Recurrent scalp folliculitis after shaving head close – only on back and sides where hair still grows
Hi everyone,
I’m hoping someone has been through something similar because I’m getting really frustrated.
I recently started shaving my head very close. The first shave was completely fine, but after the second shave I developed lots of small red bumps and whiteheads. I then had another shave by my SMP technician a few days later.
The strange thing is:
The spots heal, but new ones keep appearing.
They are only on the back and sides of my scalp where I still have hair growth.
The top of my head is bald (SMP area) and I don’t get any spots there.
I also don’t get them in my beard.
They’re centred around the hair follicles and are quite itchy.
The spots actually started before my SMP just as I did my second ever skin shave so I don’t think the pigment is the cause.
So far I’ve ordered from
Amazon (not yet started):
Nizoral (ketoconazole)
Chlorhexidine 4% wash
Acnecide (benzoyl peroxide)
I’m seeing my GP on Monday.
My questions are:
Has anyone developed folliculitis just from switching to shaving their head really close?
Did it eventually clear completely?
What treatment actually worked for you?
Were you able to go back to shaving every 2–3 days without it coming back?
Did changing from a rotary shaver to a foil shaver make any difference?
Should I ask my GP for a skin swab or specific medication?
Does using these 3 products sound sensible. I am uk based
I’m worried I’ve got stuck in a cycle where every close shave causes another outbreak, but because I have SMP I really need to keep my head shaved.
Any advice would be hugely appreciated. I’ve added a couple pictures so you can see the extent of the spread and spots.