How should folliculitis be treated?

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

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Written by Li Ya Ping
Dermatology Department
1min 12sec home-news-image

How should folliculitis be treated?

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.

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

What is vulvar folliculitis?

All parts of the body have hair follicles, and inflammation of these follicles is called folliculitis. When folliculitis occurs in the pubic area, it is referred to as vulvar folliculitis. During mild cases of vulvar folliculitis, topical erythromycin ointment can be used, and keeping the vulvar area dry and clean generally results in improvement and healing. However, if the folliculitis is severe and topical medications are insufficient, oral antibiotics may be required for treatment. If a follicular abscess develops, surgical incision and drainage may be necessary.

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Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
1min 8sec home-news-image

How to completely cure folliculitis?

The occurrence of folliculitis is related to the immune status of the body. To avoid recurrence, regular dietary and lifestyle habits are necessary, along with adjustments to the body's immune status. It is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods, and enhance the cleanliness of the scalp and skin. Anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatments should be administered, including oral ingestion of Tanshinone IIA sulfonate capsules and Doxycycline Hydrochloride capsules. Topical use of Fusidic acid cream on the affected follicle areas can be combined with physical therapies, such as red and blue light exposure twice a week for three consecutive weeks, thus achieving anti-inflammatory effects and improving microcirculation. Folliculitis commonly occurs in oily skin types, therefore, it is advisable to consume more green vegetables and coarse fibers to regulate metabolism. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
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What department should I go to for folliculitis?

Folliculitis is an inflammation of the skin's surface, and this condition falls under the purview of dermatology, which can be treated at a regular hospital's dermatology department. This disease is related to excessive sebum secretion, consumption of spicy and irritating food, or frequent late nights. Prompt treatment is necessary once symptoms appear, and it can involve oral and topical anti-inflammatory medications. It is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods and try not to stay up late as this disease has a particularly high recurrence rate. If the folliculitis is relatively large, you can visit the dermatology department of a regular hospital for a minor surgery to drain pus. If it is small, local disinfection followed by using a needle to puncture and clean out the pus and blood may suffice.

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Written by Liu Gang
Dermatology
57sec home-news-image

How is folliculitis considered cured?

After treatment for folliculitis, if the affected area feels completely flat when touched by hand, without any protruding or proliferative hard nodules, or red bumps, and lacks any pustule-like papules, it is generally considered to be healed. However, even though the condition has healed, it cannot be completely eradicated and there is still a risk of recurrence. It is crucial to avoid spicy and irritating foods long-term, try not to stay up late, engage in regular exercise, sweat more, bathe more frequently, and avoid soaking in public baths or swimming to reduce the possibility of bacterial infections. Also, avoid consuming spicy, greasy, or sweet foods as they can increase internal heat and dampness in the body, potentially exacerbating folliculitis. Therefore, once this condition occurs, it is essential to undergo standardized treatment.