Folliculitis - Causes, Signs & Symptoms, Complications & Treatment

Summary

Folliculitis is the inflammation of hair follicles, often caused by a bacterial infection. There are two main types - superficial, which is restricted to the upper follicle, and deep, which extends into the surrounding skin. Symptoms include small red bumps and pustules, sometimes with drainage, pain and itching. While folliculitis is usually not serious, recurrent deep infections can lead to scarring, abscesses or permanent hair loss. Treatment depends on severity, ranging from proper hygiene to topical antimicrobials to oral antibiotics for more stubborn cases.

Takeaways

• 😀 Folliculitis is inflammation of hair follicles, often caused by bacterial infection
• 🧐 Can involve superficial folliculitis (infundibulum only) or deep folliculitis (dermis involved)
• 🤔 Common locations are face, scalp, thighs, axilla, buttocks and groin
• 😟 Can cause discomfort, pain, pus, drainage, scarring and permanent hair loss
• 😣 Persistent deep infection can lead to serious complications like cellulitis or sinus tracts
• 🤨 Superficial folliculitis causes small papules and pustules around hairs
• 😱 Deep folliculitis causes larger, fluctuant, inflamed nodules
• 💊 Treatment options range from hygiene and topicals to oral antibiotics
• 😅 Most cases are uncomplicated and resolve with simple measures
• 😃 Recurrent or severe cases may require more aggressive treatment

Q & A

What is folliculitis?

Folliculitis is simply the inflammation of hair follicles, which is associated with itching and sometimes pain and discomfort.

What commonly causes folliculitis?

Folliculitis is commonly caused by a bacterial infection in the hair follicles, usually by a bacterium. However, other pathogens like viruses, fungi, and parasites can also cause folliculitis.

What are the two main types of folliculitis?

The two main types of folliculitis are: 1) Superficial folliculitis, which is restricted to the upper part of the follicle. 2) Deep folliculitis, which involves both the upper part of the follicle and the surrounding dermis.

Where on the body is folliculitis most common?

Folliculitis most commonly affects hairy regions of the body including the face, scalp, thighs, axilla, buttocks and groin area.

What are some symptoms of superficial folliculitis?

Symptoms of superficial folliculitis include multiple small papules and pustules on an erythematous (reddened) base. There may also be itching and discomfort.

What are some symptoms of deep folliculitis?

Symptoms of deep folliculitis include reddened, swollen nodules that may drain pus. There is often pain and sometimes suppuration.

How can folliculitis be treated?

Uncomplicated folliculitis can be treated with good hygiene, washing with antibacterial soap, and warm compresses. More severe cases may require topical antibiotics or oral antibiotics.

What complications can occur with persistent folliculitis?

Complications from persistent, deep folliculitis infection can include scarring, cellulitis, sinus tract formation, and permanent hair loss.

Is folliculitis serious?

Although folliculitis does not usually cause serious health complications, persistent deep infection can lead to scarring and permanent hair loss.

What prevents folliculitis?

Proper hygiene, like washing regularly with antibacterial soap and avoiding skin trauma, can help prevent bacterial infection that causes folliculitis.

Outlines

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😷 Overview of folliculitis

This paragraph provides an overview of folliculitis, defining it as inflammation of hair follicles associated with itching, pain and discomfort. It outlines the common causes including infections, trauma, and occlusion. The two main types - superficial and deep - are explained along with their key differences in terms of tissues involved and symptoms. Typical presentation, affected body areas, complications, and standard treatment approaches are also covered.

Keywords

💡folliculitis

Folliculitis refers to the inflammation of hair follicles. This is the main subject of the transcript. It provides an overview of what folliculitis is, its causes, types, symptoms, complications and treatments.

💡inflammation

Inflammation is the immune system's response to infection or injury. The inflammation of hair follicles is the defining trait of folliculitis. It manifests with redness, swelling, pain, etc around the infected follicles.

