Folliculitis and Skin Abscesses
Folliculitis
What is folliculitis?
A hair follicle is where a hair grows out from your skin. Folliculitis is inflammation or infection in a hair follicle. When due to infection, it's a type of very small skin abscess.
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Folliculitis is usually caused by infection with bacteria
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Sometimes, stiff hairs can reenter the skin (ingrown hairs) after shaving and cause folliculitis that isn't infected
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"Hot tub folliculitis" is a type of folliculitis that is caused by certain bacteria that can grow in a hot tub or whirlpool
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Folliculitis looks like a tiny red or white pimple at the base of a hair
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Infected follicles are itchy or slightly painful
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Antibiotic lotion or gel usually cures folliculitis
What causes folliculitis?
Most types of folliculitis are caused by bacteria, usually Staphylococcus bacteria (staph infection). Other types of bacteria and fungus can also cause folliculitis.
You usually get folliculitis where your skin is moist or irritated from rubbing, such as the skin that's under sports equipment or on your buttocks. Or you can get folliculitis if you:
What are the symptoms of folliculitis?
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Tiny red or white pimples in a hair follicle
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The pimples can be itchy or slightly painful
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You may have one or many infected follicles
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If infected follicles get bigger and go deeper, they can become skin abscesses (boils)
How do doctors treat folliculitis?
Skin Abscesses
What are skin abscesses?
Skin abscesses are pockets of pus in your skin. Pus is a thick fluid your body makes when it fights infection. You can also have abscesses inside your body.
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Skin abscesses are caused by a bacterial infection, usually due to Staphylococcus bacteria (staph infection)
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Sometimes, you get the bacteria through a break in the skin or a hair follicle (where the hair grows out)
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Abscesses are painful bumps full of pus
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Doctors will cut the abscess open to drain the pus and sometimes also give you antibiotics
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Some staphylococcus bacteria called MRSA aren't killed by the usual medicine and may need special antibiotics
Two specific kinds of skin abscesses are:
Bacteria may spread from a skin abscess and infect other tissue and organs in your body.
If the infection gets into the blood stream, you can have high fever, low blood pressure, and organ failure (sepsis).
You may get skin abscesses over and over again for unknown reasons.
What causes skin abscesses?
What are the symptoms of skin abscesses?
Skin abscesses can be anywhere on your body.
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They are red, swollen bumps that hurt a lot and are very tender to touch
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Furuncles are red, shiny, and usually less than an inch across
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Abscesses that aren't furuncles can grow up to 2 or 3 inches
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If not treated, abscesses get bigger, break open, and let the pus out
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You may have a fever and feel sick
How do doctors treat skin abscesses?
If the abscess is small, doctors will have you put mild heat, such as a warm cloth or hot water bottle, on it. If that doesn't work, doctors will:
Doctors may also put gauze in the pocket for 1 to 2 days to keep it open so that it will continue to drain.
Most skin abscesses don't need antibiotics. However, doctors may give you antibiotics if:
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You have many abscesses
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The infection has spread to nearby skin (cellulitis)
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You have a weakened immune system
If you get skin abscesses again and again, doctors will:
