What Is It?

Folliculitis is a surface inflammation of the hair follicle on the body's skin. It may occur anywhere on the skin, but it is most commonly distributed on the face, neck, buttocks, and thighs. Folliculitis can also be found in the beard area, known as barber's itch or pseudofolliculitis and sometimes on the scalp along the front hairline with small, very itchy rash like pustules (small blisters with pus inside). Folliculitis skin infections primarily affect younger adults.

Folliculitis appears as small, round and slightly elevated pus-filled pimples or pustules that form around the hair follicles, located in the center of each lesion. The affected areas often cause mild discomfort as the infected lesions become swollen and tender. Itching is common and often the biggest complaint.

What Causes It?

Many different types of organisms cause folliculitis. The most common causes are:

• Bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus are the most common bacteria that cause folliculitis and is referred to as staphylococcal folliculitis.
• Yeast: Pityrosporum ovale is the most common yeast to cause folliculitis. It is an itchy acne-like infection that is referred to as pityrosporum folliculitis.
• Fungi: Fungal folliculitis is caused by a fungus and is contagious.

Other causes include injury or damage to the hair follicle by friction from tight clothing, by blockage of the hair follicle, or by shaving.

What Can Be Done?

Treatment will depend on the type of organisms or injury causing folliculitis. Most cases are mild and can be managed with a good skin cleansing regime using a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil antibacterial bar or Phisoderm daily with your bath or shower. The cleanser may cause some dryness, which can be treated with a gentle moisturizer such as Cetaphil lotion. More extensive treatments include topical antibiotics or antifungal creams. Topical medications are sometimes used in combination with oral antibiotics or oral antifungal medications for optimal results. Antihistamines may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and itching.

Helpful Tips:

• Take daily warm (not hot) showers once or twice a day.
• Avoid heat and leisure activities which cause sweating such as aerobics or jogging.
• Avoid shaving when possible, if necessary use a new razor blade or electric razor.
• Wear loose clothing to prevent friction and irritation of the hair follicles.
• Avoid contact with oily emollients, cream-based sun tan oil, tar and grease products.
• Wear clean clothes daily to reduce the chances of reinfection.

Persistent folliculitis can be treated successfully with the Altus™ Hair Removal System by eliminating the hair follicles that cause chronic infections. The Altus™ Hair Removal System produces an intense light source that targets the pigment in hair follicles. The pulsed light source quickly delivers energy to the roots of the hair follicle disabling active hair growth thus reducing the chances for further infections.

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