Acne Keloidalis is not a common skin disease and generally affects the area around the neck. When Keloidike papules and Keloidike plaques occur on the scalp and lower part of the neck then it is called Acne Keloidalis. Most of the dark skinned people of Africa suffer from this disease but any individual can be the sufferer. It takes a long time to be cured properly.



Symptoms

In the beginning, the eruption occurs in the area around the neck and small bumps appear which gives an itchy feeling. Sometimes the bumps are found around the hair follicles. The bumps after sometime turn into scars and then scars start getting large and turn into Keloids. The scars often form patches along the hairline.

The patches are usually smooth, hard and dark red in color. They are usually hairless except at its upper margin which looks like thousands of small nodules clustered around with hair.

Causes

The reason behind the appearance and growth of Acne Keloidalis is not known as yet. If some injury occurs at the time of shaving with a razor, Acne Keloidalis may develop near that area. Curled hair follicles may be one important factor responsible for the disease. It is a kind of dermatitis or a kind of acne problem. Inflammation occurs due to the lesions near the affected area, which irritates the wall of the hair follicle. It is also believed that Acne Keloidalis is the primary form of scarring Alopecia.

Although several case studies suggest that acne Keloidalis occurs mostly in males, but females can also be the victims of this disease. The ratio of male to female in case of affected is approximately 20:1. The disease usually sprouts in early adulthood, but some cases it develops during adolescence. Teenagers mostly suffer from this disease and it hardly attacks people after 50 years of age.

Precautions and Remedies

Acne Keloidalis continue to persist even after going through multiple treatments. Some measures should be taken to reduce the intensity of the disease like never wear any clothes which are rough and may result in bruises near the neck. Oral tetracycline or antibiotics can be taken to prevent the secondary infections.

There are different methods available to get rid of this disease. There is a course of clindamycin and rifampicin antibiotics which has to be followed for three months. Steroid or intralesional injections can be taken to reduce the lesions. Radiotherapy can also be done. One can remove all the affected skin by surgery. Laser excision or vaporisation is a more advanced treatment that people prefer to get rid of this disease.