One of the most uncomfortable, embarrassing, and stressful aesthetic problems you may encounter is folliculitis. What is folliculitis? By glancing at a few folliculitis pictures or images, you will see that it looks like a form of acne, herpes, or some bacterial problem that makes your skin break out. To sum up, medical specialists define folliculitis as the inflammation or infection of the hair follicles everywhere in the human body.
Forms of Folliculitis
This means you can develop folliculitis on your scalp, genital/pubic area (penis, scrotum or groin for men, vagina or vaginal area for women), leg or legs, armpit, buttocks, nasal area, or face. It is quite a common condition; even dogs can develop it (a dog or canine folliculitis). Some forms of folliculitis include:
- Pityrosporum Folliculitis (also known as Malassezia or fungal folliculitis – due to yeast overgrowth)
- folliculitis decalvans (or scalp folliculitis / tufted folliculitis that involves severe scars and causes hair loss)
- eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (associated with HIV)
- Pseudo folliculitis barbae (ICD 9 code 704.8)
- staphylococcal or staph folliculitis
- gram negative folliculitis
- pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis (also known as hot tub folliculitis)
- herpetic folliculitis
- pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy
Symptoms
Among the symptoms of folliculitis, you can experience a mild itch, a burning sensation, and, of course, the characteristic little red pimple-like bumps. The causes can be: shaving, profuse sweating, wearing tight-fitting clothing, Demodex mite infection, going into a swimming pool or hot tub that has not received proper chlorine treatment, having HIV or diabetes, having a wounded area infected, or wearing makeup, name a few of the factors that can cause folliculitis.
Eosinophilic folliculitis
Eosinophilic folliculitis is characterized by inflammation and itchy papules or pustules that typically occur on the scalp, face, and upper body. While the exact cause of eosinophilic folliculitis is not fully understood, it is believed to be associated with an abnormal immune response.
This means it can often be an emotional or dietary underlying issue. Of course, if you already have a disease like HIV or diabetes, that would be the number one cause of your abnormal immune response. Stress can potentially trigger or exacerbate skin conditions, including eosinophilic folliculitis. Incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine, such as practising relaxation exercises, meditation, or engaging in activities you enjoy.
Is It Contagious?
If you have acquired this condition, you probably ask yourself, “Is folliculitis contagious”? Usually, folliculitis is not contagious, but the infection might be spread by sharing a hot tub or a razor. The good news is that various forms of folliculitis treatment are available. So you can get rid of those nasty little pimples. Antibiotics are available for treating and curing even the worst cases of chronic or recurring forms of folliculitis.
While you can consider purchasing an over-the-counter antibiotic deep cream or antibacterial shampoo from your local drugstore for superficial treatments, we have prepared a list of the best natural home remedies for folliculitis that can do your body a world of good. If you put a store-bought treatment vs a natural remedy, you will almost always notice that the latter does wonders for your health. So don’t panic when you see a scary image or picture of folliculitis on eMedicine; cures and forms of prevention are available. Try them out, and let us know if your folliculitis was cured!
1. Avoid Untreated Hot Tubs / Swimming Pools
Like swimming pools, hot tubs, or whirlpools that have not been adequately treated with chlorine are one of the leading causes of folliculitis, it is natural that one of the most relevant tips for preventing and treating this condition is avoiding them. Make sure that if you have to get into a hot tub or swimming pool it is professionally treated with chlorine. Nevertheless, if you have the possibility, stay away from them altogether.
2. Loose Clothing
Tight clothing is a leading cause of skin irritation and resulting in folliculitis. This might also be because of an adverse reaction to your detergent. You should avoid it as much as possible and use ecological detergent. Instead of leggings, tight jeans, lacey undergarments, or other materials that could irritate your skin. Opt for loose clothing that will not suffocate your body. You will feel infinitely more comfortable, and your skin will be clean and folliculitis free.
3. Change Bedsheets Often
Remember what we said about personal hygiene being imperative for folliculitis healing? One of the best ways to achieve flawless hygiene is to change your bed sheets as often as possible. By often, we mean that even daily, if possible. Though a lot of work, think about all the sweat, dust, and dirt particles in your sheets every night. Your skin constantly rubbing against it for hours on end. Think twice and consider this remedy.
4. Oregano Oil
One of the most celebrated oils regarding folliculitis is oregano oil. You can carry out this home remedy on an internal and topical level. Combining it with jojoba oil is said to have the best effects. On top of that, you can try is pure tea tree oil. Though oregano oil seems like the most popular solution in this category.