FOLLICULITIS

Ingrown hair cysts

Folliculitis is an ordinary dermatological condition which causes inflammation of hair
follicles of the skin. This condition, which occurs due to both bacterial and fungal
infections, causes small red or white pimples to form around the hair follicles.
The infection, if left untreated, can spread and turn into rough, coarse sores which may
take a long time to heal.

Types of folliculitis
1. Superficial folliculitis: This classification type involves part of a hair follicle.
Superficial folliculitis usually includes bacterial (razor bumps) and yeast infection
breakout forms of the condition.

2. Deep folliculitis: This classification type involves the entire hair follicle and presents
more severe symptoms. Deep folliculitis usually includes instances where hair
follicles become deeply infected and present painful and swollen boils / furuncles
(and carbuncles / clusters of boils) which may rupture and drain.

Causes
 Shaving: Razors and shaving against the direction of hair growth can allow bacteria
from the skin to get into hair follicles.
  Bacterial colonization: Some people tend to have the Staphylococcus bacteria living
on their skin in places like the nose and under the fingernails. This increases the
chance of getting folliculitis.

 Hot tub use: Folliculitis can also be caused by Pseudomonas bacteria. The bacteria
lives in hot, wet environments like poorly sanitized hot tubs. This is known as hot tub
folliculitis.

 Long-term antibiotic use such as when treating acne.

 Tight clothing or equipment can clog hair follicles.

 Excessive sweating: Heat and sweat, due to prolonged exposure to the sun.

 Weak immunity: Certain illnesses or chemotherapy can make it harder to fight off
infections.

Symptoms
Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicle. You can develop folliculitis almost
anywhere on the body that has hair. It looks like small pink bumps or can be filled with pus.
Each one surrounds an individual hair.
Folliculitis can be itchy, but may also be painful. It looks like small or medium-sized, red
bumps or pustules with a hair in the centre. They can be anywhere on your body where hair
grows, and can range from just a few in a cluster to many.
Sometimes folliculitis looks like acne, but folliculitis tends to arise suddenly, with larger and
more bumps.
Is folliculitis contagious?
Some infectious agents (bacteria and viruses) which cause folliculitis can be contagious –
meaning that infection can be passed from one person to another. Means of transmission
include -

 Skin-to-skin contact
 Sharing personal items such as razors or towels
 Using hot tubs, Jacuzzis and spa baths that have been used by others with the
infection.

Does folliculitis go away on its own?

Mild cases of folliculitis may go away on their own. Keep an eye on the bumps to make sure
they don't get worse—redder or more painful. Mild folliculitis usually takes about two
weeks to heal on its own.
But once you have it, ingrown hair cysts can be annoying or embarrassing. You can take
certain preventive measures to minimize your chances of getting folliculitis.

 Avoid wearing tight clothing to reduce the friction between your skin and the cloth.

 If you wear rubber gloves daily, after each use, wash it with soap and water by
turning them inside out and drying thoroughly.
 If you have razor bumps, grow your beard and avoid shaving as much as possible.

 If you are required to shave frequently, follow proper hygiene measures to minimize
damaging your skin follicles.
 Consider using hair removal products or other hair removal methods only after
medical consultation.
 Limit the use of greasy skin products and skin oils as they can trap bacteria and cause
blockages.
 Use only clean heated pools and hot tubs. If you own one, add chlorine as
recommended.

What to do if your folliculitis doesn’t go away on its own?

It is advised not to poke, squeeze, or cut the sores on your own to spread the
infection. Also, refrain from scratching the affected area as it can delay the
healing process. If your folliculitis is a perennial problem or doesn’t go away on
its own or return after it goes away, you can opt for multiple treatments that
are available.
 1. Use creams, gels, and washes

You can use over-the-counter medicines to use on your skin, such as creams, washes, and
gels. If the infection cannot be cured using home remedies, you may need to consult a
professional healthcare practitioner for treatment.

2. Prescription creams, shampoos, or pills

For recurrent or severe folliculitis, the doctor may prescribe you to use antibiotic cream, gel,
lotion, or even oral antibiotics. The doctor may prescribe medications such as -

 Antibiotics applied to the skin (topical). These are used to treat bacterial infections. They
include benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin. If the infection is from the Staphylococcus bacteria,
an antibiotic cream called Mupirocin is usually prescribed.
 Oral antibiotic (doxycycline or tetracycline). You may need to take a pill or you may need
medicine intravenously (IV).Your doctor will prescribe a steroid cream for eosinophilic
folliculitis to stop the itching. If you are suffering from HIV/AIDS, the folliculitis
symptoms will improve after antiretroviral therapy.

 Antifungal or antiviral medication- This may be used for fungal and viral infections.

3. Minor Surgery / Laser Removal treatment

If you get a carbuncle or a sizable boil, the doctor may drain the pus by making an incision to
relieve pain and then use sterile gauze to protect the area from infection.

If all other treatments are unsuccessful, undergoing laser therapy for long-term hair removal
may cure the infection. However, this method is costly and requires multiple sittings to
permanently remove the hair follicles.

Afterword
Folliculitis is an inflammatory reaction in the superficial aspect of the hair follicle and can
involve the follicular opening or the perifollicular hair follicles.

The pilosebaceous unit of the follicle is divided into three compartments: the infundibulum
(superficial part, outlined by the sebaceous duct), the isthmus (between the sebaceous duct
and arrector pili protuberance), and the inferior segment (stem and hair bulb). This
anatomical scheme forms the basis for any evaluation of the clinical manifestations of
folliculitis.
 Most of the follicular conditions can be classified according to their anatomical location and
histopathologic patterns. Clinically, the inflammation manifests as 1mm-wide vesicles,
pustules, or papulopustules in acute cases; however, hyperkeratosis and keratotic plug
formations are indicative of a chronic process.

The presence of superficial pustules does not always imply an infectious origin, as there are
many non-infectious types of folliculitis as well.