Treating Folliculitis
What is Folliculitis?
The disease Folliculitis is an infection or inflammation of the hair follicles caused by bacteria. This is otherwise known as Pseudofolliculitis barbae, Barber’s itch or Tinea barbae. These infections mostly affect the top portion of the follicle. Folliculitis might cause itching but is hardly painful. It can occur on the face, thighs, scalp, groin and legs. Both men and women can be affected by this.
Folliculitis looks like a lump that is small and yellowish with narrow red rings; sometimes pus with blood oozes out of this. This occurs because of friction due to clothing, follicle blockage or shaving. The bacterium associated with this is staphylococcus and is contagious. You could infect another person if you have folliculitis. Barber’s itch is an infection of the beard hair follicles by bacterium staphylococcus.
What causes Folliculitis?
• Living conditions being crowded/ dirty.
• Tight clothing.
• Eczema.
• Association with oils, grease, and tar.
• Dermatitis
• Sweating and heat.
What are Folliculitis symptoms?
The symptoms for folliculitis depend on the infection type. Common symptoms are as follows:
• Normally present in groin, genital lesion or neck axilla.
• Red rash.
• Itching on the skin.
• Hair follicles have pustules or pimples.
How to treat Folliculitis?
Normally folliculitis should disappear in 2 to 3 days; however, treatment is required if it persists. Bacterial folliculitis might vanish without any treatment, but to appear again. Nonprescription medicines such as Bacitracin, Neomycin and Mycitracin might clear folliculitis pustules.
The following treatments can be given:
• Do not shave infected area until it heals. If it persists, you might require oral/ topical antibiotics.
• Folliculitis that occurs due to bacteria in the hot tub normally does not require any treatment; the doctor might prescribe medicine to stop the itching.
• For treatment of fungal folliculitis, drugs such as griseofulvin as well as topical antifungal medication should be prescribed.
• For widespread infection, take erythromycin.
• For fighting infection, Zinc 30 to 50 mg and Vitamin C 1,000 to 5,000 mg can be used.
How to prevent Folliculitis?
• Wear loose clothing made of cotton to minimize friction.
• Clean the bathtub regularly by adding chlorine. Do not bathe in commercial tubs unless they are well maintained.
• Use antibacterial soap to clean the affected area.
• Use electric razor or new blade for shaving; avoid nicks and cuts. Women should consider using depilatories.
Write a Comment