The skin is one of the most sensitive organs of the body and is associated with many disorders, known as folliculitis. Folliculitis is a common skin condition caused by follicle infection or inflammation.
A follicle is a small cavity from which a strand of hair grows. The skin disease may occur in different parts of the body, including the arm, face, buttocks, chest, back, and legs. It may appear in the form of a pus-filled red bump or a lesion.
Hence, it is sometimes compared with acne. Nonetheless, they are two different skin conditions. The disease is also associated with razor bumps, barber’s itch, and bath rash. Folliculitis does not harm the body’s internal organs, and it affects both young persons and adults.
So, are you looking to address this? We’ll tell you about the symptoms and treatments of folliculitis.
Causes of Folliculitis
Follicle infection is generally due to a bacterium known as staphylococcus aureus and other fungal and viral infections. When you shave or make tight braids or wear tight clothing, you have ingrown hairs or irritation from personal belongings. Also, it happens when you use an unclean hot tub or pool or when your cat is not properly disinfected.
Forms of Folliculitis
Like many skin conditions, there are different forms of folliculitis which may be mild or severe.
Mild or Surface Folliculitis
Mild or surface folliculitis include
Bacterial Folliculitis
It is the common form of folliculitis and one that appears as pus-filled red bumps. As the name implies, it is caused by a bacterial infection (staphylococcus) which goes deeper into the skin, typically through a cut or wound.
Barber’s Itch
It is also called pseudofolliculitis barbae and is caused by ingrown hairs. This form of folliculitis is rampant among black men and men with curly hair.
Hot Tub Folliculitis
As the name suggests, it is caused by a bacterium (pseudomonas) from an unclean bathtub or pool and, therefore, is also referred to as pseudomonas folliculitis. Often, this bacterium develops due to our lackadaisical attitude towards monitoring the chlorine level and pH balance of our pools. At most, symptoms appear within seventy-two hours and may disappear within a week without treatment.
Pityrosporum Folliculitis
This form of folliculitis appears as lesions caused by a yeast infection on the face and upper body. It occurs mostly in men.
Severe Folliculitis
It is also known as deep folliculitis and include:
Sycosis Barbae
This type of folliculitis is similar to pseudofolliculitis barbae but severe. It can cause scarring and permanent hair loss.
Boils
It occurs when the staphylococcus has eaten deep into the skin. A boil is a hard bump filled with pus that eventually ruptures and is drained. It may be a single boil or clusters.
Gram-Negative Folliculitis
It is caused by long usage of antibiotics and, thus, common among people suffering from acne. It becomes healed once one finishes with the antibiotic treatment.
Eosinophilic Folliculitis
It occurs due to a weakened immune system caused by other health conditions such as HIV/AIDS and cancer, leading to hyperpigmentation.
Symptoms
The symptoms of folliculitis may last a short-term or long term. However, they include
- The appearance of red bumps which may or may not be filled with pus
- Skin tenderness
- Pain
- Swelling
- Inflammation
- Breakouts
- Itchiness
- Crusty sores
- Boils (which may appear as one or as clusters)
The symptoms may progress rapidly to scarring, hair loss, and hyperpigmentation without treatment.
Treatment
Folliculitis treatments are tailored towards the cause of the breakout and whether it is severe or mild. On the one hand, one may cure mild cases with home remedies while the severe ones are gotten rid of through medication and therapies.
Medication
The medications are majorly topical treatments that you can buy over the counter. Common ones are salicylic acid and Benzoyl peroxide. Also, prescriptions could be given by a doctor. These drugs seek to treat the root cause of the disease (bacterial or fungal infection).
Likewise, they help to fade the scarring and heal resultant effects such as hyperpigmentation. Examples of prescribed medications include oral antifungal, antifungal shampoos, steroid creams, oral antibiotics, oral corticosteroids, etc.
Light Therapy
It is also referred to as photodynamic therapy and helps greatly with folliculitis solutions. It is also effective in fighting acne. The therapy uses light and chemical formulation to eliminate infections (viral, bacterial, or fungal).
Lancing
Lancing is most effective for boils. It involves draining a boil of its pus by creating a small incision. This process helps to relieve pain and enable faster recovery.
Laser Therapy
This process involves eliminating the hair follicles. It is a proven method of getting rid of folliculitis.
Home Remedies
Furthermore, there are a couple of home remedies that may be effective in the treatment of acne. They include:
Warm Compression
When you place a warm compress on the inflamed or infected area, it minimizes the itching and drains the pus. A compress involves soaking a towel in a bowl of warm water, squeezing the excess water out, and placing it on the skin surface for at least twenty minutes. You can repeat the process severally.
OTC Products
It refers to over-the-counter treatments, and they include cleansers, gels, creams, and washes formulated to fight infections and inflammation.
Good Hygiene
One of the causes of folliculitis is bathing in unclean water. A good way to stop the spread of the infection is to disinfect water before use. Also, you should wash the affected parts with mild medicated soap daily. Wash your clothing as regularly as possible.
Clean and Soothing Bath
Soaking yourself in a warm, clean bath reduces itching and pain resulting from it. The best baths have been oatmeal pack bath, milk bath, and baking soda bath.
Good Skincare Habits
Skincare deals with the protection of the skin from dangerous elements. Hence, you should avoid tight and irritating clothing, stop chemical body products and shave less. Also, only shave with clean and sharp blades or shaving tools, and after that, apply lubricant.
Final Thoughts
You can stop the symptoms of folliculitis with good hygiene and a proper skincare routine. It is also ideal for investigating the disease’s cause because it helps you figure out the solutions. We have discussed all that here. Read up and enjoy!