Acne Keloidalis Nuchae in a Caucasian Non-Hispanic Woman With Metabolic Syndrome and Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Case Report.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a rare dermatological condition primarily observed in men of African descent. We present a remarkable case of AKN in a 38-year-old Caucasian non-Hispanic woman with metabolic syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis. After appropriate treatment during the one-year follow-up (including oral antibiotics, insulin sensitizers, levothyroxine, spironolactone and liraglutide), the patient demonstrated a visible reduction in plaque size and improvement of overall symptoms. Importantly, this improvement persisted even in the absence of topical treatment, further supporting the notion that hormonal abnormalities may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of AKN. This case report highlights the potential link between AKN and endocrinologic disorders, such as metabolic syndrome and autoimmune thyroiditis. However, further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish the causative relationship. Early recognition, appropriate management of associated conditions, and tailored treatment strategies may lead to better outcomes and improved quality of life.

Treatment of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae by Simply Combining Two Conventionally Available Modalities: Ablation with Carbon Dioxide Laser and Intralesional Triamcinolone Acetonide.

Acne keloidalis nuchae is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting the occipital area or nape of the neck characterized by fibrotic papules, firm pustules, and nodules that coalesce into keloid like mass or plaques. It was first described by Kaposi in 1969. It is also known as lichen keloidalis nuchae, dermatitis papillaris capillitia, and folliculitis nuchae scleroticans. If not treated in the early stages of the disease it tends to be refractory to conventional methods like topical, intralesional steroids with antibiotics or retinoids. Surgical interventions remain the only choice in such cases. Various surgical modalities including surgical excision with primary or secondary closure, split-thickness skin grafts, and laser-assisted treatments have been tried. Most surgical methods have longer downtime with a higher chance of relapse. We studied the results of a combined treatment option carbon dioxide laser ablation followed by intralesional triamcinolone injection in the same sitting. This outpatient procedure has shown good results with no relapse and less downtime.

Refractory Folliculitis Decalvans Treatment Success with a Novel Surgical Excision Approach Using Guarded High-Tension Sutures.

Purpose: Folliculitis decalvans (FD) is a difficult-to-treat, localized scarring alopecia characterized by an expanding area of chronically inflamed purulent plaques or masses. Current treatment modalities vary and often result in only temporary remission. There are no reports of surgical therapies for FD. Here, we describe FD treatment using surgical excision and second-intention healing aided by guarded high-tension sutures. Methods: Five patients (one woman and four men) with histologically confirmed FD were treated by surgical lesion excision. All wounds were allowed to heal via second-intention. Guarded high-tension sutures were employed to minimize tissue tears while aiding and guiding wound contraction. Results: All wounds healed with a 47-83% spatial contraction of the maximum wound diameters. Three patients healed entirely by second-intention, while two required a minor skin graft to close the wound completely. No disease recurrence was noted at 10-24 months. Conclusion: Surgical excision with second-intention healing aided by guarded high-tension sutures effectively treated small and extensive FD lesions with no recurrence at long-term follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful surgical treatment of FD.

Chronic itch in African Americans: an unmet need.

Chronic pruritus carries a significant burden of disease and is associated with a negative impact on quality of life. African Americans are disproportionately burdened by chronic pruritic disorders, including but not limited to atopic dermatitis, prurigo nodularis, inflammatory scalp dermatoses, pathologic scarring, and HIV-related dermatoses. Racial differences in skin structure and function may contribute to the pathogenesis of itch in African Americans. Itch perception and response to treatment in African Americans remain understudied and not well understood. As such, there is a large unmet need with regard to the knowledge and management of pruritus in African Americans. This review highlights notable differences in the epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetic predisposition, clinical presentation, and response to treatment for select pruritic skin conditions. By addressing itch as an unmet need in African Americans, we hope to improve patient outcomes and lessen disparities in dermatologic care.

Acne Keloidalis Nuchae: A Staged Reconstruction.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a chronic scarring folliculitis that affects the occipital area. It is characterized by papule and pustule formation which eventually leads to tumor-like mass. Early cases can be managed by medical treatment that may require months, and, usually, lesions recur. In more severe cases, surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment. In our case, we proposed a staged approach when dealing with advanced stages of AKN. This includes deep excision of the lesion down to deep subcutaneous tissue with application of negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT) for a week followed by resurfacing of the resultant defect with a split-thickness skin graft and NPWT for another week. This approach achieved quicker wound healing with no recurrence compared with other techniques such as healing by secondary intention. To our knowledge, this case is one of the most extensive cases published in the literature.

Surgical management of giant acne keloidalis nuchae lesions.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a progressive inflammatory condition that affects posterior neck and occiput. Treatment options include antibiotics, steroids, lasers, radiotherapy and surgery. We present three patients with advanced 'tumor-stage' AKN that underwent radical local excision followed by either immediate or delayed skin resurfacing, and briefly review existing literature.

Primary nonessential cutis verticis gyrata with acne keloidalis nuchae.

Cutis verticis gyrata is a rare disorder characterized by redundant skin forming deep furrows and convolutions. It has been associated with several systemic and cutaneous disorders. We report a case of primary non-essential cutis verticis gyrata in association with acne keloidalis nuchae in a schizophrenic patient.

