How should folliculitis be treated?

Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
Updated on May 03, 2025
00:00
00:00

Folliculitis is caused by a bacterial infection of the hair follicles. If the folliculitis is severe and there is obvious surrounding swelling, it is known as a furuncle or boil. When multiple furuncles involve several hair follicles, it forms a carbuncle. Thus, the infection severity differs between folliculitis, furuncles, and carbuncles. How is folliculitis treated? First, it is important to maintain clean and hygienic skin and to enhance the body's immune system. Treatment primarily involves topical medications. In the early stages before abscess formation, mupirocin ointment can be used. If there is significant surrounding swelling, ichthammol ointment or topical iodine complex can be used. For more severe cases of folliculitis, oral antibiotics may be selected based on the condition, including penicillins such as cephalosporins, or erythromycin and other macrolide antibiotics, but it is important to ensure there is no allergy to these antibiotics before use.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Qu Jing
Dermatology
1min 27sec home-news-image

How is folliculitis treated?

Folliculitis is a bacterial infection of the hair follicles and surrounding tissues. Most cases of folliculitis are caused by Staphylococcus aureus, with occasional infections from epidermal staphylococci, Streptococci, E. coli, and others either alone or in combination. Another scenario involves fungal folliculitis secondary to bacterial infection, typically involving Malassezia, spores, and Dermatophytes. Contributing factors include high temperatures, excessive sweating, scratching, poor hygiene habits, certain chronic systemic diseases, and long-term use of corticosteroids. Therefore, the treatment of folliculitis requires understanding the specific cause of the infection, followed by targeted treatment of the cause. Initial measures should focus on maintaining skin cleanliness and hygiene, preventing injuries, and boosting the body's immune system, primarily using topical medications. For widespread folliculitis or severe secondary infections, systemic medication may be required. If there is a concurrent fungal infection, antifungal medications are also necessary. In severe cases of folliculitis, where there is abscess formation and pus accumulation, timely incision and drainage are needed, and one should avoid squeezing the affected areas.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
32sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of folliculitis?

Folliculitis is a common purulent inflammatory skin disease, usually caused by bacterial infection. The symptoms of folliculitis initially manifest as small red papules which, after several days or weeks, develop small pustules at the center with a surrounding erythema forming pustules. These dry out or rupture later to form yellow crusts. Generally, there are no scars left after the crust peels off.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
1min 9sec home-news-image

Does folliculitis recur?

Folliculitis tends to recur frequently and is generally related to one’s diet and lifestyle habits. Long-term consumption of spicy and irritating foods, staying up late, and experiencing anxiety or stress can all lead to repeated episodes of folliculitis. Once this condition appears, it is essential to seek proper treatment. Treatment should be sought from a dermatology department at an established hospital, including oral and topical medications, and can be complemented with red light therapy. After treatment, it is crucial to avoid spicy and irritating foods, staying up late, and situations that may cause anxiety or stress for an extended period. It is also advisable to avoid public baths and swimming pools. For individual cases of folliculitis, if the lesion is relatively large, it can be disinfected with povidone-iodine, then lanced to clean out the pus and blood. Regular consumption of heat-clearing, anti-inflammatory traditional Chinese medications can also be beneficial. (Please follow a professional physician's guidance when using medications and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
52sec home-news-image

Can folliculitis be popped?

Generally speaking, folliculitis can mostly subside slowly by itself through oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications. If an individual follicle is particularly large, or if long-term medication is ineffective, local disinfection followed by draining the pus can be effective. This condition is associated with vigorous secretion of sebaceous glands, eating spicy and stimulating foods, or frequently staying up late. Therefore, after recovery, it is essential to regulate one's diet and lifestyle habits: avoid staying up late and consuming spicy or heavily flavored foods. Regular exercise, frequent bathing, and sweating can help prevent relapse. Continuously taking medications that reduce sebaceous gland secretion or those that clear heat and purge fire long-term can also be beneficial.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Li Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
43sec home-news-image

Symptoms of vulvar folliculitis

The symptoms of vulvar folliculitis generally manifest as redness, swelling, heat, and pain. When folliculitis occurs in the vulvar area, it can cause redness and swelling of the affected follicles, sometimes with a burning sensation, as well as pain in the area. If the inflammation is pronounced, the redness and swelling of the folliculitis can be severe, and pus formation may also occur. In such cases, it is necessary to puncture the pustules to drain the pus. The vulvar area has a rich supply of hair follicles and poor ventilation, making it susceptible to folliculitis. It is crucial to maintain good hygiene in the genital area.