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Folliculitis is an inflammation and infection of hair follicles, the tiny openings in the skin from which hair grows. Folliculitis is due to an invasion of bacteria that enter the follicles and cause a bacterial infection. Folliculitis is most commonly the result of an infection of staphylococcal bacteria. This causes inflammation and a red rash that is bumpy and itchy. The rash can occur anywhere on the skin or scalp.
The body tries to attack the bacterial infection by sending white blood cells (infection fighting cells) to the infected follicles. This can result in the formation of pus-filled blisters. In some cases folliculitis can lead to the development of a boil. For more information on complications and symptoms, refer to symptoms of folliculitis.
Folliculitis is often caused by an infection that occurs after shaving, waxing, tweezing and other types of hair removal methods. Folliculitis can also be caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which may be growing in hot tubs that are not properly maintained.
Making a diagnosis of folliculitis begins with taking a thorough medical history, including symptoms, and completing a physical examination. Folliculitis can generally be diagnosed based on symptoms, history of hair removal or hot tub use, and a physical exam.
It is possible that a diagnosis of a folliculitis can be missed or delayed because some symptoms, such as a skin rash are similar to symptoms of other diseases of conditions. For more information about misdiagnosis and diseases and conditions that can mimic folliculitis, refer to misdiagnosis of folliculitis.
Treatment of folliculitis varies depending on the severity of the folliculitis and other factors. Mild cases may require no treatment. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of folliculitis. ...more »
Folliculitis: Inflammation of one or more hair follicles on any part of the skin including the scalp. The condition may result in scarring or hair loss. Folliculitis occurs when bacteria enters a follicle that has suffered some sort of trauma or injury such as where clothing rubs against the skin. ...more »
Symptoms of folliculitis include a red rash that is bumpy and itchy. The rash can occur anywhere on the skin or scalp. Pus-filled blisters may also form.
In some cases folliculitis can lead to the development of a boil. Symptoms of a boil include a lump or swelling that forms under the skin. The lump and nearby area is painful, swollen, red, and inflamed and can feel hot to ...more symptoms »
The first step in treating folliculitis is preventing it occurrence. Prevention includes maintaining hot tubs appropriately in the proper pH and using the right amount of chlorine. This ensures that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa do not grow in the water, which can get into follicles and cause an infection. In some cases it might be recommended that a person ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of folliculitis may be delayed or missed because some symptoms, such as a skin rash, can mimic symptoms of other diseases and conditions. These include acne, diaper rash, heat rash, contact dermatitis, allergic reaction, scabies, measles, chickenpox, pubic lice, and rubella. ...more misdiagnosis »
Read more about complications of Folliculitis.
More information about causes of Folliculitis:
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Folliculitis:
Hair and scalp disorders misdiagnosed in African Americans: A higher than average percentage of misdiagnoses of hair or scalp disorders seem to occur in African Americans....read more »
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The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.
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Inflammation of follicles, primarily hair follicles. - (Source - Diseases Database)
Inflammation of a hair follicle - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
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