Folliculitis is the infection and inflammation of one or more hair follicles. The condition may occur anywhere on hair-covered skin. The rash may appear as pimples that come to white tips on the face, chest, back, arms, legs, buttocks, or head.
Although acne can often involve superficial infection and inflammation of some hair follicles, the condition of those follicles is usually not called folliculitis, as that term is usually reserved for the separate set of disease entities comprising infected and inflamed hair follicles with causes other than acne.
Rash (reddened skin area)
Itching skin
Pimples or pustules located around a hair or follicle; may be confused with chicken pox
May crust over
Typically occur on neck, armpit, or groin
May present as genital lesions
Spreading from leg to arm to body through improper treatment with antibiotics
File:Sebaceaous Hyperplasia Chronic folliculits Right Mid Chest.jpg|Chronic folliculitis surrounding central sebaceous hyperplasia, right mid-chest
This condition can develop into a more severe skin condition, such as cellulitis or abscess.
Most carbuncles, boils, and other cases of folliculitis are infected with Staphylococcus aureus.
Folliculitis starts with the introduction of a skin pathogen to a hair follicle. Hair follicles can also be damaged by friction from clothing, an insect bite, blockage of the follicle, shaving, or braids that are very tight and close to the scalp. The damaged follicles are then infected by Staphylococcus spp. Folliculitis can affect people of all ages. Iron-deficiency anemia is sometimes associated with chronic cases.
Staphylococcus aureus folliculitis
Hot-tub folliculitis is caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The folliculitis usually occurs after sitting in a hot tub that was not properly cleaned before use. Symptoms are found around the body parts that sit in the hot tub – the legs, hips, chest, buttocks, and surrounding areas. Symptoms are amplified around regions that were covered by wet clothing, such as bathing suits.