CLn Skin Care understands how difficult folliculitis can be to diagnose and treat. Many of our users have struggled with the condition for years prior to discovering CLn , which is a line of cleansers designed for skin prone to infections such as folliculitis. The esteemed board-certified dermatologist and folliculitis expert Jerald Sklar, MD is here to answer common questions about folliculitis in the first part of a multi-part series on this prevalent condition.
What is folliculitis?
ANSWER: Folliculitis is infection or inflammation in the hair follicle or in an open pore of the skin.
What causes folliculitis?
ANSWER: Folliculitis is usually caused by bacteria that enter pores or follicles and create infection or inflammation. It can also be caused by ingrown hairs or, less commonly, by fungus, yeast or viruses.
What areas of the body can be affected by folliculitis?
ANSWER: Folliculitis most commonly occurs in areas of the body with hair, such as the scalp and beard, underarms, the back and the groin.
Why should you visit a doctor if you suspect you have folliculitis?
ANSWER: You should visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis, and to try to figure out what is causing the folliculitis. A doctor can suggest appropriate treatments based on what is causing your folliculitis. Lack of treatment could lead to more serious infection and possible scarring.
How might a doctor suggest treating folliculitis?
ANSWER: Your physician may suggest treating folliculitis with topical washes in the shower as well as prescription topical antibiotic products. More serious cases might require oral antibiotics.
We hope this has been a helpful primer on folliculitis. We’ll cover various types and causes of folliculitis in future posts. Stay tuned!
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