Acne Keloidalis Nuchae: A Multicenter Retrospective Study of 142 Hispanic Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is a primary cicatricial alopecia with mixed infiltrate. It is more common in African or persons of African descent. Objectives: Our objective was to describe the epidemiology and clinical and trichoscopic presentations of AKN in a large series of Hispanic patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study from 10 different dermatological centers in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of AKN treated by 12 dermatologists experienced in trichology from 2018 to 2022 were included. The Umar classification system was used to determine severity. Results: We identified 142 patients with AKN: 98% were male (n=140) with a mean age of 32 years; 108 patients had a previous history of trauma to the nuchal area (76%, p<0.001); and 48 were positive for a history of acne (33.8%, p=0.021). Patients with >50 months of evolution were mainly classified in classes III and IV compared to patients with an evolution of <50 months (30%, n=9 vs. 14%, n=15; p=0.019; respectively). Conclusion: AKN should be considered in the differential diagnosis in the Hispanic population. Advanced stages of the disease are correlated with chronic evolution.