Folliculitis is simply the inflammation of the hair follicle. The complicated part is that the follicles can beget inflamed due to various things. It’s one of those skin conditions that is not acne but may look like it.

Cousins of Acne

Why is this so? Acne is characterised by the presence of red and flamed skin that usually has either papules or pimples. As the condition grows more severe, the patient develops pustules that could even turn into nodules or deep cysts.

Acne is a caused by excess secretion of oil or sebum by the sebaceous glands or oil producing glands in the hair follicles of the skin. When the oil builds up and bacteria grow in the follicle, it results in inflammation and infection of the follicle.

Causes of Folliculitis

But all inflamed hair follicles are not caused by acne or excess sebum in the skin. Folliculitis can result from a variety of factors but is basically caused either by bacteria or fungus in the hair follicle.

It can be ether superficial or skin-deep or take place deep inside the skin. The inflammation and infection gives rise to pus boils of different sizes and severity, ranging from simple pimples to large lesions with several openings from which pus drains.

There are different kinds of bacteria that cause folliculitis but the most common is straphylococcus aureus.

Under the simplest of circumstances, follicles can get infected when they are damaged by wearing clothes that are tight, as a result of an insect bite or even from wearing one’s hair pulled back too tightly in a pony tail or plait.

What is Barber’s Itch?

Barber’s Itch is a skin disease that occurs when the hair follicles become infected trough the razor. This could also result in ingrown hair, which infects the follicles.

But there’s a disease that resembles Barber’s Itch but is not the same.  Caused by the fungus T rubrum, it is called tinea barbae and manifests itself in the bearded area on the face.

Patients experience large and ugly lesions on the face and they are usually farm workers who are in contact with animals.

Herpetic folliculitis occurs when the herpes simplex virus infection spreads to nearby hair follicles, usually around the mouth, and is typically found in patients with AIDS.

Hot Tubs and Spas

Let’s take a look at Hot Tub Folliculitis, which is a rather serious kind of condition that is caused by infected water in hot tubs or spas that are used by multiple people. It is caused by bacteria called pseudomonas.

Gram-negative folliculitis is rare but it can also surface in patients who have been consuming antibiotics for certain kinds of acne.

Then there’s also oil folliculitis due to regular contact with oils and road tar. It is typically present among refinery workers and mechanics. A word of caution for the beauty-conscious: Oil folliculitis can also be precipitated by some kinds of make-up!

All about Folliculitis is a post from: Skincare

There are many skin conditions that resemble acne due to the presence of a rash, papules or pustules on the face. On of these conditions is perioral dermatitis, which manifests itself in the form of a rash around the mouth, at the base of the nose and on the chin.

Itchy Facial Rash

The disease gets its name from “peri” or periphery and “oral” or mouth, for obvious reasons. The pustules in these target areas are usually itchy and you experience a slight stinging sensation accompanied by some redness on the chin and upper lip.

In some patients, the facial rash includes vesicles or blisters filled with water.

The difference between acne and perioral dermatitis is that there are no comedones or white heads or blackheads in the latter disease.

Perioral dermatitis is mainly a disease of women and usually occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. When does occur in men, it manifests itself mainly on the eyelids. It rarely but sometimes does affect infants.

Creams and Toothpaste

Like acne, science has not been able to pinpoint the causes of perioral dermatitis but there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the use of certain steroidal creams can trigger and aggravate the disease.

And here’s a surprise trigger – some patients report that toothpastes with anti-tartar and fluorinated formulations also seem to spark perioral skin rash. Likewise, certain cosmetics with a petrolatum or paraffin base are also known to aggravate the condition.

What about hormones? They play a critical role on acne. Are the also linked to perioral dermatitis? The answer is yes though researchers are still to figure out how.

Relief with Antibiotics

Oral antibiotics are more effective than topical creams and include drugs that contain minocycline, tetracycline and doxycycline as active ingredients. The bad news is that for the symptoms of perioral dermatitis to subside, it may take weeks and treatment must be continued for at least three months.

All about Perioral Dermatitis is a post from: Skincare

A skin condition sometimes mistaken for acne is keratosis pilaris or “chicken skin”, so-called due to the presence of tiny, hard bumps on the skin present on the outer arms, and sometimes on the outer thighs and buttocks.

Excess Keratin

This disease gets its name from the term “keratin”, which is the natural protein present in the skin. The condition is caused when the excess keratin, which is cream coloured, traps the hair in the follicles. As a result, the keratin forms small but hard plugs in the pore, a phenomenon called hyperkeratinization.

