Pimples Ruining Your Bald Head? Causes & Many Treatments

Pimples on a bald head can be controlled and even eliminated by a variety of approaches.

For this article I consulted with Dr. Oanh Lauring, MD, chief of dermatology at Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, MD.  I asked what causes pimples to form on a bald head?

She explained that pimples are “most likely to occur with men who shave their beards and head. Normal skin bacteria gets into the nicked skin and inflames the hair follicles and promotes folliculitis.”

What to do about pimples on a bald head:

Dr. Lauring recommends that you do not shave against the grain of your hairs. “Start out with over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide wash or salicylic acid wash; topical benzoyl peroxide to prevent flares, but some people may require topical antibiotics or steroids for flares of the bumps,” she says. “Avoid using cocoa butter, Vaseline petroleum jelly to the scalp, as it may clog pores and promote folliculitis.”

For guys who proudly sport a bald head, pimples can really be a thorn in the side. According to slybaldguys.com, here are more solutions:

• Prevent razor burn by using a single blade—a trick that bodybuilders know to get super smooth, flawless skin for contests. Shaving can cause bumps that look like pimples.
• Don’t put anything on your head that can block pores. Blocked pores cause pimples. If you suspect that “pimples” on on your bald head are caused by blocked pores, then apply a product that contains salicylic acid, or an astringent. This may temporarily sting, but will improve appearance, even clearing up the troublesome areas in only a couple days.
• Exfoliate. Rub an exfoliation sponge (some men recommend vigorously) along the bumpy area. One bald man on the site suggests the St. Ives apricot scrub. You can also use just a body brush or face brush. Natural bristles are softer on the skin.
• Try Shave Secret, says another bald man, to subdue pimple-like bumps caused by shaving.
• Another bald man who used to have stubborn pimples recommends a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream plus 10 percent benzoyl peroxide product.

“African-American men are prone to ingrown hairs and subsequently unsightly scar bumps,” says Dr. Lauring. “People should avoid plucking or waxing, as this traumatizes the hair bulb and encourages the hairs to grow back into the skin. 

"If an ingrown hair develops, it is best to use a needle to carefully loosen the hair from the skin, then clip the hair.  When bumps occur and persist, they may require topical steroids or even steroid injections to stop the inflammation.”

Dr. Lauring also explains, “Ointments absorb better than creams, but they tend to be more clogging to the pore if they are petrolatum-based. Topical steroids should always be used sparingly and for brief periods, as daily chronic use of topical steroids may promote more acne, folliculitis, skin thinning, skin lightening and stretch mark development.” 

Sporting a bald head by choice isn’t as easy as it looks or seems. The bald head requires vigilant upkeep to control pimples and other red bumps.

Source: slybaldguys.com/smf/index.php?topic=10847.0