A detailed look at folliculitis, the casual little disease that means infected hair follicles.
Folliculitis is the medical term for “infected hair follicles“, a problem that is a lot more common than you might think! It’s a skin condition that affects just about everyone at some point or another, and if you’re not careful, it can lead to serious problems–including hair loss.
Essentially, it’s a lot of pin-point red bumps or dots around your skin. Some of the dots may actually develop pus. They look a lot like pimples, but the pus is darker and NOT the result of too much skin oil. Instead, the pus is accompanied by angry red inflammation of the follicles, and it’s a slightly darker color–thanks to the bacteria, yeast, or fungi causing the infection.
You’d be amazed at how many things can cause the problem of infected hair follicles:
- Damaged hair follicles
- Bacterial or fungal skin infection
- Clothes that are too tight or rub against your skin
- Shaving
- Makeup
- Machine oils
- Excessive sweat
Basically, anything that increases bacteria on the skin and/or causes damage to the hair follicles will increase your risk of folliculitis. However, you may be at an even greater risk if you fit one of the following categories:
- You have an infected cut, scrape, or wound
- You suffer an immunity-reducing condition, such as diabetes or HIV
- You wear tight clothes often
- You spend time in a hot tub or swimming pool that is NOT treated with chlorine (to keep out bacteria)
- You work with motor oil, tar, or creosote
- You regularly apply thick cosmetics like cocoa butter, foundation, etc.
All of these things increase your risk of developing an infection and/or damaging the hair follicles. Is it any surprise that you’re more susceptible to infected hair follicles?
READ MORE: 11 Ways to Increase Scalp Circulation
Thankfully, most cases of folliculitis are very minor, and VERY treatable. There are many simple remedies you can use to deal with the infected hair follicles:
Salt water — Drop a couple of tablespoons of salt into a pitcher of water, and use the water to wash the infected area. The salt will be a potent antibacterial agent that will kill off the infection.
Antibacterial lotion — There are many antibacterial skin lotions that can help to deal with the bacteria causing the infection. While antibacterial soap focuses more on the infection itself, an antibacterial lotion also helps to soothe and moisturize the skin–leading to faster healing.
Warm compress — If the skin is itching badly, use a warm, wet towel to apply heat and moisture to the area. You’ll find that this can reduce the redness and itching, making it easier to get on with your day.
How can you prevent your hair follicles from getting infected in the first place? It’s a lot easier than you think:
- Shave with shaving cream or soap to reduce the risk of irritation or razor burn.
- Keep your skin moisturized and hydrated.
- Keep your immune system healthy by doing regular exercise, eating well, and getting a good balance of vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid clothes that are too tight, or which rub against your skin. Wear loose clothes that are comfortable.
- Avoid clothes that are wet with sweat or water. If you sweat a lot, change your shirt and/or underwear two or three times per day.
- Keep your wounds, cuts, or scrapes sterile. Prevent infections by keeping the injuries covered.
- Make sure your hot tub or pool is properly sterilized using chlorine. This will reduce the risk of not just infected hair follicles, but many other types of infections.
Take care of your skin, and you’ll never have to worry about infected hair follicles again.
