A new area of scalp irritation brought back memories Erasmo hoped were behind him. Six years after surgery for acne keloidalis nuchae, he returned to Dr. Sanusi Umar worried that AKN might be returning.
Before treatment, Erasmo described being frustrated by the large lesion on his scalp. He let his hair grow longer so people would not look at it, and he said it hurt a lot. His family later described a change after surgery: he began cutting his hair again, became less shy, and felt more confident.
When New Irritation Brought the Past Back
Six years after Dr. Umar removed the AKN lesion, Erasmo became concerned about irritation on his crown, away from the previous surgery site. The possibility that acne keloidalis nuchae might be returning was enough to bring the earlier experience sharply back into focus.
“It speaks to how deeply emotional the issue of AKN is,” Dr. Umar says as Erasmo reacts to the memory of what he had been through.
Dr. Umar Explains PIILIF and Scalp-Wide Inflammation
Dr. Umar explains that the new irritation was on another part of the scalp rather than at the old surgical site. He points to research from his group involving AKN patients and describes PIILIF as a very low-level inflammatory condition involving the rest of the scalp. In the video, he says his group believes PIILIF is the root cause of AKN.
That distinction matters to Erasmo’s concern. The new irritation did not appear where the large lesion had previously been removed. Dr. Umar’s explanation instead places the discussion in the context of inflammation elsewhere on the scalp.
Ongoing Scalp Care After AKN Surgery
For ongoing scalp care, Dr. Umar says his practice uses a botanical serum called Gashee to help with maintenance of scalp health. Erasmo had not been using it, and Dr. Umar advised him to use it going forward.
Erasmo’s return shows that the impact of AKN can extend beyond the visible lesion. Years after surgery, the possibility of another problem was still emotionally powerful. In this short video, Dr. Umar addresses that fear while explaining why irritation elsewhere on the scalp deserves attention in the context of PIILIF and continued scalp care.
Watch the Short Video
Watch Erasmo’s follow-up with Dr. Sanusi Umar: YouTube Short
Take the Next Step
View the video on Instagram or TikTok. Learn more about AKN treatment.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Individual experiences and results vary. A qualified healthcare professional should evaluate questions about diagnosis or treatment.
Further Reading
- https://dru.com/piilif-persistent-bumps-after-hair-transplant/
- Umar S, Ton D, Carter MJ, Shitabata P. Unveiling a Shared Precursor Condition for Acne Keloidalis Nuchae and Primary Cicatricial Alopecias. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023 Aug 25;16:2315-2327. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S422310. PMID: 37649568; PMCID: PMC10464825. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37649568/
