LAUSR

Acne keloidalis nuchae (AKN) is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by scarring of hair follicles along the posterior neck and scalp. Most commonly, AKN is attributed to follicular irritation from hair clippers, helmets, and other external sources. Alternative explanations for disease development posit AKN as a cutaneous symptom of metabolic syndrome - similar to acanthosis nigricans in the setting of diabetes mellitus (DM). This single-center retrospective case series explores factors driving AKN development by examining patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a population at increased odds of both metabolic syndrome and chronic follicular occlusion from positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.