The condition of acne that occurs on the head or scalp area is known as acne keloiditis. Acne keloiditis occurs on the occipital section of the scalp, on the back of the neck, and in rare situations over the whole scalp area. This kind of acne is a condition that commonly occurs in men as the result of using unsterilized hair clippers or products that have gotten too close to the skin.
In the hair styling industry, it is standard that many clippers, blades, and their assorted attachments have previously been used on dozens of clients before being used on any specific individual. If these appliances have not been sterilized properly, they can cause an inflammation on the scalp and neck area known as acne keloiditis.
Acne keloiditis can be an extremely painful and even disfiguring situation. Acne keloiditis is considered a chronic case of acne that often results in inflammation and raised scarring. The scars caused by acne keloiditis are known as keloids, and these scars can itch, swell, bleed, and grow significantly in size in severe cases. In many cases, acne keloiditis will even cause permanent loss of hair in the affected area. In acne keloiditis, lesions and keloids will become inflamed and will burst and bleed overnight while sleeping, or shortly following a shower.
Situations that will worsen the effects of acne keloiditis are rubbing, scratching, or picking at the lesions. Anything that will tamper with the affected area such as a tight hat or direct sunlight will also cause flare-ups of acne keloiditis. Other factors that will increase the likelihood of acne keloiditis flare-ups include obesity, improper sleep habits, extreme or chronic stress, marijuana use, and a heavy consumption of processed foods in the diet.
Because the lesions are generally severe and painful, standard over-the-counter solutions will likely not be very effective for acne keloiditis. Medical treatment is generally required and includes a wide range of treatment methods. Standard treatment for acne keloiditis will include antibiotic medication and Retin-A medicated cream that works as a peeling agent. Other more serious forms of treatment for acne keloiditis include corticosteroid injections directly into the lesions to shrink the scar tissue that has formed, and surgical procedures that are intended to removed the entire lesion through an incision. Surgical procedures for acne keloiditis are often a last resort as they do in themselves leave behind noticeable scarring that is very often less aesthetically pleasing than the initial lesion itself.
Home products and frequent hair washing to remove excess oil are recommended as natural treatments for acne keloiditis. Some cases may benefit from scar removal treatments that will assist in exfoliating the smaller sized lesions and minimize scar tissues. The earlier acne keloiditis is detected, and the sooner home treatment begins, the easier it will ultimately be to control acne keloiditis.