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 Folliculitis Cutaneous sarcoidosis does not have embedded hairs and lesions may be outside of hair-bearing areas Treatment Conservative other methods of hair removal indication as a shaving alternative as this causes pseudofolliculitis barbae modalities depilatory hair removal laser hair removal waxing Medical topical therapy indication to reduce symptoms drugs (all topical) retinoids corticosteroids antibiotics eflornithine alpha-hydroxy acids (chemical exfoliants) Complications Scarring or keloid formation Secondary bacterial infection