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A doctor will usually assess an ingrown hair infection by looking at the symptoms and asking about your medical history. The first sign of an infected ingrown hair is often a bump. As the infection progresses, you may see pus, and the bump may grow larger. An infected ingrown hair happens when a hair is blocked from leaving the skin or newly emerged hair curls back into the skin, and the follicle becomes infected. In some cases, for example if you have had treatment and it has not helped, they may take a sample of any pus or crusting (a swab) and send it to the laboratory. This tries to help identify the cause of the rash and what treatment you may need.
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Folliculitis infections usually involve bacteria and yeast entering your hair follicles. By changing some parts of your normal self-care routine, you can limit the amount of infectious material in your hair follicles. Folliculitis is often caused when hair follicles are infected with bacteria, commonly Staphylococcus aureus (staph). It may also be caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, medications or physical injury. Mild folliculitis will likely heal without scarring in a few days with basic self-care. More-serious or repeat infections may need prescription medicine.
Frequently asked questions about blocked hair follicles
If there’s no hair in the middle, then it’s probably vaginal acne. If you aren’t sure, visit your OB-GYN or dermatologist for a diagnosis. Hot tub folliculitis is caused by pseudomonas bacteria, which can be found in hot tubs and heated pools where the chlorine and pH levels are out of balance. Since impetigo is a bacterial infection, the only way to treat it is through the use of antibiotics. Topical antibiotics are typically preferred, but in some cases, oral antibiotics may be needed if the infection is severe or spreading. Oral antibiotics that are often used include doxycycline, amoxicillin, and clindamycin.
What happens if an infected ingrown hair goes untreated?
The condition sometimes affects members of the same family, but experts aren’t sure why. Prescription medications like antibiotics may be needed and might be the only way to improve symptoms. In rare cases, a biopsy may be performed to evaluate the skin tissue and rule out other possible conditions. Treatments for folliculitis depend on the type and severity of your condition, what self-care measures you've already tried, and how you'd like to proceed.
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Your doctor can prescribe infection-fighting lotions or gels if your folliculitis is caused by bacteria. If you have a serious infection, or if it keeps coming back, they can give you antibiotic pills to fight infection. What might look like acne in these areas could be a type of folliculitis.
Folliculitis Diagnosis
If needed, treatment depends on the cause of the folliculitis. In general, the closer the infection is to the skin's surface, the more easily it's treated. Folliculitis caused by an infectious agent is easier to treat than noninfectious folliculitis, like acne. It may be deep in the hair follicle or more superficial, meaning closer to the surface of the skin.
Folliculitis affects the hair-bearing areas of the body, often the arms, head, and face. The condition presents small discolored bumps that may have a white, pus-filled tip. Make an appointment with your health care provider if your condition is widespread or the symptoms don't go away after a week or two of self-care measures. You may need a prescription-strength antibiotic or antifungal medication to help control the condition.
How to prevent ingrown hairs
To learn what we do to deliver the best health and lifestyle insights to you, check out our content review principles. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Dr. Liji Thomas is an OB-GYN, who graduated from the Government Medical College, University of Calicut, Kerala, in 2001. Liji practiced as a full-time consultant in obstetrics/gynecology in a private hospital for a few years following her graduation.
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Vaginal folliculitis, or genital folliculitis, is very common and can occur on and off throughout your lifetime. The main difference is that acne is a clogged or infected pore, while a folliculitis bump is actually an infected hair follicle. You can spot the difference between the two by identifying a hair in the middle of a folliculitis bump. Folliculitis is an infection in which one or more hair follicles become inflamed and swollen. It is most commonly caused by bacteria, but it can also develop because of a virus, parasite, or fungus. Taking measures to prevent ingrown hairs and treating any infections promptly can help prevent these.
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An inflamed follicle appears as a red bump called a papule. In more extreme cases, it can turn into a pustule, which is a bump filled with pus. Sometimes, the area will worsen due to a persistent bacterial or yeast infection, or a virus.
You can also try to relieve itchy skin with a soothing lotion. The skin around the vagina and inner thighs is thinner and more sensitive than the skin on other parts of the body. Tight clothing can slough off dead skin cells, and then sweat and oils in that area become trapped in the hair follicles.
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