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Folliculitis is an infection of hair follicles caused by bacteria or fungi. Mild cases can be treated with soap and water, while severe cases may require topical creams, oral antibiotics, or laser treatments. It can occur anywhere on the body, but is more common on the scalp and beard area. Recurring infections can lead to scarring and deep folliculitis.
Folliculitis is a condition involving an infection of the hair follicles. Basically, the infection can be caused by an introduction of bacteria or fungi into the skin around the hair follicle. In most cases, the condition requires little or no attention and will clear up within a short period of time. However, recurring infections could lead to scarring and the development of what is known as deep folliculitis.
In most cases, folliculitis will appear as a small pimple around the base of the hair follicle. The pimple will have a white head, as it is filled with pus. In very mild cases, using soap and water will make the pimple fade away and the body’s immune system will overcome the mild infection within days. With the superficial types of this condition, there won’t be any kind of permanent damage to the skin.
Deep folliculitis is another matter. Along with the infection of the follicles which can be seen from the surface, there is also an infection around the root of the follicle. Deeper inflammation is often accompanied by some degree of pain and will cause the sufferer to want to scratch the infected area.
As folliculitis reaches this deeper stage, treatments other than simple hygiene become necessary. The first course of treatments may involve a topical cream or ointment containing agents designed to kill bacteria or fungi present at the site of inflammation. More severe cases may require the use of oral antibiotics which circulate through the bloodstream and attack the condition from within the body.
In worst cases, laser treatments may be needed to stop the infection from spreading. Laser treatments will effectively kill the follicle and root while also killing bacteria and helping minimize the chances of further scarring. Generally, new hair follicles do not grow in the treated area, making the hair loss permanent.
While the condition can appear anywhere on the body where hair follicles are present, both men and women seem to experience the condition on the scalp more often than the legs or arms. Also, men tend to experience mild folliculitis in the beard area of the face.
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