Hair grows from small holes called follicles on our skin, providing warmth for our bodies while shielding us from UV radiation damage and helping with sexual reproduction.
Folliculitis can affect anyone, but is more likely to strike those living with diabetes, overweight individuals taking certain long-term medications and those who lack immunity.
Mild cases typically resolve themselves quickly with antiseptic wash or antibiotic ointment, while more serious infections may develop into boils (furuncles) or carbuncles that require professional drainage by your health care provider.
Symptoms
Folliculitis symptoms typically include red, itchy, pus-filled bumps in the neck, groin or genital area which contain pus, blood or both – these pimples may break open to drain pus or blood, becoming very painful and infecting other hair follicles nearby. They may erupt again at any time and drain pus or blood which drain from them; symptoms may come and go or remain. It usually affects men and women of all ages but more commonly teens and young adults. Infection caused by bacteria and fungus infection are most likely causes; while infections due to viruses and parasites are rarer causes.
Folliculitis comes in various forms, depending on how deep an infection has penetrated and its cause. Bacterial folliculitis is the most frequently seen type of this condition and typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus or pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; often found among those who practice poor hygiene practices or those taking antibiotics.
Fungal folliculitis, more commonly known as dermatitis capitis, is more prevalent among those with compromised immune systems and can cause chronic itching. Though treatment options for fungal folliculitis may be difficult, antifungal creams and medications may provide some relief.
Other causes of folliculitis may include shaving, improper hair-growth control or tight clothing that restricts body movement. Folliculitis may also be a side effect of certain drugs like lithium and cyclosporine; in addition, some individuals may inherit an increased susceptibility.
Health care providers can diagnose folliculitis by visually inspecting the skin and taking samples of one of the bumps to identify which bacteria or fungus may be causing it.
Over-the-counter treatments for folliculitis may include warm compresses and topical medications that kill germs or reduce itching and inflammation, including antimicrobials or itching relief products. Squeezing or touching affected areas to avoid infection or scarring. Other ways to avoid folliculitis include shaving only in the direction hair grows, using a new blade each time, applying moisturizing lotion after shaving and not shaving in one particular direction for too long; for those with an established history of folliculitis your doctor may recommend growing out your hair for several months until healing occurs before considering shaving again; some doctors prescribe bleach baths to kill bacteria on skin surfaces as a potential treatment option.
Diagnosis
If you notice a cluster of small red or pink bumps that refuse to respond to home care treatments, make an appointment with your healthcare provider immediately. Folliculitis can spread to nearby hair follicles and produce pus-filled lesions known as boils or carbuncles which are painful, hard to get rid of and may lead to serious infections.
If the infection isn’t severe, treatment options that reduce inflammation and alleviate pain and itching may be needed. Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical exam; then send a sample from the infected area (usually a boil or carbuncle) to be tested to determine what kind of bacteria caused folliculitis – this helps them determine the appropriate antibiotic prescription.
There are various types of folliculitis, and each can present with unique symptoms and causes. For instance, bacterial folliculitis may be caused by Staphylococcus bacteria commonly referred to as “Staph,” or certain kinds of fungi; sometimes an individual can become infected with methicillin-resistant Staph infections known as MRSA that require hospital treatment – these infections can be particularly dangerous and should always be taken seriously.
Folliculitis may also be caused by fungal (pityrosporum folliculitis) or herpes simplex virus infection, manifested as cold sores. Eosinophilic pustular folliculitis typically appears among individuals living with HIV or having CD4 counts which indicate an impaired immune system.
Most cases of folliculitis can be effectively managed at home. Simply clean the affected area twice daily with warm water and soap, use a razor that won’t irritate the skin, and shave with gentle strokes using an unirritating razor blade. Avoid picking or squeezing boils or carbuncles which could spread infection; for persistent cases your healthcare provider may suggest cutting back or at least decreasing shaving frequency altogether, and let hair grow longer instead. They may also prescribe topical or oral antibiotics to treat an underlying infection.
Treatment
Folliculitis typically resolves itself within weeks. But if symptoms such as fever, spreading rash or pus-filled bumps persist or worsen over time, medical intervention should be sought immediately.
Your doctor can use the type of folliculitis you have to determine how best to treat it. They will conduct a physical exam and review your medical history in order to determine what’s going on, then they may swab one of the bumps to identify any bacteria or fungus causing symptoms.
Folliculitis may be caused by staphylococcus (Staph) bacteria or types of fungi that are passed through bodily contact. Treatment options available to address such infections include antibiotics applied directly to the skin or taken orally as well as antifungal medication to address such forms of folliculitis.
Folliculitis may also be caused by hair shaft problems, including ingrown hairs that curl under the skin and cause irritation to surrounding tissue, or debris becoming caught up in clothing or sports equipment and irritating skin surrounding it. Shaving can also result in ingrown hairs which irritate surrounding tissue; especially around legs and buttocks.
Doctors generally advise using warm compresses on the affected area several times daily for up to 15 minutes, at a maximum. Furthermore, they advise their patients against scrubbing it too hard as this may aggravate it further and make symptoms worse. People suffering from folliculitis should also avoid shaving or plucking from affected areas unless necessary for hygiene purposes.
Folliculitis’ itching can be difficult to control, but applying anti-itch lotion or antibiotic ointment and refraining from scratching affected areas may speed healing and limit further infection spread. Wet cloth or gauze bandage (of the type used to wrap wounds) placed over affected skin areas may also provide temporary relief from itching, while doctors advise people with folliculitis only use mild soaps without rough scrubbers as this could further exacerbate their condition.
Prevention
Folliculitis is caused by infection, but you can protect yourself by taking steps to keep your body healthy. This includes maintaining cleanliness for skin care purposes such as bathing frequently and showering, using self-care practices and knowing what triggered it. Using hot tubs and heated pools that have been regularly cleaned and disinfected is also recommended as this will control bacteria that cause infections; additionally, wearing breathable clothing such as T-shirts will keep sweat away from coming into contact with skin to avoid causing further irritations.
There are various forms of folliculitis, each presenting with unique symptoms and appearance. It is essential that you inform your healthcare provider what kind of folliculitis you have so they can create the appropriate treatment plan.
Folliculitis is typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, typically present on skin surfaces but capable of entering hair follicles through cuts or scrapes. Shaving can often trigger this form of folliculitis (pseudofolliculitis barbae).
Folliculitis may also result from yeast infections (pityrosporum folliculitis), inflammation from injuries or surgery (post-inflammatory folliculitis) or immune system reactions such as Pseudomonas folliculitis). It typically affects the back, groin and buttocks and may be brought on by swimming in unclean pools/spa or prolonged antibiotic usage such as Ciprofloxacin use.
Doctors typically diagnose folliculitis by conducting an exam of your skin and asking about its severity and location of lesions. He or she may take a swab from the affected area to test for bacteria to confirm his diagnosis of folliculitis; occasionally a biopsy may also be required in order to rule out other medical conditions.
To prevent folliculitis, avoid shaving and waxes/depilatory creams that irritate the skin, such as shaving with old razors, using harsh depilatory products like depilatories/waxes etc, swimming excessively or sweating excessively. Use a mild shampoo instead. When it’s time to shave use a fresh razor instead of one that has been in your razor’s razorblade for too long and don’t repeat shaving the same areas over and over again so your skin can heal properly.
