Skincare Treated

Folliculitis versus Acne

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!