Folliculitis can be both irritating and distressing, often appearing as red inflamed bumps filled with pus that become pus-filled, swollen, or itchy.
Hair removal methods such as shaving, wax epilation and plucking can cause this condition; hot tubs or public baths where bacteria thrives also provide an ideal breeding ground. Furthermore, ingrown hairs may contribute to this issue; most cases resolve within 7-10 days with home remedies or medical intervention.
1. Essential oils
Folliculitis (commonly referred to as razor bumps, shaving rash, hot tub rash and barber’s itch) can be an annoying skin condition that causes red bumps to form on our heads and shoulders. Folliculitis is caused by hair follicle infection wherein tiny pockets where individual hair grows become inflamed or infected and rupture, leaving an unsightly red bump or what looks like white-headed pimple-like marks which take time and effort to heal; in severe cases scarring may result.
Folliculitis can occur anywhere on the body, but is most frequently found in areas with thicker hair such as beard areas, armpits or bikini lines. It’s caused by damage to hair follicles due to excessive shaving, waxing or tight clothing – and left untreated it can turn into painful itchy crusty sores that won’t heal over time.
Sometimes folliculitis will clear up on its own or with home care alone; for others it may require medical intervention and advice from a board-certified dermatologist in order to properly identify type and severity. A dermatologist will also help discuss self-care measures you’ve implemented prior to visiting their office and offer treatments accordingly.
Your health care provider may recommend an over-the-counter antibacterial lotion or gel for mild bacterial folliculitis, and may prescribe antibiotic pills, steroid cream, or sulfa drug to control the infection. In cases involving pseudomonas bacteria – commonly found in hot tubs and swimming pools where chlorine levels and pH levels aren’t strictly managed – your health care provider may suggest an eczema ointment or sulfa ointment as treatment.
Laser hair removal is an extremely effective treatment for folliculitis, as it kills off any bacteria causing inflammation and reduces the size of pores to help prevent them from becoming blocked or inflamed again in the future. At PureMD MedSpa, our light-based treatments target hair follicles specifically and kill infection to help eliminate not only current symptoms but also any chances of future flare-ups.
2. Waxing
Folliculitis is a prevalent skin condition that attacks hair follicles on your body, often manifesting as red, inflamed pimples or pus-filled bumps which are both uncomfortable and itchy, leading to dark spots or hyperpigmentation, scaring, dark spots or darkening of certain areas, scarring as well. While topical treatments may help alleviate symptoms temporarily and clear an infection more effectively than ever, removing hairs responsible is the only sure way of eliminating folliculitis once and for all.
Waxing may be just what is needed. Waxing is a gentle way to remove hair that causes your folliculitis; unlike shaving or epilating which can damage hair follicles and leave them susceptible to infection, waxing removes the root-level hair without damage to its roots – helping prevent future infections while leaving skin looking smooth and feeling healthy.
Laser treatment may also help remove hair that causes folliculitis. Laser hair removal uses a beam of light to destroy hair follicles without harming surrounding skin – which may help decrease breakouts and stop new hairs growing back into damaged follicles. This can reduce breakouts and stop future growth in damaged follicles.
Laser treatments may be particularly useful in treating folliculitis as they kill off the bacteria responsible for inflammation. Furthermore, this therapy reduces pore sizes which makes them less prone to becoming blocked or inflamed – providing an ideal way of permanently eliminating this condition. This solution may provide those looking to rid themselves of this bothersome condition an effective long-term solution.
If you have folliculitis, consult with your physician regarding treatment options that best suit your condition. They may prescribe anti-itch creams or ointments; suggest self-care methods; recommend lotions or gels that contain antibiotics to manage your symptoms until the infection clears up; in severe or chronic cases they may prescribe oral antibiotics as well.
3. Laser hair removal
Laser hair removal is an effective solution to both prevent and treat folliculitis. This procedure works by applying heat directly to hair follicles, forcing them to cease producing hair production altogether. As this does not impact surrounding skin tones, laser hair removal makes for a safe treatment option for people with darker complexions.
Laser surgery is also one of the best ways to prevent future outbreaks of folliculitis outbreaks, as its light destroys problem hair follicles without harming any surrounding skin tissue or bacteria, thus decreasing chances of future infections and helping relieve symptoms more effectively.
If you’re fed up with treating your folliculitis with topical treatments that only address its symptoms and not its source, Milan Laser’s Light-Based Treatments (BBL) and ClearScan ALX could offer long-term solutions that eliminate inflammation caused by your condition and clear away any infections associated with it.
To get the most from your laser treatment, it is recommended that at least four weeks prior to beginning it you avoid shaving, waxing and plucking in the area you will be treated. In addition, any use of sunless tanners or hair removal creams that could hinder its effectiveness must also be avoided in order for optimal results from laser therapy treatment to take place.
While receiving laser treatment, you may experience mild side effects like red or pink skin or itching that typically last no more than two to three days and are perfectly normal.
Laser hair removal offers the promise of permanently eliminating unwanted body hair, including red bumps, pimples, and ingrown hairs that diminish confidence. Get in touch with us for a free consultation to learn how this treatment could benefit you – you won’t be sorry!
4. Depilatory creams
Folliculitis is a condition in which hair follicles become inflamed. While infection may be the root cause, shaving, tight clothing or excessive sweating may also irritate it. While it may affect all parts of the body where hair grows, it typically impacts facial, neck and chest areas most.
Folliculitis appears as red, inflamed pimples or white-headed bumps around one hair follicle and usually clears up within several days; however, severe cases can leave itchy, crusty sores that do not heal and leave scarring behind. Most often it is caused by bacterial infections; other triggers include shaving tight clothing, sweating excessively or experiencing skin injuries.
Some cases of folliculitis require professional dermatological care in order to be managed successfully, particularly those caused by antibiotic treatment for acne. Folliculitis that develops as a side effect of these drugs can result in boils or carbuncles which are much larger and more painful than regular pimples; left untreated they can burst and drain, leaving behind deep pitted scars in their wake.
Health care providers may need to make small cuts into a boil or carbuncle to drain any pus accumulation and relieve pain while hastening healing time and decreasing risks of scarring. This approach may provide quick relief and hasten recovery while decreasing scarring risks.
If your folliculitis outbreak does not improve with home care alone, contact PureMD MedSpa to set up an appointment with one of their board-certified dermatologists. They can assess what caused it and suggest an effective solution – be it laser hair removal or any other solution – which will not only make you feel better but will help prevent future breakouts as well. Contact us now and arrange your consultation!
