Pseudofolliculitis of the Beard Workup

  • Author: Thomas G Greidanus, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 17, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

  • A clinical diagnosis can usually be made.
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Procedures

  • A case of sarcoid infiltrating lesions of pseudofolliculitis barbae has been documented. Biopsy may be performed if sarcoidosis is suspected.
  • See Medical Care and Deterrence/Prevention for a discussion of shaving and hair-release techniques.
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Histologic Findings

The penetrating hair causes invagination of the epidermis with inflammation and intraepidermal abscesses. With penetration of the dermis, the epidermis grows down to try to ensheathe the hair, and severe inflammation, abscess formation, and a foreign-body giant cell reaction occur at the tip of the hair.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Thomas G Greidanus, MD  Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Parkview Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Beth Honl, MD  Dermatology Associates, PC; Private Practice

Beth Honl, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Leonard Sperling, MD  Chair, Professor, Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Leonard Sperling, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard P Vinson, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Mountain View Dermatology, PA

Richard P Vinson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, Association of Military Dermatologists, Texas Dermatological Society, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey Meffert, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

Jeffrey Meffert, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Texas Dermatological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE  Medical Director, Clinical Studies Unit, Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Associate Scholar, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

Joel M Gelfand, MD, MSCE is a member of the following medical societies: Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: AMGEN Consulting fee Consulting; AMGEN Grant/research funds Investigator; Genentech Grant/research funds investigator; Centocor Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Grant/research funds investigator; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Novartis investigator; Pfizer Grant/research funds investigator; Celgene Consulting fee DMC Chair; NIAMS and NHLBI Grant/research funds investigator

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  11. Callender V, Young CM. Combination Laser and Eflornithine HCL 13.9% Cream: A First-line Therapy for Fitzpatrick Type IV-VI Patients With Excessive Facial Hair. J Am Acad Dermatol. Mar 2005;52(3) suppl:P209.

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  16. Robins P, Battle EF Jr, Alexis AF, Cook-Bolden F, Alqubaisy Y, McLeod MP, et al. Unique laser techniques in patients with skin of color. J Drugs Dermatol. Dec 1 2011;10(12):4-26. [Medline].

  17. Schulze R, Meehan KJ, Lopez A, et al. Low-fluence 1,064-nm laser hair reduction for pseudofolliculitis barbae in skin types IV, V, and VI. Dermatol Surg. Jan 2009;35(1):98-107. [Medline].

  18. Ross EV, Cooke LM, Timko AL, Overstreet KA, Graham BS, Barnette DJ. Treatment of pseudofolliculitis barbae in skin types IV, V, and VI with a long-pulsed neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet laser. J Am Acad Dermatol. Aug 2002;47(2):263-70. [Medline].

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  26. Scheinfeld NS. Pseudofolliculitis barbae. Skinmed. May-Jun 2004;3(3):165-6. [Medline].

 
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Pseudofolliculitis barbae on the neck of a black man.
 
 
 
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