Folliculitis is a very common condition that many people experience throughout their lifetime. If you notice small red bumps on your arms, legs, face or back and start to experience uncomfortable symptoms (pain, fluid drainage, fever), reach out to your healthcare provider. It can look similar to acne and be uncomfortable or itchy. Folliculitis often has a psychosocial impact because of its appearance. There are many different types of folliculitis — each one unique based on the cause, the infectious organism and its impact on the skin. Folliculitis can happen as a result of daily activities like shaving, getting in a hot tub, and excess sweating from exercise or outdoor work

You can have folliculitis anywhere on the body that has hair. Common places include your:

• Face.
• Arms.
• Upper back.
• Lower legs.

Folliculitis is usually diagnosed during a physical exam with your healthcare provider. This can be done during an appointment and in most cases, you do not need to see a skincare specialist. Your primary care physician is usually able to diagnose folliculitis and provide a treatment plan. In certain, severe or persistent cases, an appointment with a dermatologist is recommended.

In some more severe cases, your provider may refer you to a dermatologist for additional tests to make sure your folliculitis isn’t another medical condition. One test that can be done is a biopsy. This is a test where a small sample of your skin is removed and then taken to a lab where it’s studied.

Treatment options for folliculitis depend on the type of folliculitis you have and it’s severity. Certain types may need more aggressive types of care, while others may go away with little to no treatment. If your folliculitis is mild, it can sometimes be treated at home. There are several ways you can care for your irritated skin, including:

• Using antibacterial cleansers to clean the skin. This will limit the amount of bacteria on your skin.
• Applying warm towels to your irritated skin to sooth the discomfort.
• Using anti-itch creams.

In many cases, you can work to prevent folliculitis or manage it by changing your lifestyle habits. Folliculitis infections usually involve bacteria and yeast entering your hair follicles. By changing some parts of your normal self-care routine, you can limit the amount of infectious material in your hair follicles.

A few tips for preventing folliculitis include:

• Keeping your skin clean.
• Limiting shaving.
• Checking the chemical disinfectant levels of hot tubs and heated pools before using them. The warmer a pool or hot tub, the faster the chemicals will fade away — making them less effective against bacteria.
• Washing off and removing your swimsuit when you get out of a hot tub or pool.
• Wearing breathable clothing to keep sweat from getting trapped between your clothes and skin.

Folliculitis is a very common condition that many people experience throughout their lifetime. If you notice small red bumps on your arms, legs, face or back and start to experience uncomfortable symptoms (pain, fluid drainage, fever), reach out to your healthcare provider. Folliculitis can often be cared for at home and doesn’t require a trip to your healthcare provider’s office, but if you do have any concerns it’s best to call your provider.

Hair Therapy & Transplantation is an Open Access peer-reviewed publication that discusses current research and advancements in diagnosis and management of kidney disorders as well as related epidemiology, pathophysiology and molecular genetics.

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Regards

Anabell Rose

Editorial Assistant

Hair Therapy & Transplantation