A Retrospective Cohort Study and Clinical Classification System of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae.

BACKGROUND: Although many treatments are available for acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN), no systematic classification scheme exists to evaluate the outcomes of these treatments. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to propose an AKN classification scheme. METHODS: A retrospective data analysis of several parameters, including lesion distribution, lesion type, and scalp disease association, was conducted in 108 men diagnosed with AKN between July 2009 and November 2020 in an outpatient dermatology setting. A three-tier classification system was developed as follows: Tier 1, lesion distribution relative to an area demarcated by two horizontal lines on the occipital prominences and tips of the mastoid processes and lesion sagittal width defined using Classes I through IV; Tier 2, lesion types including papules/nodules (discrete/merged), plaques, and tumorous masses; and Tier 3, the presence or absence of folliculitis decalvans (FD) or dissecting cellulitis (DC). RESULTS: All patients were non-white men, with most being of African (58%) or Hispanic (37%) descent. The most prevalent Tier 1 AKN presentation was Class II (58%). The mean sagittal width for Classes I through III were 2.4cm (I), 4.5cm (II), and 8.0cm (III), with Class IV characterized by widespread scalp disease. Plaques were most common in Tier 2-type lesions. FD or DC was found in seven percent of the study participants. Patients of African descent had a greater tendency to develop tumorous masses (p<0.02). LIMITATIONS: The retrospective study design and possible selection bias. CONCLUSION: We proposed an AKN classification scheme as a tool for objectively describing AKN lesions and evaluating treatment outcomes.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is associated with acne keloidalis nuchae: a population-based study.

The association between acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) and hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is yet to be investigated. To determine the link between AKN and HS using a large computerized health maintenance database. A cross-sectional study design was used to assess the prevalence of HS in patients with AKN and in control participants matched by age, sex, and ethnicity. A total of 2677 participants with AKN and 13,190 control participants were studied. An increased prevalence of HS was observed in the AKN group compared to the control group (1.0% vs. 0.3%, respectively; OR, 3.6; 95% CI 2.2-5.8; P < 0.001), especially among those younger than 20 years (OR, 10.2; 95% CI 3.1-34.2; P < 0.001), and females (OR, 15.7; 95% CI 3.1-78.8; P < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the multivariate analysis demonstrated a persistent association of AKN with HS (adjusted OR, 3.6; 95% CI 2.1-5.9; P < 0.001). This study demonstrated a significant association between AKN and HS in an Israeli population. The threshold for diagnosis of HS among patients with AKN must be lowered in patients presenting with concerning symptoms. Further observational studies in other patient populations will help confirm this relationship.

High Frequency of Obesity in Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Patients: A Hypothesis from a Brazilian Study.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a chronic inflammatory condition that almost exclusively affects the occipital and nape areas. Although not completely understood, its etiopathogenesis seems to be multifactorial, including association with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Despite being commonly seen in patients with MetS, obesity per se as a possible related factor for AKN has yet to be studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between obesity and AKN in a series of patients. Eight male patients, with a median age of 38 years (range 15-48), were included. Overweight/obesity was found in 8/8 (100%), with median BMI of 32.2 (range 27.7-43.85 kg/m2), including 2 patients with class 3 obesity. We hypothesize adipose tissue accumulation in the nape, the only moving part of the scalp, leads to redundant skin folds, more friction, and inflammation, triggering AKN. This paper highlights the possible relationship between AKN and overweight/obesity, hypothesizing a mechanism for their contribution to the etiopathogenesis of this scalp disorder. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study focused specifically in this association. While general physicians should pay attention to the appearing of AKN in overweight/obese patients, dermatologists must be aware that AKN patients should be assessed beyond the skin.

"Spade sign" and inflammation/fibrosis limited to the upper and mid-dermis as the pathognomonic features of acne keloidalis.

Acne keloidalis (AK) is one of the primary cicatricial alopecias and predominantly affects men of African descent. Reports in Asians are scant. This study aimed to retrospectively review the clinical and histopathological features of AK patients in southern Taiwan and identify the pathognomonic features of AK. There were 15 patients with histopathologically confirmed AK in National Cheng Kung University Hospital between 1988 and 2018. The median onset age was 24 years (range, 14-71). The male : female ratio was 14:1. In the acute stage of AK, the lymphocytic and neutrophilic peri-infundibular inflammatory infiltrates with microabscess formation and edema corresponded to the clinical finding of isolated papules or pustules. Subsequently, the inflammatory infiltrates involved the mid-dermis and the isthmus of hair follicles. The "spade sign", a thin and dilated space resembling the shape of a balloon or spade symbol of playing cards at the level of lower isthmus, was identified in eight biopsies from five patients and may be a pathognomonic sign in the subacute stage of AK. At the chronic stage, the segments of hair shafts remained in the upper to mid-dermis and induced chronic inflammation and extensive fibrosis, resulting in the clinical keloid-like appearance. The restriction of inflammation and fibrosis in the upper to mid-dermis was another unique and pathognomonic feature of AK.

Refractory acne keloidalis nuchae treated with radiotherapy.

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is difficult to treat, and the clinical response is usually poor. Few reports have been published about scarring alopecia treated with radiotherapy (RT). We report a case of AKN that had been refractory to various other treatments but which responded to RT with excellent clinical and cosmetic results.