Folliculitis

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Folliculitis
Isolated folliculitis.jpg
Folliculitis, single lesion
Specialty Dermatology

Folliculitis is the infection and inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on hair-covered skin. The rash may appear as pimples that come to white tips on the face, chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, or head. [1]

Contents

Although acne can often involve superficial infection and inflammation of some hair follicles, the condition of those follicles is usually not called folliculitis, as that term is usually reserved for the separate set of disease entities comprising infected and inflamed hair follicles with causes other than acne.

Signs and symptoms

Histopathology of folliculitis of unknown cause, with giant cells surrounding a hair follicle Histopathology of granulomatous folliculitis.jpg
Histopathology of folliculitis of unknown cause, with giant cells surrounding a hair follicle

Complications

This condition can develop into a more severe skin condition, such as cellulitis or abscess. [1]

Causes

Most carbuncles, boils, and other cases of folliculitis are infected with Staphylococcus aureus . [1]

Folliculitis starts with the introduction of a skin pathogen to a hair follicle. Hair follicles can also be damaged by friction from clothing, an insect bite, [2] blockage of the follicle, shaving, or braids that are very tight and close to the scalp. The damaged follicles are then infected by Staphylococcus spp. Folliculitis can affect people of all ages.[ citation needed ] Iron-deficiency anemia is sometimes associated with chronic cases.[ citation needed ]

Bacterial

Fungal

Mites

Viral

Noninfectious

Treatment

Most simple cases resolve on their own, but first-line treatments are typically topical medications. [1]

  1. Topical antiseptic treatment is adequate for most cases.
  2. Topical antibiotics, such as mupirocin or neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin ointment may be prescribed. Oral antibiotics may also be used.
  3. Some patients may benefit from systemic narrow-spectrum penicillinase-resistant penicillins (such as dicloxacillin in the US or flucloxacillin in UK).
  4. Fungal folliculitis may require an oral antifungal such as fluconazole. Topical antifungals such as econazole nitrate may also be effective. [1]

Folliculitis may recur even after symptoms have gone away.[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pseudofolliculitis barbae</span> Medical condition

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot tub folliculitis</span> Medical condition

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fungal folliculitis</span> Inflammation of hair follicles due to fungal infection

Majocchi's granuloma is a skin condition characterized by deep, pustular plaques, and is a form of tinea corporis. It is a localized form of fungal folliculitis. Lesions often have a pink and scaly central component with pustules or folliculocentric papules at the periphery. The name comes from Domenico Majocchi, who discovered the disorder in 1883. Majocchi was a professor of dermatology at the University of Parma and later the University of Bologna. The most common dermatophyte is called Trichophyton rubrum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sycosis vulgaris</span> Medical condition

Sycosis vulgaris is a cutaneous condition characterized by a chronic infection of the chin or bearded region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irritant folliculitis</span> Medical condition

Irritant folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicle. It characteristically presents with small red bumps in the skin at sites of occlusion, pressure, friction, or hair removal; typically around the beard area in males, pubic area and lower legs of females, or generally the inner thighs and bottom. An associated itch may or may not be present. Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a type of irritant folliculitis in the beard area.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Winters RD, Mitchell M (18 September 2019). "Folliculitis". Folliculitis in StatPearls. StatPearls. PMID   31613534.
  2. "NHS Direct". 19 October 2017.
  3. MedlinePlus Encyclopedia : Hot tub folliculitis
  4. "Severe Acne: 4 types". American Academy of Dermatology. Archived from the original on February 9, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2010.
  5. Folliculitis, follicular mucinosis, and papular mucinosis as a presentation of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Rashid R, Hymes S. Dermatol Online J. 2009 May 15;15(5):16.