Folliculitis – causes, complaints and therapy


Folliculitis (hair follicle inflammation)

In the folliculitis It is a painful inflammation of the hair follicle, which is mostly caused by bacteria (staphylococci) or fungi. As a result of folliculitis Small, reddened nodules and pustules filled with pus form on the affected area of ​​the skin.

Table of Contents

What is a folliculitis (hair follicle inflammation)?

The superficial folliculitis or follicle inflammation affects only the outer part of the hair follicle, while the deep folliculitis extends to the entire hair follicle. In most cases, however, it is the superficial variant.

The folliculitis can occur in all hairy regions of the body, except only the palms and palms. Adolescents in adolescence and hormonal changes are more affected by seborrhea and folliculitis than the elderly. Men in turn develop folliculitis more often than women.

causes

For example, if the bacteria increase in excessive sweating, seborrhea, or acne, the skin is closed by dead skin cells and sebum. This in turn provides a fertile breeding ground for the settlement and multiplication of bacteria.

But also an immunodeficiency or diabetes can be the trigger for a folliculitis. Another cause may be the use of greasy ointments and creams that clog the pores and promote the inflammation of the hair follicle. In areas where sweaty skin is covered with tight clothing, folliculitis is more likely to develop than unclothed skin.

When to the doctor?

If skin blemishes or pimples appear on shaved areas after a shave, these are often symptoms of inflammation of the hair follicle. In many cases, the shaving technique has changed or the materials used were dirty. Usually no visit to the doctor is necessary because the blemishes completely regress within a few hours or days.

If pimples or tissue changes over a large area on the body, a doctor’s visit is advisable. In addition, a doctor should be consulted if there is an increase in symptoms or the intensity of the symptoms becomes stronger. If the person suffering from the changes, a doctor’s visit is generally necessary. Swelling of the skin or an itching are also medically clarified. If open wounds occur, a good wound care must take place, since a blood poisoning threatens.

If the wound can not be adequately treated, consult a doctor. For skin redness, painful areas on the body or an abscess, a doctor should be consulted. In many cases, skin blemishes are obscured by human hair. A visit to a doctor is only necessary if it comes to bleeding or due to the symptoms impairments in coping with everyday life occur. Persistent sleep disturbances or emotional distress due to the visual blemish are reasons that should lead to a doctor’s visit.

Symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of a pharyngitis:

First, there is a slight inflammation of the hair follicle, which can grow into a painful, filled with pus nodules. Often folliculitis is not limited to a hair follicle, adjacent hair follicles are also inflamed, so that larger areas of skin with itchy or painful nodules and pustules can be observed. Typical of folliculitis is that the center of the pustules is pierced by a hair. In general, folliculitis is a harmless condition that only needs to be treated if the inflammation spreads to the entire hair follicle or a boil or abscess forms.

diagnosis

The diagnosis of folliculitis is relatively simple. The doctor can determine the inflammation by looking at the affected hair. It is also possible a microscopic examination of the nodule contents on various bacteria and fungi. The doctor will then exclude other underlying conditions such as diabetes, acne or immunodeficiency. If the cause of the inflammation is found, a targeted therapy is initiated.

complications

In most cases, there is no serious complication or discomfort caused by the hair follicles. Usually, this disease also heals on its own again, so that treatment by a doctor is usually not necessary. In most cases, those affected suffer from small pustules that settle directly on the hair follicles. These can lead to relatively unpleasant feelings and thus reduce the quality of life of the patient.

Furthermore, it can also lead to pigmentation on the skin. Scarring usually does not occur due to the hair follicle inflammation. In a slight inflammation, it usually comes to an independent healing. Furthermore, the complaints can also spread to the patient’s beard.

The treatment of the pharyngitis does not lead to further complications and is carried out with the help of various ointments and creams. Likewise, antibiotics can also be taken. Other complaints do not occur. The life expectancy of the patient is not reduced or limited by the hair follicle inflammation.

Treatment and therapy

Small inflammatory foci can be treated by drying and disinfecting measures. If the folliculitis is on the hairy head, antiseptic shampoos are enough to quench the inflammation. At other parts of the body, the inflammatory sites can be disinfected with alcohol and treated with antibiotic ointments.

If it has been found by microscopic examination that fungi are involved in the inflammatory process, an ointment with antibiotic and antifungal ingredients can also be used. If the inflammation has already spread to a larger area of ​​the skin, oral antibiotics should also be considered.

To strengthen the immune system, plant extracts from Echinacea or Umckaloabo as well as vitamin supplements can contribute. For example, warm compresses with chamomile tea or calendula on the affected areas also bring relief.

Very important is a thorough body hygiene, so that the inflammation by smear infection can not extend to other body regions. If a folliculitis has developed in the beard area (also known as beard lichen), the wet shaver should not be used during the healing process, in order not to additionally irritate the hair follicles and to avoid an expansion of the inflammation.

