Who is prone to folliculitis

It can be acute or chronic. Acute cases occur for a short time, while chronic cases are ongoing. Folliculitis causes small crusty bumps to form on your skin.

They can be red, white, or yellow in color. They may be accompanied by:. Folliculitis is usually caused by staph bacteria or fungi. You can contract staph bacteria or fungi through body contact with someone who has an infection. You can also contract them through contact with contaminated personal items, such as towels, soap, or clothing used by someone with an infection. You can pick up bacteria or fungi at unclean pools or spas as well. To diagnose folliculitis, your doctor will examine the inflamed or irritated areas of your skin.

Be sure to tell your doctor:. Your doctor may be able to diagnose folliculitis base on appearance alone. To identify the cause, they may remove one of the bumps for testing. Folliculitis is usually minor and goes away on its own without treatment.

For example, they may recommend:. Chronic folliculitis can be more difficult to treat. Antibiotics and other medications may not clear up chronic cases. If other treatment options fail, your doctor may recommend laser hair removal. During treatment, you should refrain from removing hair by plucking, waxing, or shaving. Allowing your hair to grow may help your follicles to heal. There are thousands of different kinds of bacteria, and they live in every conceivable These gram-positive, sphere-shaped coccal bacteria see figure How Bacteria Shape Up often cause Sometimes the bacteria enter the skin through a hair follicle, small scrape, or puncture, although often there is no obvious point of entry.

People who live in crowded conditions, have poor hygiene or chronic skin diseases, or whose nasal passages contain Staphylococcus are more likely to have episodes of folliculitis or skin abscesses. A weakened immune system, obesity Obesity Obesity is excess body weight. Obesity is influenced by a combination of factors, which usually results in consuming more calories than the body needs. These factors may include physical inactivity Urination and thirst are Some people may have recurring episodes of infection for unknown reasons.

Doctors may try to eliminate Staphylococcus from people prone to recurring infections by instructing them to wash their entire body with antibacterial soap, apply antibiotic ointment inside the nose where the bacteria can hide, and take antibiotics by mouth. Folliculitis is an infection of a hair follicle. It looks like a tiny red or white pimple at the base of a hair. There may be only one infected follicle or many. Each infected follicle is itchy or slightly painful, but the person otherwise does not feel sick.

Some people develop folliculitis after exposure to a poorly chlorinated hot tub or whirlpool. It begins anytime from 6 hours to 5 days after the exposure. Areas of skin covered by a bathing suit, such as the torso and buttocks, are the most common sites.

Some people develop mild folliculitis in areas subjected to moisture and friction, such as areas under sports equipment or on the buttocks. Sometimes stiff hairs in the beard area or in any area that is shaved curl and reenter the skin ingrown hair after shaving, causing mild irritation and inflammation.

However, there is no actual infection. This type of folliculitis is called pseudofolliculitis barbae Ingrown Beard Hairs Pseudofolliculitis barbae is caused by ingrown hairs, usually in the beard, that become inflamed when the hairs penetrate the skin before they leave the hair follicle or after they leave the For severe, recurring folliculitis, doctors may take a bacterial culture a sample of pus is sent to a laboratory and placed in a culture medium that allows microorganisms to grow.

The results of the culture are used to guide the choice of antibiotic. Folliculitis is treated with antibacterial cleansers or antibiotics that are applied directly to the skin topically. Large areas of folliculitis may require antibiotics taken by mouth. Hot tub folliculitis goes away in a week without any treatment. However, adequate chlorination of the hot tub or whirlpool is necessary to prevent recurrences and to protect others from infection. Folliculitis caused by ingrown hairs is treated by a number of methods with varying success.

Bacterial colonizations and infections of skin and soft tissues: Introduction. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. New York, N. Alexis A, et al. Folliculitis keloidalis nuchae and pseudofolliculitis barbae: Are prevention and effective treatment within reach? Dermatologic Clinics. Rochester, Minn. Jackson JD. Infectious folliculitis.

Compton GA. Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections in older adults. Clinics in Geriatric Medicine. Fraes Diernaes JE, et al. Successful treatment of recalcitrant folliculitis barbae and pseudofolliculitis barbae with photodynamic therapy. Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy. Panchaprateep R, et al. Clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic features of body hair disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Jasterzbski TJ, et al. Pseudofolliculitis cutis: A vexing disorder of hair growth.

British Journal of Dermatology. Laureano AC, et al. Facial bacterial infections: Folliculitis. Clinics in Dermatology. Gibson LE expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Related Hot tub folliculitis Pseudofolliculitis barbae.