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PSEUDOFOLLICULITIS BARBAE

FINALLY A TREATMENT WHICH WORKS

This common condition of the beard area occurs in people with very curly hair. As their hair grows the very highly curved hairs grow back into the skin causing inflammation and small bumps. Over time, this can cause multiple small scars which looks like hard bumps on the face and neck area. Repeated shaving with a razor only sharpens the tips of the hairs exacerbating the condition.

One effective cure is to let the beard grow. Once the hairs get to be a certain length they will not grow back into the skin. Using an electric shaver may help the condition because it does not cut as close as blades do. (But then you don’t have a close shave!) Some doctors recommend chemical depilatories such as Nair or Neet to improve the condition. Retin-A or a topical antibiotic solution can also help the condition. Shaving every other day, rather than daily, has been shown to improve pseudofolliculitis barbae to a degree.

For most cases, totally avoid shaving for 3 to 4 weeks until all lesions have subsided, while applying a mild prescription cortisone cream to the involved skin each morning.

Laser treatment is an effective treatment option now available for even those with the darkest skin tone. It can result in removal of the hair entirely eliminating the need to shave and allowing resolution of the bumps resulting from the hair bumps.

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