Folliculitis: causes, symptoms, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition of folliculitis

Folliculitis is a skin disease that occurs due to inflammation of the hair follicles. This condition is usually characterized by small red bumps with a white tip filled with pus.

This lump may be superficial or feel deep. In addition, this disease of the scalp can occur anywhere where hair is grown, including the chest, back, arms and legs. Acne and its types are also part of folliculitis.

Folliculitis is harmless, but it can cause itching and pain that makes you uncomfortable. In severe cases, this problem can lead to hair loss and permanent scarring.

If the condition is mild, the symptoms will disappear a few days after being treated with home remedies. However, more serious and recurring inflammation of the hair follicles may require treatment from a dermatologist.

How common is folliculitis?

Folliculitis is a common skin disease that affects children and adults most often. However, this condition rarely appears in children aged 2 years and under.

This skin problem can be treated by reducing the risk factors. Always consult a doctor for more information.

Types of folliculitis

Folliculitis is divided into two types, namely superficial and deep. In superficial conditions usually attack a certain part of the follicle. Meanwhile, the deepening can occur in the entire follicle and get worse.

Superficial folliculitis

Bacterial folliculitis

Bacterial folliculitis is usually characterized by itchy, white, pus-filled bumps. This occurs when the hair follicle is infected with bacteria caused by an open wound on the follicle.

Pseudomonas folliculitis

In addition, folliculitis is also characterized by a round red rash with itchy bumps. This condition can occur when infected with pseudomonas bacteria in dirty hot water pools with unbalanced chlorine and pH levels.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae

Folliculitis can also occur due to skin irritation that occurs due to ingrown hairs (ingrown hair). This problem often occurs in men with curly hair and shaving too close to cause the skin and follicles to be injured.

This can also be experienced by people who shave the hair in the groin area and leave scars that look dark.

Folliculitis pityrosporum

This type can cause red, itchy pustules due to a yeast infection. You can find it on the back, chest, neck, arms and upper face.

Deep folliculitis

Barbae sycosis

If the folliculitis you experience causes scarring and permanent hair loss, there is a possibility that you may experience barbae sycosis.

Boils

Boils are common and are caused by infection with staph bacteria in the follicles. As a result, the boil swells and fills with pus.

Over time, boils can get bigger and cause pain. In fact, this condition can also grow in groups in one area and produce more severe symptoms.

Eosinophilic folliculitis

This condition usually attacks patients with immune systems that are not functioning properly. This can also happen to babies. However, this folliculitis is not contagious and is characterized by pustules on the shoulders, upper arms and forehead.

Signs and symptoms of folliculitis

The symptoms of folliculitis can vary. You may not feel anything or sometimes the infection causes itching of the skin. Here are some symptoms that are often seen.

Red bumps like pimples with hair in the middle.
The top of the lump is white or yellow.
Lumps filled with pus or blood when they burst.
The skin looks red and inflamed.
The skin feels itchy, sore and burns.
Pain in the lump and the surrounding area.
Fever.

If left untreated, symptoms can spread to nearby hair follicles. This condition can last for a short period of time (acute) or for a long time (chronic). If left untreated, the lump will develop into a crusty wound.

When to see a doctor for folliculitis?

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult a dermatologist.

In addition, if the infected area experiences the following symptoms even though it has been compressed with warm water, contact a doctor immediately.

The lump looks red.
The infected skin feels warm or sore.
The lump does not go away or even spreads after 2 weeks.

Causes and risk factors for this condition

Folliculitis is usually caused by a certain fungal or bacterial infection, such as the Staphylococcus aureus (staph) bacteria. In addition, you may also experience this if the hair follicles are damaged as a result of the following habits.

Shave.
Wear clothes that rub the skin and irritate the follicles.
Follicles clogged with sweat or makeup.
Frequently touching and scratching the skin.
Hair follicles are injured and infected with bacteria.

Risk factors for folliculitis

Everyone can experience folliculitis. However, some of the things below can increase a person's risk of developing inflammation of the hair follicles due to a bacterial infection.

Using hot tubs or swimming pools with unsuitable chlorine.
Wear tight clothes and do not absorb sweat.
Have experienced skin damage due to injury or surgery.
Using certain medications, such as steroid creams or acne antibiotics.
People with HIV, diabetes, and diseases that reduce the immune system.
Not being careful when shaving.

Diagnosis and treatment of folliculitis

How to diagnose this condition?

During the consultation, the doctor will examine the skin and ask about the health condition and medications being consumed. This skin examination is performed to diagnose visible symptoms.

After that, the doctor will also diagnose this condition by taking a sample of the infected lump, skin, or hair. This aims to determine the cause of the infection, whether fungal or bacterial.

What are the ways to treat folliculitis?

In general, mild folliculitis goes away with home remedies for two weeks. However, there are various options for how to treat this condition that doctors usually recommend as follows.

Drugs

Bacterial infection control creams or pills

If you have a mild infection, your doctor will usually give you an antibiotic cream, lotion or gel. In severe cases, you will be prescribed oral antibiotics, the dosage is adjusted according to the severity of the condition.

Yeast infection control shampoos, creams, or pills

If you have folliculitis due to a yeast infection, anti-fungal creams, shampoo products, and pills will usually be used. This type of drug is used according to the severity of the condition and the location of the inflamed follicle.

Creams or pills to reduce inflammation

Apart from controlling yeast and bacterial infections, there are creams and pills that doctors prescribe to reduce inflammation. The drugs chosen are usually steroid creams and pills to treat inflammation and relieve symptoms of itching.

Minor surgery

Not only drugs, the doctor will also recommend minor surgery if the lump you have is large enough.

This procedure, which makes a small incision, aims to drain the pus in it. That way, the pain will be less and recovery will be faster.

Laser hair removal

This laser therapy can actually be used to reduce the number of inflamed hair follicles. Other than that, laser hair removal also helps remove hair follicles for maximum treatment in inflamed areas.

Although considered effective, this therapy requires repeated treatment and has side effects such as:

skin color changes,
scars, and
blistered skin.

Each treatment option your doctor recommends depends on the condition and type of folliculitis you are experiencing.

Home remedies

As mentioned earlier, folliculitis with mild symptoms can be relieved by home remedies. Some of the methods below you can do at home to help treat folliculitis.

Compress with warm water

One natural way to treat folliculitis is to apply warm water to the infected lump. This will reduce the itchy and painful lumps.

You can also add 1 - 2 teaspoons of salt to a small bowl filled with warm water.

Use hydrocortisone cream

In addition to warm compresses, you can also use over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams to relieve itching.

Routinely clean the infected skin

Inflamed hair follicles should be cleaned regularly. This is done to prevent inflammation from spreading. Here's how to clean infected skin.

Clean the skin twice a day with antibacterial soap.
Use your own towels and do not share personal items with others.
Routinely wash towels with a mixture of warm water and antibacterial detergent.

Avoid shaving for a while

You are also advised to stop shaving for a while, especially in areas that are inflamed. The reason is, some cases show that the itching will disappear when you stop shaving his body hair.

Folliculitis prevention

How can you prevent folliculitis?

Folliculitis is generally the result of a bacterial or fungal infection that gets into the hair follicles. Well, you can prevent this and reduce the risk of spreading inflammation with the steps below.