Folliculitis : Cause, Symptoms & Treatment

Inside your skin is a small cavity where the hair grows. This is known as the hair follicle. Our bodies are covered with hair follicles. These hair follicles are present all over the body except the soles of the feet, palms, and lips. The hair follicles produce oils that are essential to the health of the follicle and the hair.

Folliculitis is a common skin issue where the hair follicle gets a blockage or a bacterial infection. This appears in the form of small red bumps. These bumps may also have a white, pus-filled tip and are accompanied by itching. Hair follicles cover the entire body and this condition mostly affects the head, face, chest, arms, legs, armpits, buttocks, and genitals.

There are many different types of folliculitis, each of which is unique and caused by a different factor. Some of the more common names for folliculitis are barber’s itch, shaving rash, razor bumps, or hot tub rash. Folliculitis appears due to a result of daily activities such as shaving, excessive exercising, or excessive sweating.

Folliculitis may be uncomfortable or itchy. This is a relatively harmless condition that can often be treated by oneself using simple folliculitis treatment at home. If it is severe you should see a doctor. It can affect people of all ages and often has a psychosocial impact. Here we will look at the causes of folliculitis and folliculitis treatment. 

Cause of Hair Follicle Infections

The condition of folliculitis occurs whenever a hair follicle gets infected and suffers inflammation. The infected hair follicle swells under the skin, causing bumps to appear on the skin. Though folliculitis could be happening due to a wide variety of factors, there are some common causes. Generally, if you have damaged hair follicles, the likelihood of folliculitis is more. This can happen due to a variety of activities.

• In most conditions, a kind of bacteria known as Staph Aureus is the root cause. These bacteria are present on your skin all the time. If it enters the body through a cut, it can cause problems.
• Certain kinds of bacteria found in hot tub baths and pools can also cause folliculitis. When the skin is hot and damp, the hair follicles can get damaged and infected much easier.
• Blockages are caused in the hair follicle due to the usage of skin products. Oil and moisturizer accumulation can block the pores.
• Not cleaning up the body properly after engaging in sweaty activities can block the follicles.
• Hair removal through plucking, waxing, or shaving can cause inflammation in the hair follicle resulting in folliculitis.
• Regular shaving especially of curly hair could be causing bumps.
• Ingrown hair can also lead to folliculitis.
• Touching or rubbing the skin frequently can also trigger inflammation of the hair follicle.
• Tight hair braids can cause hair follicles on the scalp strain and inflammation. This may lead to folliculitis.
• Skin conditions such as acne make you more prone to folliculitis.
• An oily scalp can lead to scalp acne which can develop into bumps on the scalp.
• Wearing tight clothes, footwear or gloves does not let the heat and sweat out of the body and can cause folliculitis.
• Clothing that rubs on the skin can cause inflammation to the hair follicles resulting in folliculitis.
• Long-term usage of antibiotics or steroid creams can lead to folliculitis.
• A history of obesity puts you at a greater risk of folliculitis.
• An immune system that is weakened by conditions such as leukaemia, diabetes or HIV is unable to fight the regular infections of the hair follicle thus leading to folliculitis.
• Sometimes skin injuries caused due to cuts or insect bites can lead to folliculitis. Bacteria can spread from an infected wound or cut to nearby hair follicles.

Symptoms of Folliculitis

Folliculitis appears in the form of red swollen bumps that resemble pimples. These bumps may appear to be filled with white material. Sometimes they may be filled with pus. The bumps irritate and you may feel the need to scratch (which should be avoided). If on the scalp, this may cause an itchy scalp. Here one must note that some of these symptoms can be the same as scalp psoriasis. But that condition is different from folliculitis and requires a different course of action.

Mostly, the diagnosis is done by the physical examination of the skin. A swab of the infected skin can be used to test for the kind of bacteria causing the infection and confirm if the condition requires a folliculitis treatment or not. If so, folliculitis treatment is followed.  Rarely, a biopsy may be needed to rule out the possibility of other conditions.