Folliculitis is an abscess infectious disease. Such a pathological process is provoked by bacterial, viral or fungal agents. It occurs on the outside of the head in the hair follicle, sometimes it can penetrate much deeper. The disease is more characteristic of the male sex, in rare cases it occurs in children and women. When ingested inside the scalp, the disease becomes chronic. What is scalp folliculitis, treatment of this disease, diagnosis, symptoms and prevention is the topic of this article.
What is this disease?
Folliculitis is a disease that has a purulent-inflammatory character, it manifests itself in the hair follicle. The disease is difficult, the formation in the form of medium-sized red-pink bubbles in a few days turn into an abscess with a yellow-green liquid. In contact with them, a person experiences pain. Pain on the surface of the head is cutting and prolonged.
Scalp folliculitis is characteristic of southern countries with a hot and humid climate, which contributes to the development of infections. Also, similar inflammatory processes are found in people living in unsanitary conditions.
Disease development
The follicle affected by the disease has the shape of a ball that contains pus. Such a formation affects not only the bulb, but also the adjacent sebaceous glands. Folliculitis of the scalp proceeds in several stages:
- Development.
- Height.
- Transition stage.
- Stage of rest.
This skin disease is characterized by both superficial and internal lesions. According to statistics, internal inflammation is most often diagnosed.
What contributes to the development of the disease?
The cause of the development of a disease such as folliculitis of the scalp, the photo of which you see above, can become, for example:
- Non-observance of personal hygiene rules, contamination of the scalp.
- Incorrect or untimely applied tight tight dressing, which is used for wounds on the head.
- Climate conditions (high ambient temperature).
- The use of various drugs.
- Injury to the scalp.
- The use of tight hats of synthetic quality.
- Diseases (diabetes mellitus, impaired liver function) and malnutrition.
The likelihood of an infection entering the follicle increases if there are itchy dermatoses, minor microtraumas, or damage to the scalp.
Types of disease
Any bacterium or fungus can provoke the development of the disease. Folliculitis of the scalp has various forms of course, each of which has its own symptoms and treatment:
- Staphylococcal.
- Hoffmann's folliculitis.
- Decalting.
- Candidiasis.
- Herpetic.
- Syphilitic.
- Parasitic.
Folliculitis staphylococcal. The causative agent is a bacterium, manifested externally and internally. Such a disease can occur in men when shaving their heads baldly, as small scratches contribute to the entry of pathogenic bacteria and fungi. If the disease acquires an internal character, then the formation of a boil is possible.
Hoffmann's folliculitis of the scalp. The course of the disease of this variety is quite rare. Her symptoms are almost unknown. It is believed that the inflammatory process in some cases takes on a chronic form, this is Hoffmann's folliculitis of the scalp. The reasons are associated with the occlusion of the sebaceous hair follicles. The long course of the disease can affect not only the hair bulb, but also parts of the skin around it. This form of the disease has a fairly large lesion area. In the affected areas, hair growth stops completely. The launched process leads to irreversible consequences, since the hair in these places falls out, and their further growth is impossible. The abscesses formed on the skin heal for a very long time, leaving behind deep scars.
Decalting. It is chronic in nature, capable of developing due to fungi and infections. This type of folliculitis develops mainly in dark areas of the hairline.
Candidiasis . A form of folliculitis caused by fungi. It appears in the form of large bubbles in the center of the hair bulb. Such a disease occurs in patients who are constantly lying down, on their backs.
Herpetic . The cause of this form of the disease is the herpes virus. Bubbles form first, and then they burst and dry, forming a crust. This type is quite common in the nasolabial triangle in men.
Syphilitic . This is secondary syphilis. It appears in the form of a red rash, it often takes the form of an oval or circle, and in these places the hair does not grow.
Parasitic. Caused by a parasite tick. Affected areas have roughness and roughness of the skin.
Symptoms of the disease
Folliculitis manifests itself in the form of pustules having an average size. In shape, such acne resembles a cone. Around the bladder, a reddish contour is almost always observed, which indicates an inflammatory process. In most cases, a person experiences neither pain nor itching. The disease progresses within 2-5 days. After this, the vesicles burst, the wound dries up, at this stage itching and peeling are possible.
