FOLLICULITIS

Folliculitis is a common skin inflammatory condition of the hair follicle commonly triggered by bacterial or fungal infections and described as a tender red spot often with surface pustule. It can affect anywhere there are hairs, including chest, back, buttocks, arms, and legs. The cause of bacterial folliculitis is usually Staphylococcus aureus, but occasionally there are cases of infection with Pseudomonas bacillus (“hot tub folliculitis”) or other microorganisms like viruses, fungi and even medications or physical injury.  Bathers’ folliculitis, which develops in hot bath takers, occurs when water is improperly treated with chemicals.

The sign of folliculitis is the formation of superficial pustules or inflammatory nodules surrounding the hair follicle. The affected hair is easily lost or removed by the patient, but new papules appear.

There are two main types of this inflammation: superficial and deep.

The first variety of development is associated with the gradual spread of inflammation from the surface of the hair follicle mouth to the depths with redness and swelling of tissues. After a few days, a small pustule is covered with a crust, the inflammatory process captures the area of the hair follicle. Sometimes even an abscess begins, after opening the pustules there is an expulsion of pus, the defect on the epithelium leaves a scar.

The second variant of the disease is characterized by the appearance of a bright pink pimple around the hair follicle with the presence of a pustule. Deep folliculitis has a large size (up to 1 cm): soreness and captures the entire follicle without the formation of a necrotic rod like a furuncle.

The disease can affect one hair follicle – single folliculitis or a large number of follicles – multiple folliculitis. According to statistical data, Hoffmann’s folliculitis mainly affects men aged 18-40 years.

Risk factors:

Anyone can develop folliculitis. Certain factors increase the risk of getting it, including:

• Regularly wearing clothing that traps heat and sweat, such as rubber gloves or high boots
• Soaking in a hot tub, whirlpool or public pool that’s not maintained well
• Causing damage to hair follicles through shaving, waxing, wearing tight clothes or hair styling practices such as traction, wigs and oils
• Using some medications, such as corticosteroid creams, prednisone, long-term antibiotic therapy for acne and certain chemotherapy drugs
• Having dermatitis or excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Having diabetes, HIV/AIDS or another condition that lowers your resistance to infections

Most of the time, folliculitis goes away with a little self-care at home. But let your doctor know If you have:

• Firm, painful bumps
• Pus drainage
• Bumps that are spreading
• Fever
• Chills
• Fatigue (feeling tired)
• A rash that clears up, then comes back
• A rash that gets worse

Treatments for folliculitis depend on the type and severity of condition, more severe cases can be managed medically with either antibiotic, antifungal, or anti-parasitic agents.

If you’ve tried nonprescription products for a few weeks and they haven’t helped, ask dermatologist about prescription-strength medications. A dermatologist can help you:

• Control your folliculitis
• Figure out whether a drug you take might be causing your symptoms and whether you can stop taking it
• Avoid scarring or other damage to the skin
• Make scars less noticeable

To try and prevent folliculitis you can:

• keep your skin clean, dry and free from abrasions or irritations
• keep the skin moisturized
• use clean, sharp razors and shave in the direction of hair growth or use an electric razor
• use a shaving soap, gel or foam to lubricate the blades across the skin to help prevent nicks and cuts
• use hair removal methods other than shaving
• avoid chemicals or items which irritate your skin
• exfoliate regularly to remove dead skin cells