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J Dermatol 2021 Sep 12;48(9):1409-1413. Epub 2021 Jul 12.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Unwanted facial hair is a common problem and requires different grooming regimens or treatments. Shaving beard hair can cause undesirable skin effects, such as irritation, razor burn, razor nick, and pseudofolliculitis barbae. This study explores male behaviors related to shaving facial hair and the consequential effects on the shaved skin. Read More

Mil Med 2021 Jul 6. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

Department of Dermatology, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.

Introduction: Regulations of the United States Air Force (USAF) prohibit male members from growing beards. Shaving waivers can be issued to airmen who are not able to shave due to various medical conditions such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition that predominantly affects Blacks/African-Americans. Beard growth has been anecdotally associated with a negative impact on career progression. Read More

Dermatol Ther 2021 03 28;34(2):e14859. Epub 2021 Feb 28.

Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) presents as chronic inflammation of the beard area that affect males but also females may affect if have coarse hair. Its treatment can be challenging. Laser-assisted hair removal causes miniaturization of hair shafts which are the principal contributors to inflammation in PFB. Read More

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2019 16;12:241-247. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria,

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of follicular and perifollicular skin characterized by papules, pustules, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It occurs more frequently in men of African and Asian descent. The etiology of PFB is multifactorial. Read More

Int J Cosmet Sci 2016 Jun;38 Suppl 1:24-7

Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest Baptist Health Medical Center, Winston-Salem, NC, 27104, USA.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is an inflammatory condition of the beard area, with a high prevalence in men of subequatorial African ancestry and, to a much lesser extent, Indo-Europeans. But it can affect both men and women of all ethnicities. Invariably reported as being associated with shaving, recent evidence suggests a strong genetic component in patients with persistent PFB. Read More

Int J Trichology 2016 Jan-Mar;8(1):40-2

Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Pseudofolliculitis of the beard area is a very common dermatological problem in our geographical region. This could be partly because of the racial predilection as a large percentage of the population has curly hair and also may be due to local cultural customs, unlike the west do not encourage daily shaving of facial hair.

Objectives: We aimed to mainly study the dermoscopic features of cases presenting with pseudofolliculitis. Read More

Int J Trichology 2015 Jan-Mar;7(1):30-2

Department of Skin and VD, SCBMCH, Cuttack, Odisha, India.

Pseudofolliculitis mainly affects the beard area, but it can occur in any area of hair-bearing skin when traumatic methods like shaving or plucking are used to remove the hair. It can be a simple cosmetic problem or a disturbing medical condition for which the dermatologist must be prepared. It can develop in areas of shaving or depilation and has been seen in the pubic region or the axilla, where it is common to find curly hair that emerges at an acute angle. Read More

J Drugs Dermatol 2013 Apr;12(4):410-8

Department of Dermatology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.

Background: Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is an inflammatory condition of the face with a clinical presentation of papules in the beard area with occasional pustules or hypertrophic scarring, all of which develop in response to shaving. Prevalent in African American men, a limited amount of data have been published on the shave outcomes as they relate to clinically measurable responses and patient satisfaction scoring. The primary purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a daily shaving regimen and advanced shaving products on exacerbation of lesions and symptoms in patients with PFB. Read More

Rev Med Liege 2011 Mar;66(3):140-3

Service de Dermatopathologique, CHU de Liège, Belgique.

The unique structure of the hair in Black people is responsible for a few specific follicular disorders. Pseudofolliculitis of the beard similar to pili incarnati as well as, the so-called keloidal acne and the follicular degeneration syndrome are frequent clinical entities in ethnic dermatology. Read More

Actas Dermosifiliogr 2010 Nov;101(9):749-57

Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitari de Sabadell, Corporació Parc Taulí, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Sabadell, Barcelona, España.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a chronic, irritating, and potentially disfiguring condition that develops as a result of attempts to eliminate hair from the beard area, usually by shaving. It is difficult to determine the incidence of the disorder, but some studies report that it affects up to 1 of every 5 caucasian individuals and that it is much more common in black persons. Clinically it is characterized by the appearance of inflammatory papules and pustules. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2002 Feb;46(2 Suppl Understanding):S113-9

Skin of Color Center, Department of Dermatology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York, NY 10025, USA.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a chronic inflammatory and potentially disfiguring condition most often seen in men and women of African American and Hispanic origin who have tightly curled hair and who shave or tweeze hairs frequently. The etiology is multifactorial. The shape of the hair follicle, hair cuticle, and the direction of hair growth each play a role in the inflammatory response once the hair is shaven or plucked and left to grow. Read More

J Cutan Laser Ther 1999 Apr;1(2):109-11

Dermatologic Laser Center, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a common skin disorder of the beard area that is characterized by the presence of inflammatory follicular papules due to terminal hair shafts re-entering the epidermis. Postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring often occur with pseudofolliculitis barbae. Such skin changes can lead to cosmetic disfigurement and be of great concern to the patient. Read More

Mil Med 1991 Jul;156(7):369-71

Department of Medicine, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, CO 80045.

A man with hilar adenopathy had smooth firm purplish papules (lupus pernio) on his face and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) in his beard area. Biopsies of papules of both the lupus pernio and the PFB revealed non-caseating granulomas consistent with sarcoidosis. This is the first case report of sarcoidosis infiltrating lesions of PFB and the first of lupus pernio co-existing with scar sarcoidosis. Read More

Am Fam Physician 1988 Sep;38(3):169-74

U.S. Army Health Clinic, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a chronic, distressing and potentially disfiguring dermatologic disorder that occurs predominantly in black men. The condition is caused by hairs curling back into the skin and is characterized by papules, pustules and, occasionally, keloidal scars over the beard region. Management includes cessation of shaving, the use of depilatories or topical antibiotics and modification of shaving techniques. Read More

Contact Dermatitis 1984 Apr;10(4):247

JAMA 1979 Jan;241(1):53-4

Pseudofolliculitis barbae possibly affects 45% of all black servicemen and is a source of much misunderstanding and social unrest in the military. A recent study of 96 cases of pseudofolliculitis barbae has elucidated a successful shaving technique. It employs a 30-day period of beard regrowth to eliminate ingrown hairs, twice-daily use of a new polyester skin-cleansing pad, and use of solely electric hair clippers for facial hair removal. Read More

Cutis 1979 Jan;23(1):61-6

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a minor disease affecting only, and almost all, blacks who shave. Because of a continued requirement by the US Army of clean shaven faces, significant interracial turmoil and animosity has been aroused. Unclear standards of care of the disease and haphazard policing of shaving habits led to a chaotic process with effective dermatologic care almost paralyzed by the hostile parties. Read More

Int J Dermatol 1977 Jul-Aug;16(6):520-5

Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) is a minor disease affecting essentially only and almost all Negroes who shave. It results from transepidermal or transfollicular penetration by sharp incurving beard hairs. Because of a continued requirement by the U. Read More

Postgrad Med 1977 Jun;61(6):122-7

Some skin disorders are more common in blacks than in whites or are so rare in whites as to be almost peculiar to blacks. Pigmentary abnormalities, either dark or light spots, often occur in association with inflammatory skin diseases. Curvature of the hair follicle is thought to be at the root of two other painful conditions, pseudofolliculitis of the beard and keloidal folliculitis. Read More

Arch Dermatol 1973 Apr;107(4):551-2

AMA Arch Derm 1956 Nov;74(5):533-42