Just like acne, keratosis pilaris targets mainly adolescents but it can persist into adulthood. In fact, about 50 to 80 per cent of adolescents are afflicted by it, whereas only 40 per cent of adults manifest some degree of the disease. This is one disease with a strong hereditary connection and is often seen in twins.

Rough But No Itch

Unlike acne, keratosis pilaris is not itchy. The bumps are very small and they give the skin a rough, sandpaper-like feel. The areas affected look red and patchy as there can be as many as 100 bumps concentrated in a very small area of the skin.

There is no known cure for keratosis pilaris. It is chronic, non-contagious but in some cases, does decrease in severity with age. The lucky few may see the typical sandpaper rash on the backs of their arms clear up after puberty but they are in a minority.

Climate Affects Flare-ups

Fortunately, it is a mild disease and does not produce an itch. Seasonal variations have also been observed, with flare-ups common in the winter months when the skin tends to dry.

There is no known cure for keratosis pilaris but there are topical treatments and oral medications that can ease the rash. Creams containing tretonin seem to help. Also used in the treatment of acne, this active ingredient, which is an acid form of Vitamin A, makes the outer layer of the skin grow more rapidly and decreases the amount of keratin in the skin.

Thinning the Skin

The outer layer of the skin is thinner than usual and this reduces the chances of the pores getting blocked.

Another option is to use cream that contains triamcinolone. This is a synthetic cortico-steroid used in the treatment of eczema. It reduces the amount of keratin in the pores and with that, the typical keratosis pilaris rash.

Keratosis Pilaris – “chicken skin” disease is a post from: Skincare

Rosacea is a common skin disease whose main feature is frequent blushing or flushing of the face. The areas of the face most commonly affected are the cheeks though occasionally the eyelids could also display the rosacea rash. In more severe cases, rosacea afflicts the nose.

“Curse of the Celts”

This skin condition, which affects 13 million people in the US alone, is partial to fair and very fair skin and is called the “Curse of the Celts” in some European countries.

It is chronic, non-contagious and is sometimes mistaken for acne, which is why it is sometimes called adult acne. That’s also because its onset, unlike acne, is usually after the age of 20. Acne, on the other hand, is a skin disease of adolescents.

Rosacea is usually marked by the appearance of red or pink patches and dots where the facial blood vessels or capillaries are broken. In some instances, there could be inflammation of the papules or bumps on the face.

What is a “W C Fields” nose?

Extreme rosacea strikes the nose, which is typically lumpy and lobulated. This is called rhynophyma. The condition is called “W C Fields” nose because the famous American comedian suffered – and profited – from it! Another famous personality afflicted by rosacea is former US President Bill Clinton.

Many rosacea patients report burning and dryness of the eyes and a gritty sensation where the eyes become hypersensitive to light. If it grows severe, this condition is called ocular rosacea and is often confused with conjunctivitis.

What Causes Rosacea?

It’s another skin condition whose causes are not clear. But researchers suspect it is a vascular disease or a disease of the facial blood vessels as its main symptom is flushing of the face or a sudden dilation of the surface capillaries.

When these blood vessels break, red, thread-like lines are visible and these are called telangiectasias.

Rosacea is also linked to helicobacter pylori, gastrointestinal bacteria that are present in stomach ulcers. Others have observed the presence of a mite called demodex folliculorum in the hair follicles. Still other scientists suspect that rosacea is hereditary.

Triggers of Rosacea

He sudden flushing of the face can be caused by stress and anxiety which in turn are sparked by sudden and extreme emotions such as fear, excitement and embarrassment.

Strong wind and humidity can also trigger bouts just as prolonged exposure to the sun can cause the condition to flare up.

Believe it or not but some foods can aggravate rosacea. For instance, hot and spicy foods like peppers and paprika release heat and stimulate the receptors at the back of the throat. This makes the facial blood vessels dilate. Pungent ingredients also release niacin or histamine that makes the face flush.

Should rosacea patients stop drinking alcohol? Do hot beverages also exacerbate the condition? Yes, they do but this is not due to any ingredient in them. Rather, it is sue to the stimulation of the receptors in the throat.

Also, excessive intake of alcohol and red wine do seem to trigger rosacea but the redness and puffiness could also be because excessive alcohol makes the face red and puffy anyway.

All about Rosacea is a post from: Skincare