💡infection

Folliculitis is most commonly caused by bacterial infection within the hair follicles. Other causes mentioned include viruses, fungi and parasites. Preventing and treating infection is key to managing folliculitis.

💡superficial

Superficial folliculitis affects only the upper part of the hair follicle. Deep folliculitis affects the entire follicle and surrounding skin tissue, and is more severe.

💡lesions

In folliculitis, lesions refer to the visible manifestations like small red bumps or pus-filled pimples around hair follicles. The presence of lesions helps identify and diagnose folliculitis.

💡scarring

Recurring or persistent deep folliculitis can cause permanent scarring of skin tissue and hair follicles, leading to permanent hair loss. Preventing recurrence is important.

💡antimicrobials

Antimicrobial agents like antibacterial soaps, topical ointments, and oral antibiotics help eliminate the infection causing folliculitis and resolve inflammation.

💡complications

Complications of severe folliculitis mentioned include scarring, cellulitis (bacterial skin infection), sinus tracts, and permanent hair loss. Prompt treatment prevents complications.

💡treatment

The transcript discusses various treatment options for folliculitis based on severity - from hygiene measures, to topical agents, to systemic antibiotics.

💡pathogens

Pathogens refer to disease-causing microorganisms. Bacteria are the most common pathogens causing folliculitis. But viruses, fungi and parasites can also lead to hair follicle inflammation.

Highlights

Folliculitis is inflammation of hair follicles associated with itching and sometimes pain

Commonly caused by bacterial infection in hair follicles, but can also be viruses, fungi, or parasites

Two types: superficial (restricted to follicle) and deep (involves surrounding dermis)

Superficial presents with small papules and pustules on an erythematous base around each follicle

Deep folliculitis has tender, fluctuant nodules and sometimes suppuration and scarring hair loss

Can occur in any hairy region but more common on face, scalp, thighs, axilla, buttocks and groin

Doesn't usually cause serious complications but deep infections can lead to scarring and sinus tracts

Treatment of mild cases may just require washing with antibacterial soap and good hygiene

Warm compresses and topical antimicrobials can help more inflamed lesions

Oral antibiotics indicated for more stubborn lesions

Additional causes include trauma to follicles and occlusion

Patients complain of itching and discomfort

Recurrent lesions cause permanent scarring and hair loss

Persistent infection causes complications like scarring, cellulitis, sinus tracts

Proper hand washing techniques may help treat uncomplicated cases

Topical antimicrobials combined with warm compresses can treat inflamed lesions

Transcripts

folliculitis is simply the inflammation

of hair follicles which is associated

with paritis and sometimes pain and

discomfort it is commonly caused by an

infection in the hair follicles usually

by a bacterium however other pathogens

like viruses fungi and parasites can

also cause folliculitis additional

causes include trauma to hair follicles

and occlusion there are two types of

folliculitis superficial and deep

superficial folliculitis is restricted

to the infundibular aspect of the

follicle by contrast deep folliculitis

involves both the infundibular aspect

and the surrounding dermis people with

superficial folliculitis present with

multiple small papules and pustules on

an erythematous base each lesion

contains a central hair although it may

not be visible always patients will also

complain of associated paritis and

discomfort individuals with deep

folliculitis will have thematus often

fluctuant nodules pain is often present

and sometimes there is a suppurative

drainage recurrent or long-standing

lesions will cause scarring and

permanent hair loss folliculitis can

affect any hairy region in the body

however they are more common in face

scalp thigh axilla buttocks and inguinal

area although folliculitis does not

cause serious complications persistent

deep infection can cause scarring

cellulitis sinus tract formation and

permanent hair loss as for the treatment

of uncomplicated folliculitis washing

the lesions with antibacterial soap and

adhering to proper hand washing

techniques may be adequate for more

inflamed lesions warm compresses with or

without topical antimicrobials may be

indicated for more refractory lesions

oral antibiotics can be given