In most cases, the main symptom of folliculitis is red bumps that look like pimples on your skin. These could also look like they're white-filled bumps or they could be filled with pus (pustules). Folliculitis can feel itchy and uncomfortable. Many people feel the need to scratch when they have folliculitis.
Deep folliculitis is best approached with warm compresses, followed by incision and drainage once a conical pustular head develops. For recurrent and recalcitrant folliculitis, in addition to oral antibiotics, a search for a bacterial reservoir is important.
The two main types of folliculitis are superficial and deep. The superficial type involves part of the follicle, and the deep type involves the entire follicle and is usually more severe.
It usually looks like a sudden acne breakout. Each spot may have a red ring around it, which is a sign of the infection. Folliculitis caused by sitting in a hot tub.
Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles due to an infection, injury, or irritation. It is characterized by tender, swollen areas that form around hair follicles, often on the neck, breasts, buttocks, and face. Boils (also referred to as furuncles) are pus-filled lesions that are painful and usually firm.
They may take a swab of the infected skin to test for which bacteria or fungus is the cause of the folliculitis. In rare cases, a doctor may order a skin biopsy to exclude the possibility of other causes.
The condition is also called Malassezia folliculitis or Pityrosporum folliculitis. Fungal acne causes clusters of small, itchy, red bumps (papules) on your skin. Sometimes, the bumps get a bit larger and turn into whiteheads, small pockets of white or yellow pus (pustules).
To confirm a diagnosis of pityrosporum folliculitis, your provider may gently scrape your skin to gather some skin cells. They examine these cells under a microscope to look for signs of excess Malassezia yeast. If needed, your provider may do a skin biopsy.
Follicles are the openings in the skin where the hair grows (Picture 1). The rash appears as small red bumps or pus bumps that can itch or be mildly painful. Folliculitis is common on the buttocks, arms and legs - especially the thighs. Most improve in 7 to 10 days.
Deep folliculitis usually includes sycosis barbae (Barber's itch), gram-negative folliculitis, eosinophilic folliculitis, and instances where hair follicles become deeply infected and present painful and swollen boils / furuncles (and carbuncles / clusters of boils – which may rupture and drain).
If folliculitis goes untreated it may result in serious or deep infections that may spread or cause permanent scarring, cellulitis, or even enter the bloodstream and become life-threatening.
Most cases of folliculitis are completely curable. There are very uncommon, long-standing cases of folliculitis that may not be curable. Often these more resistant cases may be controlled with proper treatment and medication. Folliculitis sometimes clears completely by itself without treatment.
Deep folliculitis (furuncles or carbuncles) may require treatment with oral antibiotics like dicloxacillin or cephalexin.
Bacterial folliculitis is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus but occasionally Pseudomonas aeruginosa (hot tub folliculitis). Treat staphylococcal folliculitis with clindamycin 1% lotion or gel or benzoyl peroxide 5% wash.
Folliculitis can be a mild, short-lived condition or a severe long-term problem that can literally take over your life. Unfortunately, this variation in severity can lead to the notion that it is nothing more than a passing inconvenience. This can be very frustrating if you have the more persistent form.
What are the clinical features of pseudofolliculitis barbae? An acne-like eruption presenting as ingrown hairs associated with flesh-coloured or red follicular papules. Most often on the face and neck of men after shaving. Under the jawline is typical, a site where the hair follicles grow in various directions.
In most cases, the main symptom of folliculitis is red bumps that look like pimples on your skin. These could also look like they're white-filled bumps or they could be filled with pus (pustules). Folliculitis can feel itchy and uncomfortable. Many people feel the need to scratch when they have folliculitis.
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.
Your doctor usually can treat mild folliculitis with an antibiotic cream or ointment. If you have folliculitis on your scalp, you may use a medicated shampoo. Antibiotics you take as pills can treat infections deeper in the skin. Other treatments that may be used include antifungal and antiparasitic medicines.
Superficial folliculitis presents with multiple small papules and pustules on an erythematous base, with each papule or pustule pierced by a central hair. Deep folliculitis presents as tender plaques and nodules overlying the erythema and induration, usually heal by scarring.
Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged or when the follicle is blocked. For example, this may occur from rubbing against clothing or shaving. Most of the time, the damaged follicles become infected with staphylococci (staph) bacteria.
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.