if he stops shaving. On physical exam, he has clusters of hyperpigmented firm papules along his jawline. Some papules have visible loops of short hair penetrating the skin with surrounding erythema. He is given low potency topical steroids and counseled on other methods of hair removal.

Introduction

Clinical definition
- chronic inflammatory disorder of hair follicle related to shaving, characterized by painful and pruritic papules
  - “razor bumps”
  - “shave bumps”
  - “ingrown hairs”
Epidemiology
- demographics
  - male > female (due to beard area)
  - often affects African Americans
- risk factors
  - shaving
  - tightly curled hair
Pathogenesis
- pseudofolliculitis barbae is NOT a true folliculitis
- inflammatory reaction occurs when hair shaft transects the wall of the hair follicle or when the hair shaft enters the epidermis
entrapment of short hairs causes inflammatory response

Presentation

Symptoms
- skin lesions are painful and pruritic
Physical exam
- firm and skin-colored or hyperpigmented papules and pustules
  - there may be loops of hair emerging from the follicular orifice
located on cheeks, jaw, or neck (in hair-bearing areas)

Studies

Labs
- none
Biopsy
- not necessary unless clinical diagnosis is unclear
Histology
- intraepidermal neutrophils
- abscess formation in dermis
granulomatous inflammation with foreign-body giant cells around the penetrating hair

Differential

Treatment

Complications