Folliculitis

A suppressed immune system
Exposure to bacterial infection
Having other skin conditions, especially those that cause a lot of itching
Shaving against the direction of hair growth
Use of contaminated hot tubs, poorly maintained swimming pools, or contaminated lakes
Exposure to oils and chemicals
Overuse of medications applied to the skin

Symptoms

Folliculitis may cause:

Itchy, red rash
Appearance of crusty sores that do not heal
Pus-filled blisters around the hair follicle

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Diagnosis may be made by looking at your skin. Testing will help your doctor determine the type and cause of the folliculitis. Other tests may be done to rule out specific skin or health conditions.

Tests may include:

Culture—a swab of an open area to look for infections
Smear—a sample an open area is smeared onto a glass slide to be looked at under a microscope
Analysis of affected hair
Biopsy of affected skin
Blood tests

Treatment

In most cases, folliculitis is treated with medication. The type of medication depends on the cause of the folliculitis. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment option for you.

Medications

Infectious folliculitis may be treated with:

Topical or oral antibiotics for bacterial infections
Topical or oral antifungal medications for fungal infections
Oral antiviral medications for viral infections
Topical or oral antiparasitic medications for parasitic infections

Non-infectious folliculitis may be treated with:

Topical corticosteroids
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Prevention

To help reduce your chances of folliculitis:

Be aware of, and avoid exposure to chemicals, especially at work.
Avoid shaving against direction of hair growth.
Use proper hygiene and handwashing techniques.
Clean and maintain pools and hot tubs on a regular basis.

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Dermatology
https://www.aad.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Dermatology Association
https://dermatology.ca

Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

REFERENCES:

Folliculitis. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology website. Available at: http://www.aocd.org/?page=Folliculitis. Accessed September 27, 2017.

Folliculitis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T115802/Folliculitis. Updated September 17, 2015. Accessed September 30, 2016.

Hot tub rash (Pseudomonas dermatitis/folliculitis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/swimmers/rwi/rashes.html. Updated May 4, 2016. Accessed September 27, 2017.

Luelmo-Aguilar J, Satandreu MS. Folliculitis: recognition and management. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2004;5(5):301-310.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Marcie L. Sidman, MD Last Updated: 9/25/2014

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