Folliculitis is an inflammation or infection of the hair follicles on the skin. It is characterized by:
- papules (raised skin lesions),
- Pustules (for example, red pimples with a central, white dot or pus vesicles) on the surface.
It can occur in children and adults.
Folliculitis can:
- superficial or
- be deep-seated.
It affects hairy zones, for example:
- Head
- Breast
- Back
- Buttocks
- Arms
- Legs
- groin (pubic bone).
Acne is a disease other than folliculitis, it affects the sebaceous glands and hair follicles.
These follicles clog and the sebum accumulates under the skin.
Contents
Types of folliculitis and their causes
Folliculitis caused by bacteria
Bacteria that often provoke folliculitis include:
Staphylococcus aureus Bacterial folliculitis is often caused by Staphylococcus aureus
.
If the infection affects the deep parts of the follicle, a painful boil develops.
Recommended treatment includes:
- careful hygiene,
- antiseptic cream,
- antibiotic ointment
- oral antibiotic treatment.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Whirlpool folliculitis is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium lives in non-chlorinated, warm water.
This type of infection mainly affects:
- Legs
- Buttocks
- Flanks.
Gram-negative bacteria
Gram-negative folliculitis is a pustular rash on the face caused by an infection with:
- Escherichia coli
- Serratia marcescens,
- Klebsiella
- Proteus mirabilis.
Acne treatment is usually done with tetracyclines or other antibiotic treatments, but it is quite rare.
Viral folliculitis
Herpetic folliculitis is provoked by the herpes simplex virus.
It occurs after or during a cold sores episode. The infection spreads to the hair follicles located in this area, causing folliculitis with pustules and redness.
Folliculitis caused by fungi
Tinea Bartmycosis (tinea
barbae) is one of the most common causes of folliculitis in men.
It is an infection caused by the fungus Trichophyton rubrum.
The fungus hits the beard follicles and causes pustules on:
- Upper lip
- Chin
- Kiefer.
Die Bartmykose verschlimmert sich nach dem Rasieren.
Die Behandlung besteht in der Einnahme von Antimykotika über mehrere Monate.
Follikulitis durch Hefen
Malassezia-Hefen
Der Hefepilz, der am häufigsten eine Follikulitis verursacht, ist Pityrosporum ovale (Malassezia).
Die Malassezia-Follikulitis ist eine akneähnliche Erkrankung mit Juckreiz an:
- Rücken,
- Oberkörper (Brust),
- Hals.
Diese Infektion trifft vor allem Heranwachsende und Jugendliche.
Die Behandlung besteht in:
- Feuchtigkeitscremes
- Antimykotische Salben
- Orale Antimykotika
Candida albicans Folliculitis can also be caused by Candida albicans
.
Candida folliculitis hits:
- Face
- Breast
- Shoulder.
This infection often occurs in patients before performing cortisone treatments.
Irritable folliculitis on legs and face
The irritable folliculitis or folliculitis due to depilation can occur during hair regrowth after hair removal by epilation and wax treatment.
It is not caused by bacteria or other infectious substances.
The inflammation is caused by the hairs that grow under the skin (ingrown hairs).
Irritable folliculitis occurs:
- in areas of the beard,
- on the legs (rash after shaving),
- in armpits,
- in the groin.
It usually causes severe itching on the skin.
Groin and legs must not be shaved for a few weeks until healing.
One should change the depilation method and limit shaving
Folliculitides as a contact reaction
Closure of hair follicles
Ointments based on paraffin, moisturizers and patches can lead to non-infectious folliculitis.
If a moisturizer is needed, choose a product that does not contain oil.
Avoid tight clothing, as this could cause folliculitis by:
- blockage of the follicles,
- Friction: the hair can break off and then grow under the skin.
Chemical products
Tar coal, some mineral oils and other chemical substances can cause irritable folliculitis. Contact with the harmful products must be avoided.
Eosinophilic folliculitis
Eosinophilic folliculitis can mainly affect people with a weakened immune reaction, e.g. who suffer from viral infections such as the human immune deficiency virus (HIV) or cancer.
Folliculitis caused by pharmaceuticals Folliculitis can be provoked by medications
, first of all:
- corticosteroids (cortisone acne),
- contraceptive pill,
- psychiatric medication,
- drugs for tuberculosis: isoniazid,
- vitamins of the B group,
- protein kinase inhibitors – they almost always provoke folliculitis; these include: imatinib and sunitinib.
Topical corticosteroids
Abuse of cortisone-containing ointments leads to side effects such as folliculitis.
Other substances that can
cause folliculitis Perioral dermatitis is folliculitis of the face, triggered by substances such as the fluorine contained in toothpastes and cortisone ointments.
Perioral dermatitis is treated by stopping the use of the potentially responsible product. The doctor may prescribe tetracyclines (antibiotics) for about two weeks.
Folliculitis with inflammatory skin disease
Some inflammatory diseases of the skin can lead to constant hair loss and scarring due to deep, non-infectious folliculitis.
Among them are:
1. lichen planus 2. lupus erythematosus
discoides
3. folliculitis decalvans
Folliculitis decalvans of the scalp
The folliculitis decalvans:
- is a form of alopecia (hair loss) that leaves scars;
- is caused by the growth of multiple hairs from the same hair follicle.
It is characterized by:
- reddening of the skin,
- Swelling
- Pustules around the hair follicles (folliculitis).
The result is destruction of the follicles and permanent hair loss.
The exact cause is unknown. In most cases, Staphylococcus aureus can be isolated in the pustules, but the role of bacteria is unclear.
Folliculitis on the buttocks
Folliculitis, which affects the gluteal region, is relatively common, but often its cause is not known.
Folliculitis of the buttocks affects men and women equally.
Acute folliculitis in the buttocks area is initially bacterial (like boils).
As a result, pustules and painful, red papules form.
Treatment of folliculitis on the buttocks
The boils are treated with antibiotics.
Chronic folliculitis in the buttocks area does not cause significant symptoms, but can persist for a long time.
Medications that may be helpful for folliculitis on the buttocks include:
- antiseptic drugs,
- local treatments for acne,
- skin-peeling agents such as alpha-hydroxy acid peeling,
- long cycles of application with antibiotic tablets,
- Isotretinoin.
These treatments are not always effective.
Hair removal can be useful, provided the affected area is hairy.
- Folliculitis: therapy and natural remedies
- Psoriasis of the scalp and face
- Seborrheic eczema on the scalp and face
