What Is Folliculitis?

Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles, from which the hair grow. Folliculitis is not the same as acne (Picture 1). Acne primarily involve only oil (sebaceus) glands that are clogged with oil (sebum) and shed skin cells. Acne may subsequently get infected and affect the whole hair follicle, though.

Folliculitis

Acne

Picture 1.In folliculitis (left), a hair follicle is inflamed;
in acne (right) a sebaceus gland is filled with oil
but the hair follicle is intact

continue reading Folliculitis

What is Hot Tub Folliculitis?

Hot tub (spa pool) folliculitis is infection of hair follicles caused by bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa which often thrives in new, poorly chlorinated, especially wooden hot tubes or whirlpools (Picture 1).

Picture 1. Hot tub 

Symptoms of Hot Tub Folliculitis

Within eight hours to five days (or even 14 days) of exposure to the bacteria, red, itchy bumps appear that later may develop into small pus-filled blisters (pustules). The rash is likely to be worse in areas where swimsuit holds contaminated water against the skin; face and neck are rarely, and palms and soles are never affected (1). Rarely earache, sore throat or eyes, runny nose, headache, nausea, vomiting, mild fever, breast tenderness, or painful lymph nodes may appear (1). Red wheals up to 3 cm wide may occasionally encircle the bumps (Picture 2), (2).

Picture 2. Hot tub folliculitis.
Click to enlarge >> © Dermnet.com

More Pictures of Hot Tub Folliculitis

continue reading Hot Tub Folliculitis

Folliculitis Pictures

Pictures in this article show staphylococcal folliculitis. Links to pictures of other types of folliculitis.

Picture 1. Staphylococcal folliculitis appears as a red bump, or white pustule.
(source: Samuel Freire da Silva, M.D., Atlasdermatologico)

Picture 2. Staphylococcal folliculitis on the woman’s chest
Click to enlarge >> © Dermnet

Picture 3. Staphylococcal folliculitis on thighs
Click to enlarge >> © Dermnet

continue reading Folliculitis Pictures