TLDR Bimekizumab effectively treated a man's chronic beard hair loss.
This case study presents a 31-year-old male with sycosis barbae (SB), a chronic infection of hair follicles, linked to recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infection. Traditional treatments, including antibiotics and antifungals, were ineffective. The patient was treated with bimekizumab (BKZ), a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukin-17A and IL-17F, typically used for plaque psoriasis. Significant clinical improvement was observed after the second injection, and complete remission was achieved after 4 months, although some scarring remained. This may be the first reported case of refractory SB successfully treated with dual inhibition of IL-17A and IL-17F, suggesting potential for further studies to confirm efficacy in similar cases.
112 citations
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July 2008 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Folliculitis decalvans is a rare scalp condition causing scarring hair loss, treated with long-term antibiotics and other medications, but it often comes back and is hard to manage.
11 citations
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October 2017 in “Mycoses” An 80-year-old man's deep beard infection was cured with oral terbinafine after identifying the fungus Trichophyton verrucosum.
21 citations
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April 2019 in “Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology” The document concludes that stopping shaving or removing affected hair can alleviate Pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB).
22 citations
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July 2003 in “Military medicine” New treatments are available for managing ingrown hair inflammation.
30 citations
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May 2014 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” The conclusion is that better understanding and more research are needed to effectively manage follicular and scarring disorders in skin of color, with an emphasis on patient education and cultural awareness.
October 2025 in “Nepal Journal of Dermatology Venereology & Leprology” Kerion barbae should be considered in beard infections to avoid misdiagnosis and complications.
