Gram-negative folliculitis is a severe type of inflammatory
acne, which typically occurs after lengthy use of antibiotics as treatment for
acne.
When this inflammatory acne outlasts the treatment or even
becomes worse, the conditions are right for gram-negative folliculitis to
arise. Following this resistance to antibiotic treatment, the body becomes
immune to the antibiotics, eventually resulting in a form of acne, even more
severe than the original attack. In fact, 4% of those people that develop
inflammatory acne will end up with gram-negative folliculitis.
As mentioned, gram-negative folliculitis is caused by a
bacterial infection that is resistant to antibiotics, and usually arises
following a prolonged, unsuccessful course of antibiotic treatment for acne.
When tests are carried out on these bacterial infections, samples are subjected
to a process called gram staining. Most bacteria, such as the gram-positive
facial bacteria flora, will stain blue in the test, but the bacteria
responsible for gram-negative folliculitis does not. The use of certain
antibiotics for a long time causes bacterial interference, effectively meaning
that the gram-positive bacterial flora is replaced by gram-negative bacteria,
which thrive in the nasal cavities and mucous membranes.
The following are some of the people who are more prone to
developing gram-negative folliculitis:
-
those who have prolonged, unsuccessful antibiotic
treatment for acne
-
people with severe seborrhoea
-
those with HIV/AIDS
-
acne rosacea sufferers
-
users of hot tubs or jacuzzis, contaminated with the
pseudomonas bacteria
-
those with ear infections caused by pseudomonas bacteria
Gram-negative folliculitis is relatively rare, but it can
cause considerable physical, emotional and self-esteem issues, but it does not
have to be permanent. With the right treatment, this skin disorder can be
beaten.
