Have you tried everything to rid yourself of those red bumps on your body? Stop shaving, stop waxing and avoid wearing tight clothing as this could all exacerbate them further.
Folliculitis can be contagious if its bacteria, fungus or virus causes is spread from person to person through skin-to-skin contact and shared items like razors and towels.
1. Warm compresses
If your folliculitis is mild and caused by bacteria or fungus, warm compresses may help ease pain, itching, and swelling. Anti-itch lotions or oral medication may also be effective. Importantly, don’t scratch at the area; doing so could make the infection worse!
Wash your skin with mild soap and warm water, avoiding shaving in the affected area. Each time you bathe, use a clean washcloth and towel that haven’t been shared between people; share anything personal like towels with only those you trust to use it responsibly. If there’s evidence of bacteria infection, contact your healthcare provider; they may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics (lotions/gels).
Folliculitis and infections requiring additional treatments may require further intervention from health care providers, who may drain pus from boils and carbuncles and take samples for lab analysis of your folliculitis bumps. In cases of chronic and recurrent infection, laser or light therapies may also be an option to consider.
Keep folliculitis at bay after laser hair removal by washing your skin daily with warm soapy water, not shaving or waxing in the treated area, exfoliating regularly to rid of dead skin cells, applying warm compresses to affected areas 3-4 times daily for 20 minutes each time and soaking a washcloth in warm saltwater solution for soothing inflammation and healing purposes. In addition, taking an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream may also be useful; this reduces itching and redness while slowing hair growth so you avoid ingrown hairs altogether!
2. Antibiotic ointment
If your symptoms of folliculitis are mild, over-the-counter antibiotic ointments or gels may provide relief; just be wary not to overuse these ointments as overusing may destroy “good bacteria” on the skin and make your infection even worse and itchier.
Folliculitis is an inflammation of a damaged hair follicle, often leading to red or white bumps resembling pimples on the surface of your skin. Although folliculitis can affect any area where there is hair, such as face, chest, shoulders back or thighs, it typically manifests itself where there is thicker growth such as on face, chest shoulder back and thighs. While mild cases typically resolve themselves without treatment requiring medication from medical practitioners.
There are various types of folliculitis, including pityrosporum folliculitis caused by yeast infections; gram-negative folliculitis caused by long-term use of acne medications; and boils or carbuncles which appear as red, itchy pus-filled spots on the skin. This form usually affects people with sensitive skin or conditions that compromise immune systems such as diabetes or HIV/AIDS.
Laser hair removal can help protect against future episodes of folliculitis by disabling the hair follicle so it cannot produce new hair follicles and decreasing its thickness, thus decreasing bacteria entry into your follicles. It is particularly useful if you suffer from conditions that predispose you to developing it – such as Alopecia Areata or Universalis which is genetic predisposition to develop it – however this treatment is no guarantee against other forms of folliculitis so other treatments such as antifungal creams, oral antibiotics and manual tweezing may still be necessary.
3. Antifungal cream
Folliculitis is a skin condition characterized by itchy, pus-filled bumps. The bumps may be the result of hair follicles becoming infected or blocked by bacteria, fungus, or herpes simplex; though not considered serious disease; some find the infections quite irritating and persistent cases may cause permanent hair loss if left untreated.
Doctors can diagnose folliculitis by inspecting the infected area and collecting information on your medical history. Your physician may swab the area to test for bacteria or fungus; sometimes a biopsy is required to confirm diagnosis.
Your doctor may prescribe antibiotic ointments or gels to combat an infection in folliculitis. Although oral antibiotics aren’t typically required, severe or repeated infections may require oral antibiotic treatment. Other remedies for folliculitis include warm compresses which reduce inflammation while drawing out pus, along with over-the-counter antiseptic lotions and gels available at drugstores which also may help. You should refrain from shaving or plucking until the infection clears up completely.
Folliculitis left untreated can quickly progress into boils or carbuncles – large pus-filled bumps filled with pus that become infected, painful to touch, and should only be treated in a medical environment sterile environment for treatment purposes. Boils or carbuncles spread infection to other parts of the body as well as leaving scarring or pigmented spots behind on your skin.
Laser hair removal can be an effective treatment for folliculitis by eliminating damaged follicles and preventing further infections from taking hold. This treatment will alleviate itching, redness and discomfort associated with this issue – giving you back confidence in yourself and in your appearance.
4. Over-the-counter pain relievers
Folliculitis, caused by ingrown hairs, is an uncomfortable and embarrassing condition. It often presents as red, sore bumps that resemble pimples when wet and worsen with pressure from water exposure. Laser hair removal may provide an effective means of prevention – an option which might make things much better in terms of long term benefits than waiting until symptoms appear to get rid of this painful and embarrassing issue altogether.
Folliculitis symptoms such as redness, itching and small bumps may be unpleasant but often last only for a short while. If it persists for multiple days or more, cooling creams or cold wash cloths may help alleviate discomfort. You should wait to shave until all lesions have healed before using a clean razor; also remember to clean and replace disposable blades regularly.
If folliculitis does not clear up with self-care measures alone, seeking professional medical help is sometimes necessary to resolve and prevent further flareups. They may prescribe antibiotics or antifungals in order to clear up and stop it recurrence.
Light therapy may also help combat inflammation by using various wavelengths of light to kill bacteria and reduce swelling, while doctors may suggest prescribing mupirocin ointment as a powerful remedy for severe cases of folliculitis.
Laser hair removal with the VBeam laser in Raleigh can help alleviate red bumps, boils and blisters that occur due to Folliculitis by permanently eliminating unwanted hair. This reduces medication and special cream usage as well as future episodes. Laser hair removal is an ideal solution for anyone who is sick of dealing with painful and embarrassing symptoms associated with Folliculitis – contact us now and schedule a consultation; our goal is helping you love your skin again!
5. Warm baths
After laser hair removal, you may experience redness, small bumps, irritation and temporary discomfort which is normal and should subside within a few days or so. If it persists beyond that point, use a cooling cream to soothe the area.
If folliculitis does not clear on its own, seeking medical help to keep it from worsening is vital to prevent spreading or worsening of infection. A doctor can prescribe antibiotic ointment or an antifungal cream with prescription-strength antifungal properties to combat infection, hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching, less aggressive shaving methods, bathing with antibacterial soaps in affected area to further prevent spread.
Folliculitis, which causes red or pus-filled bumps on your scalp, occurs when your hair follicle becomes inflamed due to razors, waxing, shaving, wearing tight clothing or any number of medical conditions such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), diabetes or HIV/AIDS which compromise your immune system.
Folliculitis often appears as itchy red or pus-filled bumps on the body – often legs, arms and buttocks – that become reddened and become itchy over time. Most cases clear up within 7 to 10 days without leaving dark marks behind as follicles heal themselves.
Take steps to prevent folliculitis after laser hair removal treatments:
