Folliculitis Overview
Learn About Folliculitis
Folliculitis is inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It can occur anywhere on the skin.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae; Tinea barbae; Barber's itch
Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged or when the follicle is blocked. For example, this may occur from rubbing against clothing or shaving. Most of the time, the damaged follicles become infected with staphylococci (staph) bacteria.
Barber's itch is a staph infection of the hair follicles in the beard area, usually the upper lip. Shaving makes it worse. Tinea barbae is similar to barber's itch, but the infection is caused by a fungus.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a disorder that occurs mainly in African American men. If curly beard hairs are cut too short, they may curve back into the skin and cause inflammation.
Folliculitis can affect people of all ages.
Common symptoms include a rash, itching, and pimples or pustules near a hair follicle in the neck, groin, or genital area. The pimples may crust over.
Warm, moist compresses may help drain the affected follicles.
Treatment may include antibiotics applied to the skin or taken by mouth, or an antifungal medicine.
University Of Miami
Puneet Masson is an Urologist in Miami, Florida. Dr. Masson and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Folliculitis. His top areas of expertise are Testicular Failure, Male Pseudohermaphroditism with Gynecomastia, Eunuchoidism Familial Hypogonadotropic, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and Ureteroscopy.
University Of Miami
Robert Marcovich is an Urologist in Miami, Florida. Dr. Marcovich and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Folliculitis. His top areas of expertise are Kidney Stones, Perirenal Abscess, Urinary Tract Infection in Children, Ureteroscopy, and Prostatectomy. Dr. Marcovich is currently accepting new patients.
Rachel Braunstein is a Radiologist in Miami Beach, Florida. Dr. Braunstein and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Folliculitis. Her top areas of expertise are Visceromegaly, Folliculitis, Boils, and Carbuncle. Dr. Braunstein is currently accepting new patients.
Folliculitis often responds well to treatment, but it may come back.
Folliculitis may return or spread to other body areas.
Apply home treatment and contact your provider if your symptoms:
- Come back often
- Get worse
- Last longer than 2 or 3 days
To prevent further damage to the hair follicles and infection:
- Reduce friction from clothing.
- Avoid shaving the area, if possible. If shaving is necessary, use a clean, new razor blade or an electric razor each time.
- Keep the area clean.
- Avoid contaminated clothing and washcloths.
Published Date: October 20, 2022
Published By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Bacterial infections. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach, MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 14.
James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach MA, Neuhaus IM. Diseases of the skin appendages. In: James WD, Elston DM, Treat JR, Rosenbach, MA, Neuhaus IM, eds. Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 33.