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Superficial Folliculitis
Aka: Superficial Folliculitis, Folliculitis, Staphylococcal Folliculitis
- Pathophysiology
- Usually caused by Bacterial Infection
- Superficial inflammation of Hair Follicle
- Only upper Hair Follicle involved
- Contrast with Deep Folliculitis
- 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
- 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
- Symptoms
- Non-tender or minimally tender
- Variably pruritic
- 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
- Differential Diagnosis
- Beard area Folliculitis
- See Beard Dermatitis
- Trunk Folliculitis
- Tinea Corporis (Ringworm)
- Pustular Miliaria
- Not perifollicular
- Occurs in hot, humid weather
- 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)
- Cleocin T after shaving
- Mupirocin (Bactroban) in nostrils
- Course
- Heals without scarring
- References
- Fitzpatrick (1992) Color Atlas Dermatology
- Habif (1996) Dermatology, p. 248-51
- Stulberg (2002) Am Fam Physician 66(1):119-24 [PubMed]