Abstract

Acne keloidalis nuchae (also known as "Acne keloidalis", "Dermatitis papillaris capillitii", "Folliculitis keloidalis", "Folliculitis keloidis nuchae", and "Nuchal keloid acne") is a destructive scarring folliculitis that occurs almost exclusively on the occipital scalp of people of African descent, primarily men. This is mainly because men often cut their hair very low as opposed to women, allowing the hair to prick the occipital scalp and upset it. Acne keloidalis nuchae most commonly presents itself in individuals aged 13 to 25. The disease is closely related to pseudofolliculitis barbae and both occur frequently in black men in the military, where it is so common that services often have widely known protocols for management.