AKN
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Ablative Therapies: The type of treatment selected is contingent on the stage of the Acne Keloidalis Nuchae symptoms and the expertise and experience of the treating doctor.
Initially, the development of AKN can be managed with topical steroids and antibiotics. Medical treatments are not likely to cure the condition, however, they often would result in relief of symptoms like inflammation, pain, itchiness, and fluid discharge. In later stages of the disease, when the tiny pimples merge to form larger masses, other measures would be required. Such measures include surgical removal, laser hair removal, and destructive treatments (ablative treatments) including cryotherapy, cautery, and laser ablation. This article focuses on ablative group of therapies.
To view a selection of multiple AKN patients of Dr. U, Visit our Youtube Playlist Starting with this One:
Its Gonna Be Alright Mom, I’m Looking Good – The Story of Bob: Whats Your Breaking Point – Part 3
This video is dedicated to all those who suffer with our patients Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives… and even mothers. We salute you, may all that pains you conclude in a joyous finish We are honored to be part of your collective journey towards a happier resolution.
Different Modalities of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Ablative Therapies
Acne Keloidalis Nuchae ablative therapies include radiotherapy, cryotherapy, and vaporization.
- Radiotherapy can be used to remove the problematic hair that triggers the AKN symptoms as well as arrest the growth of scarring. The risk of radiation complications makes this treatment option less palatable. It would also leave in its wake a bald patch where the AKN used to be.
- Cryotherapy involves freezing the AKN tissue and thawing it with liquid nitrogen in order to remove it. Although this method has been effective for certain types of cases, it, unfortunately, leaves behind a large plaque of alopecia (baldness).
- Vaporization uses laser excision with a CO2 laser. Again, it is used to ablate or excise the lesion. Like with other Acne Keloidalis Nuchae ablative therapies, vaporization leaves a large, scarred, bald area behind.
The disadvantages of ablative therapies include:
- Creation of a cosmetically objectionable bald patch in the area that used to be occupied by the AKN lesion, the ablation destroys the lesions but would not remove the destroyed tissue that forms a scar
- In most instances, the destruction is not complete and the disease recurs–this time compounded by the presence of the scarring caused by the ablation
Ablative treatments may have a role in widespread diseases whereby surgical excision is impractical and the patient is reconciled with having largely scarred and bald plaques on his scalp
Dr. Umar does not employ ablative treatments for AKN because of these disadvantages. He has often had to treat patients who had unsuccessful and unwanted outcomes from ablative treatments. In the plaques stages of the disease, Dr. Umar has devised special surgical removal techniques that would be curative and cosmetically appealing in most instances.
Ablative therapy for Acne Keloidalis Nuchae might just be the right option for your case. To learn more, click the Ask Dr. U button below:
Further Reading:
Learn about the use of lasers in treating earlier stages of AKN.
