Mild cases of folliculitis usually go away without intervention or require homecare; however, serious folliculitis cases may require professional medical intervention to resolve.
Folliculitis often manifests itself in painful, red, pus-filled bumps with trapped hairs inside. Though not contagious, bacteria, fungus or viruses may infiltrate these bumps and infect them further.
Causes
Folliculitis is a painful skin condition characterized by red bumps that resemble pimples or boils and is sometimes itchy and painful. The source may be an infection or irritation to hair follicles; further aggravation could come from shaving, waxing or other methods of hair removal; shaving products; certain medications or medical conditions (hyperhidrosis; excessive sweating; psoriasis; rosacea; diabetes or HIV/AIDS could all play a part).
If you suffer from folliculitis, it is important to know that most cases clear up within 7-10 days. If the condition doesn’t resolve itself in this timeframe, however, consult a dermatologist for an examination – they may swab the area to identify bacteria-induced infections before asking you about your medical history and performing physical exams as part of their comprehensive assessment process.
Laser hair removal treatments may help reduce folliculitis in legs, arms, bikini line, back, or underarms and help avoid ingrown hairs that trigger it. Unfortunately, however, laser treatments cannot prevent head or facial folliculitis or inflammation of hair follicles caused by medical conditions like psoriasis or diabetes; laser treatments may therefore not be the appropriate way of dealing with them.
Folliculitis treatment options also include over-the-counter anti-itch creams and warm compresses, which should be applied several times each day to the affected area. Products containing 1% hydrocortisone may be particularly helpful.
For severe cases of folliculitis, doctors might suggest an oral antibiotic or surgically drain the boils or carbuncles through drains in either hospital or office settings. It’s wise to refrain from picking or popping pimple-like bumps as doing so could aggravate and worsen the condition further. Also avoid shaving areas where folliculitis has occurred as this may aggravate its spread.
Symptoms
Folliculitis is an inflammation of hair follicles that results in red spots with pustules (bubbles). The red spot may be itchy, painful, or tender and appears anywhere where hair grows on skin such as scalp, armpits, beard area, legs. Over time it can block hair follicles with dead cells. Folliculitis may resolve itself without treatment while other times worsens and requires medication, laser treatments, or therapies such as alternative medicine therapies or physical therapies for treatment.
Treatment options depend on the severity and symptoms of folliculitis. Mild cases of folliculitis and boils may go away on their own or with over-the-counter medication such as antibacterial cleaners for the affected area, an anti-itch cream to ease itching, warm cloth compresses to ease pain, or antibiotic ointment or cream that kills bacteria; for large boils/carbuncles/carbuncles a health care provider can lance them to reduce pain, speed healing, prevent scarring while alleviating pain/speed healing while speed healing/speed healing while speed healing/preventing scarring/scarring/scarring/scarring scarring/scarring scarring/scarring scarring/scarring/scarring scarring/scarring scarring/scarring/scarring occurs due to its size/location within.
Folliculitis treatment involves refraining from shaving the affected area until your follicles have fully recovered, or at least using razors that don’t cause irritation in order to shave in the direction of hair growth if necessary (you could also try an electric razor for even less friction on the skin). If folliculitis is due to fungal infection, however, medication either orally or intravenously (IV) could help.
Chronic buttock folliculitis that hasn’t responded to traditional treatments could benefit from permanent hair reduction using laser therapy, while this could also aid pseudofolliculitis barbae – the form that affects men.
To prevent folliculitis, personal hygiene and loose-fitting clothing should be top priorities. When bathing and showering, use only mild soap; regularly wash towels and washcloths without sharing; avoid tight-fitting or abrasive clothing; use lotions that don’t clog pores as part of keeping skin hydrated; don’t share towels and washcloths between people.
Treatment
Folliculitis–also referred to as razor bumps, hot tub rash or shaving rash–is an infection of hair follicles which can be extremely irritating and cause itching, redness, scaly bumps and pus-filled sores. Left untreated it can spread across larger parts of the body leading to more painful and longer-term infections.
Most cases of mild folliculitis resolve themselves within a week or two without treatment, but severe infections may require medical intervention to relieve symptoms and prevent future outbreaks.
Folliculitis treatment options vary according to its severity and cause, from changing shaving techniques and anti-itch creams, or applying warm compresses, to prescribing antibiotic lotions, gels or pills for control.
Hair removal is another popular treatment option for folliculitis as it removes unwanted hair while at the same time eliminating infected follicles. Laser hair removal can be safely applied on all skin tones, being significantly faster and less painful than electrolysis – no downtime after treatment required either!
One study demonstrated that pulsed diode laser therapy for pseudofolliculitis barbae resulted in dramatic clinical improvements, including significant papule and pustule reduction and hair growth delays for skin phototypes I to IV patients. Furthermore, all participants tolerated the treatment safely and found it satisfactory.
Laser hair removal offers a safe and effective method for eliminating folliculitis by permanently disabling hair follicles, thus preventing future outbreaks by rendering these unwanted or infected follicles incapable of growing any more hair or infected strands. If you want to learn more about how laser hair removal could help relieve red bumps and irritation with permanent solutions contact us now to set up a free consultation and we can tailor a treatment plan tailored specifically to your skin tone and hair color to end this embarrassing and infuriating condition
Prevention
Mild cases of folliculitis typically clear up on their own, while more persistent or chronic cases may require treatment with topical ointments or medication that address hairs themselves as the source.
Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to combat folliculitis from returning. By dissolving hair follicles so they cannot regrow back, this treatment destroys bacteria that could latch onto them and lead to infections.
Laser treatments offer faster hair removal than electrolysis; typically lasting less than 30 minutes as opposed to several hours for electrolysis sessions. Furthermore, they don’t produce as much discomfort than painful acne extractions.
To reduce the risk of folliculitis after laser hair removal, it’s essential to adhere to all aftercare instructions. This includes wearing quality sunscreen and not touching the treated area excessively. In addition, any products which darken skin tone should also be avoided along with clothing which won’t chafe against it.
Avoid shaving, waxing and plucking the affected area to give hair time to grow naturally and may help clear an infection. Chronic folliculitis caused by Staphylococcus bacteria or fungal infections may require antibiotics or antifungals for treatment.
Laser therapy not only removes unwanted hair but can also help thin out those that do grow back, decreasing their size and lessening folliculitis by keeping them within their follicle.
Folliculitis can be an embarrassing skin condition that makes you self-conscious of your appearance, but with preventive measures in place you can rid yourself of this embarrassment and enjoy smooth and healthy-looking skin without those pesky bumps! For more information about how laser hair removal may be beneficial in treating folliculitis book an appointment to receive a consultation immediately!
