Before John knew terms such as acne keloidalis nuchae, dissecting cellulitis, or cutis vertices gyrata, he remembers a childhood centered on sports, family, and a normal upbringing. In this chapter of The Baldcast, Dr. Sanusi Umar takes John back to the beginning, before the scalp bumps appeared and before several scalp conditions became part of his story.
Before the Bumps, Life Felt Normal
Dr. Umar begins by asking John what life was like before any of the scalp problems started. John’s answer draws a clear line between that earlier period and what came later.
“Life was good,” John says. He describes himself as normal growing up, someone who played sports, was mostly outgoing, and had a great family. “Everything was fine,” he recalls, describing it simply as a normal upbringing.
Small Scalp Bumps Appeared Around Age 13 or 14
When Dr. Umar asks when the problem first appeared, John places the beginning at about age 13 or 14. He remembers getting small bumps first. Those bumps remained part of his life for roughly the next 10 years, gradually becoming worse.
John then describes a further change over the following five or six years. The bumps became much larger, including what he calls the “big bump,” and other scalp problems began appearing as well. What had started with bumps on the back of the head had developed into a more complicated picture.
More Than One Scalp Condition Emerged
At the beginning of the conversation, Dr. Umar names the conditions that would become important to John’s case: acne keloidalis nuchae, dissecting cellulitis, and cutis vertices gyrata, also called CVG. John says that as the original problem changed, “everything started happening.”
He explains that he ultimately had two or three different scalp conditions at the same time. In John’s account, that combination made his situation unusually difficult and left him feeling that other doctors had not been able to help him.
The Story Returns to Where the Change Began
This chapter stays with the beginning of John’s story rather than moving ahead to later treatment or results. His recollection establishes the timeline: a normal childhood, the first small bumps in adolescence, years of gradual change, and the later appearance of multiple scalp conditions. The next chapter continues from there.
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Free ConsultationMedical Disclaimer
This is one patient’s experience. Evaluation and treatment should be individualized. This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.
Further Reading
- https://dru.com/john-finally-gets-a-name-for-his-acne-keloidalis-nuchae/
- Umar S, Ogah O, Yang J, Tan BH, Aiead N, Shitabata PK. A Candidate Syndromic Triad of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae, Dissecting Cellulitis, and Secondary Cutis Verticis Gyrata. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2026 Aug 28;19:615576. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S615576. PMID: 42683347; PMCID: PMC13532648.
https://www.dovepress.com/a-candidate-syndromic-triad-of-acne-keloidalis-nuchae-dissecting-cellu-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-CCID
