This Hispanic male patient was suffering from a large AKN lesion at the nape of his head. The mass was 12cm in length and, being a stage 2 plaque, was taking up a significant part of his scalp. The patient was not happy with how unsightly the lesion looked. He also experienced itching and flaking because of it. 

A Family Curse – AKN Lesions

This patient had a family history of AKN. Both his father and brother had AKN lesions, so although his initial thought was it the bumps were a result of razor burn, he had a theory that it must’ve been genetic. He was right about that, of course. AKN is not caused by razor burn, although skin-close haircuts can trigger lesion formation. 

The young man had tried to eliminate or partially dissolve his AKN plaque with steroid injections but saw no improvement. That’s when he came to Dr. Bumpinator, AKA Dr. Umar, as his last resort.

The patient had a large AKN plaque at the nape of his head.*

AKN, begone!

If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s not AKN safe from Dr. Bumpinator – family history or not. When the patient came to him, Dr. Bumpinator first assessed the plaque to classify it. Based on its 5 cm height, the plaque fell under Class II categorization. As for its type, it’s a combination of keloidal and tumorous mass.

For this class and type of AKN, Dr. Bumpinator judged surgical removal as the best option. 

He performed the surgery in his clinic in Manhattan Beach without any complications. Dr. Bumpinator excised the AKN plaque using the bat excision technique he developed. Once the mass was removed, he brought the wound edges closer and held them together with the Athena suture guards.

Dr. Bumpinator used his patented Athena suture guards for this AKN removal procedure.

The Athena suture guards ensure optimal wound healing and mitigate unnecessary stress on the procedure site. It is also used to dictate the scar’s shape that eventually results.

A Fresh Start 

The patient could embark on a new, AKN-free chapter of his life through surgical removal. Despite his family history of AKN, he would be able never to have to worry about his AKN lesions again. He was delighted with the results and the way his wound healed. The scar looked subtle enough and was aesthetically acceptable. 

This young man had a family history of AKN and was able to get his lesion removed with Dr. Bumpinator’s help.*

The video below demonstrates the excellent results of the patient’s AKN removal surgery.

References

1. Medicinenet.com. 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.medicinenet.com/flaky_scalp/symptoms.htm> [Accessed 25 August 2022].
2. Umar S, David CV, Castillo JR, Queller J, Sandhu S. Innovative Surgical Approaches and Selection Criteria of Large Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Lesions. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019;7(5):e2215. Published 2019 May 16. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000002215
3. Umar S, Lee DJ, Lullo JJ. A Retrospective Cohort Study and Clinical Classification System of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(4):E61-E67.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AKN hereditary?

Although the exact causes of AKN are unknown, you may be genetically predisposed to having AKN lesions. 

Is AKN a rare condition?

Unfortunately, AKN is relatively common in Black and Hispanic men. It is, however, rare in people of other ethnicities. 

Further Reading 

https://bumpinator.com/bumpinator/small-akn-bumps-removal-by-the-bumpinator-not-barbers-rash/

https://bumpinator.com/bumpinator/how-this-big-lucky-akn-bear-overcame-his-breaking-point-part-1/ 

What is AKN: Acne Keloidalis Nuchae, often abbreviated as AKN, is a skin condition that manifests in the form of small or large painful bumps on the back of the head. In their initial state, the small bumps can be confused for razor burns. In reality, the condition is genetic, and buzz haircuts are just a trigger for it. 

This 36-year-old patient had a large lesion for 10 years and didn’t know what had caused it. He came to Dr. Umar, also known as Bumpinator, to get his AKN plaque surgically removed.

Dr. Bumpinator, AKA Dr. Umar, started off by evaluating the patient with his AKN classification system. He identified the patient’s lesion as a flat follicular plaque with Class III distribution.

He then used his bat excision method to surgically remove the AKN lesion in a fashion that ensured the most optimal wound closure with secondary intention healing (SIH). As the patient’s plaque was relatively larger in height, Dr. Bumpinator used his patent-pending Athena sutures to assist with the SIH.

Dr. Bumpinator used his Athena suture guard-assisted bat excision technique to remove the AKN lesion. *

Taking care of the AKN operation side is critical for the optimal healing and fading of the scar. Here, the wound has assumed the natural shape of the posterior hairline. Already discernible natural look as the wound continues to heal several weeks after removal by Dr. Sanusi Umar *

You can see the patient’s results, which are nothing short of life-changing.

The AKN patient had his flat follicular plaque surgically removed by Dr. Umar. *

The patient’s post-op scar is clean and healed without any complications. As seen in Before and After comparison photos above, his hair growth after surgery completely covered up the scar. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use medication to treat my AKN?

You can use steroid medications to address the inflammatory aspect of your AKN. You can also try antibiotics if you notice a bacterial infection with your AKN. However, you are not likely to be able to get rid of the lesions with medications alone. If you have AKN and want to get rid of it for good, contact Dr. U (Bumpinator), who will assess your condition to come up with the most optimal treatment for you.

My AKN bumps keep growing. How big can I expect them to get?

Unfortunately, AKN is known to worsen over time, meaning that AKN bumps can grow in size ranging from their depth, width, the affected area, and more.

You can consult Dr. Umar, A.K.A., the Bumpinator, to determine how to permanently eliminate your AKN lesion using any of his techniques.

References

1. Umar S, David CV, Castillo JR, Queller J, Sandhu S. Innovative Surgical Approaches and Selection Criteria of Large Acne Keloidalis Nuchae Lesions. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2019;7(5):e2215. Published 2019 May 16. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000002215
2. Umar S, Lee DJ, Lullo JJ. A Retrospective Cohort Study and Clinical Classification System of Acne Keloidalis Nuchae. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2021;14(4):E61-E67.
3. What Is Acne Keloidalis Nuchae?. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-is-acne-keloidalis-nuchae. Published 2022. Accessed August 3, 2022.