Bacterial Folliculitis

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles that is caused by exposure to a virus, fungi or by bacteria accessing the skin. This bacterial infection can either be superficial folliculitis or deep folliculitis affecting the whole hair follicle. If the condition does not resolve itself quickly, a visit to the doctor is advisable.

Bacterial folliculitis symptoms vary between individuals, depending upon the severity of the infection. If the infection is superficial, red bumps appear at the hair follicle, with the surrounding area becoming inflamed. In some cases, these bumps can become pus-filled blisters. In the deeper forms of the infection, large areas of infection form under the skin surface. These deep pustules can crust over at the surface as well as causing pain.

If the hair follicles are damaged, bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus may gain entrance and instigate the infection. Typical causes of follicle damage include friction from shaving and existing skin conditions such as acne. Risk of infection can be increased due to old age, weak immune system or obesity.

In order to make a proper diagnosis, a visit to the doctor is important.  A culture from the pus may be needed to identify the correct antibiotic treatment. This can come in either pill form or a topical cream to apply to the skin.

Unfortunately, complications such as hair loss or cellulitis may occur in some instances, so prevention of a bacterial infection should be the way forward.

Antibiotics are not the preferred choice for many people these days, with many choosing the more natural approach to treatment.

Discover More About Natural Folliculitis Treatment Here

Eosinophilic Folliculitis

Folliculitis is a skin complaint marked by severe inflammation of the hair follicle. One type of deep folliculitis is termed Eosinophilic Folliculitis, which occurs to a large extent in those people that suffer human immunodeficiency virus, commonly referred to as HIV. If eosinophilic folliculitis symptoms become evident, it is essential to seek professional medical advice for treatment.

As for symptoms, sufferers will usually develop red skin lesions, normally filled with pus, across the shoulders, back and face. These lesions can spread quickly across the affected skin, and can be extremely painful and uncomfortable. They can appear intermittently throughout the life of the patient. Medical advice may lead to the prescription of either antifungal or antibiotic treatment as a method of controlling the skin lesions in some patients.

Many affected patients describe the skin lesions caused by eosinophilic folliculitis as extremely itchy. This is obviously very irritating, as frequent scratching can often lead to the bursting of the pus-filled lesions, greatly raising the risk of further skin infections. In all cases where intense itchiness is experienced, medical attention should be sought, as it could possibly signal other possible skin ailments or infections.

Another eosinophilic folliculitis sympton is the darkening of the skin around the skin lesion area as they begin to heal. This symptom is called hyperpigmentation. Although this may subside after a few months, in some cases, the skin discoloration is permanent, which can be very distressing and embarrassing to some patients, especially if it arises across the face or neck. Once again, if this problem occurs, professional medical advice can provide more information concerning treatment.

Click Here For More Folliculitis Treatment Information

Folliculitis Causes And Treatment

Folliculitis is a skin condition that can affect just about anywhere on the skin area, although it mostly  develops on the legs, chest and back. It appears as an inflammation of the skin following an infection of the hair follicles. Typically, this is caused by a form of fungus or bacteria, with the most common infection caused by Staphylococcus.

Many people think that folliculitis happens as a result of ill health or dirtiness, but this is untrue. In fact, it is possible for very fit and healthy people to suffer from the complaint. Although the cause is a fungal or bacterial infection, those people who shower often and consider themselves relatively clean, can still suffer. The clear conclusion that can be drawn from this fact is that cleanliness does not necessarily prevent folliculitis.

Although the condition is relatively minor, the overall reaction of sufferers is one of general discomfort, with the associated itching and scratching possibly leading to scarring if left untreated. Many sufferers have feelings of embarrassment and low self-esteem, aspects of the condition that should never be underestimated and should be handled with appropriate sympathy.

The traditional cause of folliculitis is some form of irritation of the hair follicles. Shaving or the wearing of tight clothing, which causes friction or uses abrasive action, are examples of sources of irritation that agitate the follicles, leading to infection and increased irritation. Heat can often aggravate the problem in some areas of the body such as the groin.

The typical diagnosis preocedure is a simple physical examination by a doctor. Folliculitis symptoms may result in an uncomfortable, itchy feeling, appearing as a rash or red spots. These spots can become very tender, becoming similar in appearance to pimples with white heads. In many cases, these will seep pus, crust over and form a yellow scab.

Standard folliculitis treatments will not totally eliminate the problem, but only tackle the symptoms in order to provide relief. The particular type of treatment given will depend on whether the infection is fungal folliculitis or bacterial folliculitis.

Prescription drugs commonly used, with good results, for bacterial folliculitis treatment include antibiotic ointments and creams that contain mupirocin or neomycin. Fungal folliculitis treatment will probably consist of an anti-fungal cream containing econozole nitrate. Other drugs can be taken orally, but the topical creams are usually preferred because they tend to provide quicker results.

A more general, tried and tested treatment may include the application of a warm, damp compress to soften the affected area which assists the drainage of the follicles. A topical antiseptic cream or treatment should also be applied in order to clean and purify the follicles.

However these are not the only folliculitis treatment options available. There are many instances of sufferers curing their condition for good, by choosing a more natural approach to their folliculitis treatment, eliminating the need for drugs.

Which would you prefer?