hair cut rash at the back of the head

[seeuathetop]

I am a black male. A few years ago i noticed some rash at the back of my hair. I suspected it was from getting a haircut. I visited a dermatologist who put me on antibiotics like keflex. He says those rashes now seem more like keloids. The antibiotics never got rid of it. However as long as i stayed on the antibiotics, the itching was reduced.

It seems now that the rash is spreading. And it itches a lot. I have had this for more than 5 years. My former dermatologist went as far as injecting those spots with some liquid (i have forgotten the name).

What can i use. The rashes embarrass me a lot.

[Gsmoney]

Neosporin does work! I'm a black male  and used it for about 2 weeks and the bumps were gone! It just left a darken spots, but i used lemon and honey and the blacks were gone.

[OTBGuy]

I am going to get Neosporin tonight. I have had these bumps for about 2 months now. Been treating with a topical steroid cream that only seems to keep them from itching. Also been using witch hazel but now the bumps have darkened. Did you mix the lemon in honey and how long/often did you do this for? Really just want the back of my head back to normal.

[bigmario]

Hi my name is mario.. i been having these painful ,red bumps on my head for 10 year.. I believe i got these bumps when i went to fire camp. Ever since then my life hasent been the same.. my doctor refered me to a dermatalogist.. they daid it was from ingrown hair.. so the dr started a medication shots on my bumps.. to me it was a waist of time and money.. The medication didnt work. I dont know what else to do.. This is stressing me out and hurts alot.. Please dr. If u see this message please help me ..

[ntsika846]

Hi Doc. I am also a black male and have the same condition at the back of my head. I cannot link mine, however, to a hair cut that I might have received as the rash started appearing long after my hair had grown back.

I have had it now for over 10 years. It has grown and widened gradually but I have managed to contain it for the most part.

It started as small, raised round red spots that were very painful when touched. From the onset, they were quite moist with a liquid (partly blood) seeping from around the red spots seemingly at will. This liquid was not gushing out at a rate that it needed constant supervision and care, but it was constant and 'purposeful'. This continued until the rash had reached what I call 'maturity' and the skin was fully inflamed. It is now a singular mass with individual 'pimples' almost indiscernible.

The liquid now seeps occasionally and no hair grows on the affected skin.

I accept your suspicion of AKN, yet I somehow believe that this is not just a dermatological condition resulting from ingrown hair. I am not a medical doctor and have no scientific evidence; yet I believe that this condition can be traced to an infection in the bloodstream itself. It manifests itself in a 'dermatologically vulnerable' area such as the back of the head and neck (in my opinion).

One of the reasons I believe this is because there have been times that these 'pimples' have tried to 'resurface' in other areas of my body like my upper torso and inner arm. For reasons I do not yet understand, the conditions in these regions were  not suitable for their sustenance and  development and they quickly disappeared. However - almost instantaneously and with congruent fervour - the 'infection' was redirected to the more 'dermatologically vulnerable' area which is the back of my head. The original rash would then start seeping liquid and growing again.

It is also important to note the unique structure of these 'pimples'. Their appearance is too uniform to be solely associated with a very random 'trigger' of a barber's clipper. The heads are perfectly round and , though they may differ in size, they have the same proportions. They are almost see-through - giving the impression that the red colour comes from the liquid they are 'housing'. The seeping liquid forms clear, thin 'scabs' only at the base of these heads.

The scabs from individual 'pimple heads' peel off quite easily after you have put in initial effort to lift off the sides. Once peeled, they all have the same form - perfectly round with a perfectly round hole in the middle (like a doughnut or lifesaver candy). The hole in the middle would be where the 'pimple head' would protrude had the scab still been in place. It is rare that these scabs will break form or tear when you remove them (I don't actually recall an occasion when any of them have).

I have seen similar 'pimple structures' on some leaves (which I think are part of a tree with the same infection) and on measled pork. Whatever this infection may be, I believe these two examples hold some clue on what the cause could be.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot confirm anything without examination,but it can be due to Acne keloidalis nuchae.It occurs when hairs on the back of the head and neck grow into the skin, become inflamed, and cause scar tissue. These ingrown hairs usually occur following a short haircut on the back of the head and nape of the neck.

Treatment of AKN includes suppression of the inflammation with antibiotics and steroid gels or intralesional steroid injections.So apply antibiotic cream like Neosporin or bactroban.If the symptoms persist then oral antibiotics and steroids may be needed.Pls consult a dermatologist in that case.

Larger bumps of AKN present for a while or if not responding to treatments may need surgical removal.

I hope that helps. Please do keep me posted on how you are doing or if you have any additional queries. Kind regards.