Folliculitis Treatments Mild folliculitis might go away without any treatment. To help yourself heal and ease symptoms, you can: Clean the infected area: Wash twice a day with warm water and antibacterial soap. Be sure to use a fresh cloth and towel each time.
There are many things you can do to prevent folliculitis or keep it from spreading. Bathe or shower daily with a mild soap. Also, bathe or shower after you exercise and after you work around chemicals. Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, or other personal items.
Gently wash the infected skin at least twice a day with an antibacterial soap or cleanser, such as benzoyl peroxide. Use a clean washcloth and towel each time and don't share your towels or washcloths.
What is the treatment for scalp folliculitis? The scalp affected by folliculitis should be washed with a mild normal shampoo as often as desired. Antidandruff shampoos containing antifungal agents such as ketoconazole or ciclopirox are sometimes helpful.
Sometimes, when Malassezia gets into the hair follicles, it can cause an itchy condition that looks like an acne breakout. It usually occurs on the upper chest and back. This form of folliculitis is made worse (aggravated) by sweat.
Tea tree oil, neem oil, geranium oil, grapefruit seed oil are very effective in treating folliculitis. Tea tree oil can be added to your shampoo, lotion or body wash. Rub it gently onto the affected area and let it sit. Before using it do a patch test to make sure there are no adverse reactions.
In fact, most mild cases of folliculitis improve with home care. There are two home remedies that are best for folliculitis: a soap wash and a warm compress. A soap wash is exactly what it sounds like–a good scrub with soap and water. You should clean affected areas twice a day with warm water and soap.
The rash appears as small red bumps or pus bumps that can itch or be mildly painful. Folliculitis is common on the buttocks, arms and legs - especially the thighs. Most improve in 7 to 10 days. Sometimes after the rash is gone, dark marks can be left behind.
Benzoyl peroxide is an antiseptic that confers not only antibacterial effects but also keratolytic effects, which cause the skin to dry and peel (Kawashima 2017). Systemic antibiotics can directly inhibit or kill the pathogenic bacteria causing folliculitis and boils.
It may be helpful to use a moisturiser (emollient) which contains an antibacterial agent - for example, Dermol® cream or lotion or Emulsiderm®. This will improve the condition of the skin and soothe it. It may help the folliculitis to clear more quickly and reduce the risk of it becoming worse.
You get folliculitis when you damage your hair follicles. Once damaged, it's easy for germs to get inside the follicles and cause an infection. A common source of infection is Staph aureus, which is found on our skin. Other organisms on our skin can also cause an infection.
Left untreated, folliculitis will continue to spread and worsen. Our immune systems are equipped to deal with infections like these quickly, but if your immunity is overwhelmed or compromised, the infection will take over without intervention.
Most cases of folliculitis are completely curable. There are very uncommon, long-standing cases of folliculitis that may not be curable. Often these more resistant cases may be controlled with proper treatment and medication. Folliculitis sometimes clears completely by itself without treatment.
They may take a swab of the infected skin to test for which bacteria or fungus is the cause of the folliculitis. In rare cases, a doctor may order a skin biopsy to exclude the possibility of other causes.
Warm Saltwater Compresses
Folliculitis can frequently generate hot swelling and irritation. A warm compress with a clean hand towel soaked and strained in saltwater can kill off topical bacteria and fungus and help the irritated skin relax, providing relief.
Ultraviolet (UV) light therapy is used to help decrease inflammation on the skin. UV light treatments are only used to treat certain types of folliculitis.
Some research suggests that avoiding foods made with wheat can ease your symptoms. Give up the grease. Unhealthy fats, low-fiber foods, and processed products can all lead to flare-ups.
Bathe or shower daily with a mild soap. Also, bathe or shower after you exercise and after you work around chemicals. Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, or other personal items. If you have folliculitis, use a clean washcloth and towel each time you bathe.
Our results suggest that an excessive intake of dietary fatty acids predisposes the skin to development of neutrophilic folliculitis. This occurs by induction of follicular hyperkeratinization and activation of follicular keratinocytes, which may be a direct consequence of the altered amount of fatty acids in the skin.
Antibacterial soap: Use antibacterial bar soaps such as Dial® or Cetaphil®. Use skin washes that contain benzoyl peroxide.