Severe vitamin A and C deficiency may cause folliculitis. [1] In vitamin A deficiency the skin shows follicular hyperkeratosis, dryness and generalised wrinkling. [11] It requires about 2 months of vitamin C deprivation to produce mucocutaneous signs, including perifollicular petechiae and follicular hyperkeratosis.
Some research says vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12, copper, and vitamin B3 help blocked hair follicles. Zinc may also work, but research is ongoing. Talk to your doctor before making changes to what you eat. When you have blocked hair follicles, smoking can make your symptoms worse.
Folliculitis is often caused when hair follicles are infected with bacteria, commonly Staphylococcus aureus (staph). It may also be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, medications or physical injury.
Folliculitis can affect people of all ages. Iron-deficiency anemia is sometimes associated with chronic cases.
Among the various factors proposed as risk factors for neutrophilic folliculitis, a high-fat diet (HFD) is one of the strongest elements associated with severity of neutrophilic folliculitis, especially in acne and hidradenitis suppurativa.
Severe vitamin A and C deficiency may cause folliculitis. [1] In vitamin A deficiency the skin shows follicular hyperkeratosis, dryness and generalised wrinkling. [11] It requires about 2 months of vitamin C deprivation to produce mucocutaneous signs, including perifollicular petechiae and follicular hyperkeratosis.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition that causes inflammation throughout the body.
Folliculitis may be due to drugs, particularly corticosteroids (steroid acne), androgens (male hormones), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), lithium, isoniazid (INH), phenytoin and B-complex vitamins.
The types of psoriasis that can resemble folliculitis include : Plaque psoriasis, which causes dry, red patches on the skin. The patches may be raised, itchy, and painful. Guttate psoriasis, which produces small, scaling lesions on the skin.
Sometimes acne can look similar to folliculitis too. The main difference is that in acne, the hair follicles become plugged with oils (from glands in the skin) and dead skin cells. There may also be an overgrowth of certain bacteria that can live in hair follicles.
Tea tree oil, neem oil, geranium oil, grapefruit seed oil are very effective in treating folliculitis. Tea tree oil can be added to your shampoo, lotion or body wash. Rub it gently onto the affected area and let it sit. Before using it do a patch test to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic that confers not only antibacterial effects but also keratolytic effects, which cause the skin to dry and peel (Kawashima 2017). Systemic antibiotics can directly inhibit or kill the pathogenic bacteria causing folliculitis and boils.
A type of acne induced by vitamin B-12 deserves a special place among acneiform eruptions. The eruption is monomorphic and of a particular type. It consists of voluminous folliculitis lesions which develop acutely after the first injections of vitamin B-12 and disappear rapidly when treatment is discontinued.
“[Pityrosporum folliculitis] is really the main condition in which using the Head & Shoulders, or something with zinc is helpful, because it's treating that yeast that's causing those bumps,” Dr. Mhlaba told Health.
Bacterial infections.
An infection by common or normal bacteria on the skin surface is the most common cause of folliculitis. It can also come from bacteria that grow in hot tubs.
Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy is used to help decrease inflammation on the skin. UV light treatments are only used to treat certain types of folliculitis.
However, folliculitis can result in painful skin inflammation, sores, and pimple-like bumps. It is often the result of improper shaving technique, poor hygiene, and wearing tight clothing. Avoiding these practices can help prevent folliculitis.
Hormonal acne causes breakouts. These appear as lesions or bumps on your skin that could become red, inflamed, painful and sore if not treated.
Hookworm folliculitis is an atypical manifestation of cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) syndrome with which dermatologists should be familiar given the increase in travel to tropical and subtropical countries, where this entity is endemic.
Eosinophilic folliculitis (a rare autoimmune disease, more common in Asian races).
Herpetic folliculitis (HF) is a rare disease involving hair follicles and sebaceous epithelium, which is caused by varicella zoster virus (VZV) or herpes simplex virus (HSV). These viruses can cause skin or mucosal infections, and thus produce primary and recurrent infections.
Brooks also advises avoiding diets high in carbs and sugars or with a high glycemic index, which can cause fluctuations in your glucose levels. “Rising glucose levels increase hormones in your skin, leading to oil production, which can cause folliculitis [inflammation of hair follicles],” he says.