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Pseudofolliculitis Barbae

Maurice Duggins, MD, FAAFP Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Foreign body inflammatory reaction from an ingrown hair resulting in the appearance of papules and pustules. This is found mainly in the bearded area (barbae) but may occur in other ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

Pain on shaving; pruritus of shaved areas, irritated “razor bumps”? 

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • Tender, exudative, erythematous follicular papules or pustules in beard area (less commonly in scalp, ...

TREATMENT

  • Mild cases

    • Stop shaving or avoid close shaving for 30 days while keeping beard groomed and clean (1,3).

    • Consider 5% benzoyl peroxide after shaving and application of 1% hydrocortisone cream a...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • As needed

  • Educate patient on curative and preventive treatment.

DIET

  • No restrictions

  • No dietary studies available

PATIENT EDUCATION

REFERENCES

1
Bridgeman-Shah  S. The medical and surgical therapy of pseudofolliculitis barbae. Dermatol Ther.  2004;17(2):158–163. [View Abstract on OvidMedline] ...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Daniel  A, Gustafson  CJ, Zupkosky  PJ, et al. Shave frequency and regimen variation effects on the management of pseudofolliculitis barbae. J Drugs Derma...

SEE ALSO

Folliculitis; Impetigo 

CODES

ICD10

  • L73.1 Pseudofolliculitis barbae

  • B35.0 Tinea barbae and tinea capitis

  • L73.8 Other specified follicular disorders

SNOMED

  • 399205006 Pseudofolliculitis barbae (disorder)

  • 399329002 Tinea barbae (diso...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Electrolysis is not recommended as a treatment. It is expensive, painful, and often unsuccessful.

  • Combination of laser therapy with eflornithine is more effective than laser alone.

  • The u...

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