Folliculitis Treatment in Bangalore

What is Folliculitis?

Folliculitis is an infection of the hair follicles. It is a very common skin concern taken care of by a dermatologist. It happens when the hair follicles present in the skin pores get clogged with bacteria or yeast. The condition can affect people of any age.

Types of Folliculitis

Folliculitis is majorly of two categories: Superficial and Deep. Superficial folliculitis occurs when only a part of hair follicles gets damaged while deep folliculitis is an under skin infection caused by damage to the whole hair follicle.

Under these two categories, there are several subtypes. The most common types are listed at the top.

Bacterial folliculitis- This is caused by infection of hair follicles with Staphylococcus aureus (Staph) bacteria that normally reside on the skin. It is characterised by a skin rash of itchy, pus-filled bumps. One can get Bacterial Folliculitis Treatment in Bangalore, with the experts at Charma Clinics.
Pseudomonas folliculitis- Also referred to as hot tub folliculitis, this type of bacteria under skin infection can occur from long sitting in a hot tub, going in for heated water slides, or swimming in a heated pool. Such water sources have more chlorine and a pH imbalance. The condition manifests as a rash of itchy, round bumps after 1-2 days of exposure to Pseudomonas bacteria.
Pseudofolliculitis barbae- Commonly known as razor bumps, this is not a folliculitis condition but looks like one. It is the result of ingrown hair, mainly affecting people with curly hair who shave very close to the skin surface.
Pityrosporum folliculitis- This type is caused by the multiplication of the yeast- Pityrosporum/ Malassezia, which naturally is present on the skin. It shows up as an upper body rash of pus-filled, itchy bumps. Mostly, the infected hair follicles appear on the back and chest but can also be seen on the arms, neck, shoulders, and face.
Gram-negative folliculitis- This type of folliculitis is characterised by pus-filled bumps around the mouth and nose. Typically, it occurs when an individual is on a long-term antibiotic course for treating their inflammatory acne.
Eosinophilic folliculitis- This type of folliculitis is mainly seen in HIV/AIDS patients. It shows up repeatedly as intense itchy bumps and pimples that form near the hair follicles of the face and upper body skin.
Furuncles (Boils) and Carbuncles- This is a serious bacterial infection of the hair follicles. Boils are painful, tender bumps, and carbuncles are the groups of several boils.
Sycosis barbae- This type of hair follicle infection is only seen in people who shave. It leads to pus-filled, large bumps that may sometimes leave behind scars.

If one is looking for Bacterial Folliculitis or Infection for Hair Follicle Treatment in Bangalore they can get in touch with dermatologist Dr. Rajdeep Mysore at Charma Clinics. The doctors at the clinic provide treatment for all types of folliculitis infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Folliculitis

The folliculitis symptoms vary for different people based on the type of folliculitis they have and how severe the condition is. Here are the common signs and symptoms of folliculitis:

Clusters of tiny bumps or blisters formed around the hair follicles
Itchy, burning skin
Tender, painful skin
Pus-filled skin blisters that may break open, ooze out, and crust over
Large sites of inflamed skin from which pus leakage may occur.

Benefits of Folliculitis Treatment

Getting bacterial folliculitis treated timely, can help avoid potential complications of the condition. These include recurrent infection, spread of infection, permanent scarring, hair follicle destruction, permanent hair loss, and/or appearance of discoloured skin patches.

Causes and Risk Factors of Folliculitis

Folliculitis is most commonly caused by Staph bacteria that enter the skin through open cuts or wounds. Sometimes, it could be the result of a yeast infection.

Other possible causes and risk factors include:

Ingrown hair
Blockage of hair follicles with extra sebum
Other bacteria such as those found in heated pools or tub
Traditional hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, and plucking of hair
Certain drugs, such as corticosteroids
Have a weak immune system
Wearing tight-fitting clothing, unclean rubber gloves, helmets, or boots that do not cause sweating or heat out
Having acne, especially if on long-term antibiotic course or use of topical steroids
Curly haired-people who shave
Having hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) or dermatitis.

How can Folliculitis be Treated?

Self-care can help treat folliculitis to some extent. But if the condition gets serious, consulting a dermatologist for effective treatment becomes important. The best dermatologist in Bangalore at Charma Clinics usually recommends for following treatments for folliculitis:

Antifungals- Antifungal shampoos, creams, lotions, or pills are prescribed by skin doctors for those suffering from Malassezia folliculitis- a yeast/fungal infection.
Antibiotics- These are prescribed in either topical or oral form for people having bacterial folliculitis.
Steroids- This helps relieve itching in people having eosinophilic folliculitis.
Draining of the infected hair follicle- This is performed in severe cases of folliculitis. A small cut is made into an infected hair follicle to help drain the pus and heal it.
Laser hair removal- If folliculitis is because of traditional hair removal methods, one can go for laser hair removal sessions.

Prevention of Folliculitis

Folliculitis is preventable by following skincare tips:

Keep the skin clean and dry- Daily bath or washing of the skin is necessary to keep hair follicle infections at bay. After washing, it’s recommended to use a personal clean towel or washcloth to pat dry the skin.
Do regular laundry- Use soapy, hot water to wash towels or washcloths and any dirty and greasy clothing.
Refrain from shaving, if possible- Razor bumps can be caused aftershave that appear as folliculitis. One can try other hair removal methods or shave with care.
Avoid putting pressure or friction on the skin- Especially on the skin prone to folliculitis, avoid wearing tight clothing, backpacks for the long term, and helmets that can cause friction and excessive sweating.
Use only clean hot tubs and heated pools- It is important to take bath in a clean, pH-balanced heated water.

Frequently Asked Questions About Folliculitis

1. What body sites are commonly affected by folliculitis?

Folliculitis can happen on any part of the body, as the whole body is covered with hair follicles. However, some of the areas where folliculitis mostly occurs include buttocks, scalp, chest and back, legs, face, and groyne.

2. What are the self-care tips for folliculitis?

At home, people with infected hair follicles can get relief from symptoms by keeping the infected area clean and dry, using salted water to wash the infected area, or trying over-the-counter antibiotics, oatmeal lotions, or hydrocortisone cream. Changing some lifestyle habits, avoiding scratching, popping, squeezing, or breaking open bumps; and applying moist heat can also help.

3. How do skin doctors diagnose folliculitis?

Typically, folliculitis can be easily diagnosed by a skin doctor after a close, comprehensive assessment of the skin and a review of the patient’s medical history. Usually, diagnostic tests are not required. If folliculitis treatment is not working, the skin doctor may do a lab test of the patient’s sore by taking the bacterial culture using a swab or scraping the patient’s infected area and sending it to the laboratory to test for yeast infection. Rarely, a tissue biopsy is ordered to rule out the possibility of other medical conditions.

4. How long does it take for folliculitis to go away?

The time taken to achieve folliculitis-free skin depends upon the type of hair folliculitis one is having and what actions have been taken by one and/or doctor to get rid of it. Mild folliculitis can start to improve within a week or so. However, some cases of stubborn folliculitis may not respond well to a particular treatment or keep recurring. If unsure of what is causing folliculitis, the skin would clear up in a few months.

Request an appointment today!

If you are searching for the best skin expert in Bangalore to treat your folliculitis, look no further!

At Charma Clinic, Dr. Rajdeep Mysore is a top-rated skin doctor, who is a highly experienced expert in treating folliculitis with a variety of affordable, result-oriented treatment options. If you want to undergo folliculitis treatment in Bangalore, contact Dr. Rajdeep Mysore to know and go ahead with the best treatment option.