The dry shaver must also be disinfected after each use. Under no circumstances should the pustules themselves be squeezed, as this may aggravate the inflammation and lead to the formation of boils and abscesses. If several boils are found on a limited area of ​​the skin, this is called a carbuncle, which develops very rarely. Carbuncle and boils need to be surgically opened and removed. Thereafter, a treatment with antibiotics to bring the inflammation to subside.

prevention

The prevention of folliculitis consists mainly in the regular and thorough hygiene of the body, especially the hairy body parts. Anyone who tends to inflammation of the hair follicles, should pay attention in the summer on a light and loose-fitting clothing. Skin areas where you sweat heavily, can be kept dry with body powder and thus prevent inflammation. To strengthen the immune system, a vitamin-rich diet and healthy lifestyle is recommended.

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  • Furter, S., Jasch, K.C .: Crash Course Dermatology. urbane & Fischer, Munich 2007
  • Dirschka, T., Hartwig, R., Oster-Schmidt, C. (ed.): Clinical Guide Dermatology. urbane & Fischer, Munich 2010
  • Ellsässer, S .: body care and cosmetics. Springer, Berlin 2008
  • Abeck, D .: Common skin diseases in general medicine: clinic, diagnosis, therapy, Springer Verlag, 2nd edition, 2011
  • Check, D. & Cremer, H .: Common Skin Diseases in Children: Clinic – Diagnosis – Therapy, Springer Verlag, 3rd edition, 2006

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What experiences and tips do you have about folliculitis (hair follicle inflammation)??

Comments and experiences from other visitors

Trixi commented on 27.02.2016

I have been having this hair follicles dark for about 15 years now. No doctor takes this for full and everyone just says I should give a cream on it and good. Which cream says nobody. Initially, the boils were removed three times. The healing process was painful and lasted about 6 weeks. Then I did not get an appointment so quickly to have the next boil removed. He matured very fast and burst and ran out. I have everything cleaned, connected and healed. Was not so painful and lasted about 3 weeks. After that, I was never with the doctor again, because I always felt like I was bothering the doctor with this bagatelle. In the meantime, I have these boils or carbuncle going through. Sometimes in one place, another in the other place. But never completely go away. Are now partially walnut sized. The secretions range from pus in yellow and green to dark red flaky blood and bright red blood to whitish and watery fluid. Everything smells very unpleasant. Since all this happens in the crotch area, there is no more intimate life. What can I do to get rid of this at last??

Husana commented on 18.04.2016

I have had scalp inflammation for 5 months. Whether it is a folliculitis, I do not know. For two months I have relied on doctors with similar experiences as Trixi. Then I felt very ill. Inflammation over the entire scalp, unbearable itching, severe headache, earache, weakness throughout the body, etc. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to order antibiotics (doxycyline, amoxcillin did not help me) and after some self-attempts, I came across Allicin Liquid from England. I fill it in a spray bottle. I also use Lactel and Tannosynt Lotio or Tannosynt liquid diluted with water and applied by means of a spray bottle. Unfortunately, the allicin is very expensive and 250 ml are enough for me max. 14 days. I can see a little improvement every week now. My experience is that the inflammation spreads more and more, if it is not treated and if the body is weakened, it explodes. With all my heart I wish you, dear Trixi, a speedy recovery and that you find something that will help you.

Andrea commented on 05.07.2016

I have had folliculitis on my head for a year now. I now have a job at the top of my head where I have no hair at all about 10 × 10cm. I suffer a lot from it. It was first treated with Betnesol® Crinal 0.1% and then with Advantan Milk. Both bring nothing. I am desperate. If this continues, I will soon be out of hair.

Klkn commented on 19.10.2016

I had these purulent hair infections for years and no doctor could help. In January 2016, I started with a self-invented health diet for weight loss. This contained no artificial crystalline sugar, many fruits and vegetables, fish and little meat and leads to a monthly weight loss of 1 kilo, so since January 8 kilos.
An astonishing consequence was that, by the way, the inflammations went back and shrank. As soon as I got a hunger attack for sweets and ate chocolate, cake or similar, the inflammation came back after a maximum of 3 days. I have tried this again several times, and after two to three days again the old problem. I can eat fruit, such as grapes, apples, figs, etc., as much as I want, but definitely not sweetened with sugar, not even honey; The diet should be done first once every two months.
I’m interested in if it helps others too.

edllaw commented on 19.04.2017

Since my shoulder surgery in Oct 2016, I am suffering from a pharyngitis. Very bad under the armpits, in the groin both sides and in a belly fold, which has formed after 3 abdominal OP`s. The itching brings me to despair. My dermatologist prescribed zinc ointment and a light cortisone ointment (which I can not take anymore). Now I’m supposed to take micro silver from Hans Karrer Hydrocreme. At the moment I have no quality of life any more, because this is already more than 1/2 year and no improvement can be seen yet. Do you have any advice? I greet you kindly.

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