II. Pathophysiology
- Usually caused by Bacterial Infection
- Superficial inflammation of Hair Follicle
- Only upper Hair Follicle involved
- Contrast with Deep Folliculitis
III. Risk Factors
- Local Trauma
- Abrasion
- Surgical wounds or draining abscess
- Shaving
- Aggravates Staphylococcus aureus Folliculitis
- Exposure to Occlusive Dressing
- Tar
- Adhesive plaster
- Plastic Occlusive Dressings
IV. Causes
- See Folliculitis
- Staphylococcal Folliculitis (most common)
- Affects beard area (Folliculitis barbae)
- Also affects axillae and legs
- Aggravated by shaving
- Pseudofolliculitis Barbae
- Superficial Fungal Infection
-
Cutaneous Candidiasis (Candida albicans)
- Seen in febrile hospitalized patients
- Acne Vulgaris
- Keratosis Pilaris
V. Symptoms
- Non-tender or minimally tender
- Variably pruritic
VI. Signs
- Characteristics
- Pustule confined to Hair Follicle
- Hair Shaft may be seen at center of lesion
- Yellow or gray coloration with erythema
- Distribution: Any skin bearing hair
- Head and neck
- Trunk
- Buttocks
- Extremities
- Absent features
- No associated fever or systemic symptoms
VII. Differential Diagnosis
- Beard area Folliculitis
- See Beard Dermatitis
- Trunk Folliculitis
- Tinea Corporis (Ringworm)
- Pustular Miliaria
- Not perifollicular
- Occurs in hot, humid weather
VIII. Management
-
General
- Eliminate provocative agents (tar, Mineral Oil)
- Keep affected areas clean
- Apply Mupirocin ointment to affected areas
- Consider warm, wet Burow's Solution
- Antibiotics
- Dicloxacillin 250-500 mg PO qid for 10 days
- Erythromycin 250-500 mg PO qid for 10 days
-
Topical Corticosteroids
- Indicated for associated significant inflammation
- Prevention (Suppression of infection)
IX. Course
- Heals without scarring
X. References
- Fitzpatrick (1992) Color Atlas Dermatology
- Habif (1996) Dermatology, p. 248-51
- Stulberg (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(1):119-24 [PubMed]
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| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | Inflammation of a follicle (a sac or pouch-like cavity), usually a hair follicle. |
| Definition (NCI) | Inflammation of the hair follicles. Causes include excessive perspiration, skin infections, and skin wounds. |
| Definition (MSH) | Inflammation of follicles, primarily hair follicles. |
| Concepts | Disease or Syndrome (T047) |
| MSH | D005499 |
| SnomedCT | 156411003, 267863007, 201177005, 201183008, 13600006 |
| English | Folliculitides, Folliculitis, FOLLICULITIS, folliculitis (diagnosis), folliculitis, Folliculitis [Disease/Finding], folliculitis nos, inflammation of hair follicles, Folliculitis NOS (disorder), Follicle inflamed, Hair follicle inflamed, Inflammation of hair follicle, Folliculitis (disorder), Folliculitis NOS |
| French | FOLLICULITE, Folliculite |
| Portuguese | FOLICULITE, Foliculite |
| Spanish | FOLICULITIS, foliculitis, SAI (trastorno), foliculitis, SAI, foliculitis (trastorno), foliculitis, Foliculitis |
| German | FOLLIKULITIS, Follikulitis, Haarfollikelentzündung |
| Japanese | 毛包炎, ﾓｳﾎｳｴﾝ |
| Swedish | Follikelinflammation |
| Czech | folikulitida, Folikulitida |
| Finnish | Follikuliitti |
| Russian | FOLLIKULIT, SIKOZ, СИКОЗ, ФОЛЛИКУЛИТ |
| Polish | Zapalenie mieszka włosowego |
| Hungarian | folliculitis |
| Norwegian | Follikulitt, Hårsekkbetennelse, Hårkjertelbetennelse |
| Dutch | folliculitis, Folliculitis |
| Italian | Follicolite |