With the internal course of folliculitis, dense subcutaneous acne forms, they can cause pain. Such nodes also have a rim of inflammation, but less noticeable. If the formation is pressed, it bursts, releasing pus and an unpleasant odor. After this, the wound heals, forming a crust, but the most unpleasant and painful period for a person is the process of maturation of the subcutaneous nodes.
Disease in babies
Such a disease is quite dangerous for children in infancy. The development of the disease is usually provoked by bacteria that get under the skin. The disease manifests itself in the form of bubbles filled with white or red liquid.
If parents notice such symptoms in children, they should immediately consult a doctor. To a greater extent, such a disease is treated with alternative methods, such as tea tree oil. With this solution, the affected areas are lubricated several times a day.
Diagnostics
There is an opinion that such a disease is not dangerous - this is a delusion. It is very important to consult a specialist at the slightest sign, he will diagnose scalp folliculitis, determine the causes and treatment in accordance with the stage of the disease. Timely medical therapy will help to quickly eliminate the ailment.
If folliculitis manifests itself, it is important to determine its pathogen, as well as possible diseases that can provoke its complication. A dermatologist examines a patient, performs dermatoscopy, and takes a selection of acne secretions for examination. Such an analysis allows us to establish the nature of the disease and its causative agent, this method will help to choose the right treatment and therapy.
How to get rid of this disease?
Treatment therapy will be much more effective if the patient begins to fight the disease in the initial stages of the inflammatory process. Although today, drugs are also widely used against such a severe form of the disease as deep folliculitis of the scalp. The following treatment algorithm exists:
- Acne formed and the surface of the scalp must be treated with antiseptic drugs (salicylic or camphor alcohol (2% solution), brilliant green, Fukortsin).
- A large accumulation of deep acne is opened by a specialist with subsequent treatment with an antiseptic solution.
- In order for healing to proceed faster, special ointments are used that treat affected areas of the skin several times a day (for example, ichthyol ointment).
- If the disease is severe, then the specialist prescribes a special course of antibiotics, based on the study of vesicle fluid.
- In some cases, drugs are used to enhance immunity.
In order for the scars to remain on the skin, the doctor prescribes physiotherapy, but only after the disease recedes.
Scalp folliculitis: treatment with folk remedies
A large number of people treat this disease at home. The following effective recipes exist:
- Chamomile decoction.
- A mixture of herbs.
- Scented scrubs.
- Infusion of dandelions.
- Infusion of burdock.
How to cook such decoctions?
Traditional medicine can offer a huge list of tools to get rid of folliculitis of the scalp. Such medicines can be very easily prepared at home.
To prepare a decoction based on chamomile, you need to take a tablespoon of the flowers of the plant and pour one liter of boiling water. After letting it brew. The resulting solution is rubbed on the affected areas of the skin.
For herbal decoction you need: rosehip berries and viburnum, about 150-250 g each, add to them 150 g nettle and 25-50 g walnut bark. All fill in with water and mix, put on fire and boil for 7-9 minutes. Such a decoction should settle, after it is added to the curd or honey, mix and make a mask. This method is quite effective in the treatment of folliculitis. The procedure is performed 2-3 times a day for 10-15 minutes.
For treatment, use scented woodruff pulp prepared from leaves, the procedures are performed in the form of dressings several times a day.
A decoction of dandelions is taken orally by 2-3 glasses a day. In order to cook it, you need to take the leaves and roots of the plant, grind and pour boiling water. This is a great way to treat internal folliculitis.
Burdock infusion is taken 3-4 times a day. For cooking, grind the root of the plant, pour it with one liter of boiling water and let stand. After this, strain and cool.
Traditional medicine today is a fairly common method of treating a huge number of diseases.
How to prevent the recurrence of the disease?
Important in the treatment of a disease such as folliculitis of the scalp, prevention. Timely measures will help prevent the development of the disease. The main rule is personal hygiene of the scalp and hair.
If even small wounds appear on the skin, they must be treated with antiseptic or disinfectant. Much attention should be paid to this procedure after shaving men.
Conclusion
A disease such as folliculitis of the scalp must be treated, its consequences can have a bad outcome, and if it is accompanied by some other ailment, this can seriously complicate the situation. That is why it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor with the slightest symptoms. A specialist dermatologist will conduct a full range of examinations, perform a study of blood, as well as fluid contained in the blisters. Such data will help to easily establish the symptoms and type of disease and select the necessary drugs for treatment.