(See also Overview of Bacterial Skin Infections Overview of Bacterial Skin Infections Bacterial skin infections can be classified as skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). SSTI include Carbuncles Ecthyma Erythrasma read more .)
The etiology of folliculitis is often unclear, but perspiration, trauma, friction, and occlusion of the skin are known to potentiate infection. The pathogen may be bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic.
Bacterial folliculitis is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus, but occasionally Pseudomonas aeruginosa (hot tub folliculitis) or other organisms have been reported. Hot tub folliculitis occurs because of inadequate chemical treatment of water.
Acne Acne Vulgaris Acne vulgaris is the formation of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and/or cysts as a result of obstruction and inflammation of pilosebaceous units (hair follicles and their accompanying... read more 
is a noninfectious form of folliculitis.
Symptoms and Signs of Folliculitis
Symptoms of folliculitis are mild pain, pruritus, or irritation.
Signs of folliculitis are a superficial pustule or inflammatory nodule surrounding a hair follicle. Infected hairs easily fall out or are removed by the patient, but new papules tend to develop.
Growth of stiff hairs into the skin may cause chronic low-grade irritation or inflammation that may mimic infectious folliculitis (pseudofolliculitis barbae Pseudofolliculitis Barbae Pseudofolliculitis barbae is irritation of the skin due to hairs that penetrate the skin before leaving the hair follicle or that leave the follicle and curve back into the skin, causing a foreign-body... read more 
).
Diagnosis of Folliculitis
Clinical evaluation
The primary skin finding in folliculitis is a pustule and perifollicular inflammation.
Microbiologic testing is not routinely indicated.
Treatment of Folliculitis
Topical antibiotics
Sometimes systemic antibiotics
Because most folliculitis is caused by S. aureus, treatment with topical mupirocin or topical clindamycin is generally effective. Alternatively, benzoyl peroxide 5% wash may be used for 5 to 7 days when showering. Extensive cutaneous involvement may warrant systemic therapy (eg, cephalexin 250 to 500 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day for 10 days). If these measures do not result in a cure, or folliculitis recurs, pustules are Gram stained and cultured to rule out gram-negative or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) etiology, and nares are cultured to rule out nasal staphylococcal carriage.
Potassium hydroxide wet mount should be done on a plucked hair to rule out fungal folliculitis.
Hot tub folliculitis usually resolves without treatment. However, adequate chlorination of the hot tub is necessary to prevent recurrences and to protect others from infection.
Key Points
Folliculitis can be caused by various pathogens and tends to be potentiated by perspiration, trauma, friction, and occlusion of the skin.
Bacterial folliculitis is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus but occasionally Pseudomonas aeruginosa (hot tub folliculitis).
Treat most staphylococcal folliculitis with topical mupirocin or topical clindamycin.
Drugs Mentioned In This Article
| Drug Name | Select Trade |
|---|---|
mupirocin |
Bactroban, Centany, Centany AT |
clindamycin |
Cleocin, Cleocin Ovules, Cleocin Pediatric, Cleocin T, CLIN, Clindacin ETZ, Clindacin-P, Clinda-Derm , Clindagel, ClindaMax, ClindaReach, Clindesse, Clindets, Evoclin, PledgaClin, XACIATO |
benzoyl peroxide |
Acne Medication, Acne-10, Acneclear, Benprox , Benzac AC, Benzac W, Benzac-10, Benzac-5, Benzagel, Benzagel-10 , Benzagel-5, BenzaShave, BenzEFoam, BenzEFoam Ultra , BenzePrO, Benziq, Benziq LS, BP Cleanser, BP Cleansing Lotion, BP Foaming Wash, BP Gel, BP Topical , BP Wash, BP Wash Kit, BPO, BPO Creamy Wash, BPO Foaming Cloth, Brevoxyl-4, Brevoxyl-8, Clean&Clear Persa-Gel, Clearplex , Clearplex X, Clearskin, Clinac BPO, Del Aqua, Delos, Desquam-E, Desquam-X, EFFACLAR, Enzoclear, EPSOLAY, Ethexderm BPW, Inova Easy Pad, Lavoclen-4 , Lavoclen-8, NeoBenz Micro, NeoBenz Micro Cream Plus Pack, NeoBenz Micro SD, NeoBenz Micro Wash Plus Pack, Neutrogena Acne Cream, OC8, Oscion, Pacnex, Pacnex HP, Pacnex LP, Pacnex MX, PanOxyl, PanOxyl 10 Maximum Strength, PanOxyl 5, PanOxyl AQ, PanOxyl Aqua, PanOxyl-10, PanOxyl-5, PanOxyl-8, Peroderm, RE Benzoyl Peroxide , Riax, SE BPO, Seba, Seba-Gel, Soluclenz Rx , Theroxide, TL BPO MX, Triaz, Zaclir, Zoderm Cleanser , Zoderm Cream, Zoderm Gel, Zoderm Redi-Pads , Zoderm Wash |
cephalexin |
Biocef, Daxbia , Keflex, Keftab, Panixine |
