An infected hair follicle is also known as folliculitis. It is an infection of the hair follicles that are present on the skin surface. Although it is a common problem, it is not very serious. When an infection occurs, tiny pus filled spots begin to develop at the base of your hair, and in many cases, these happen in the form of crops.
Mild cases of tainted hair follicle will often resolve without the need for medical treatment. At times, you may have to use a cream, or an antibiotic to resolve the problem.
Folliculitis or an impure hair follicle is the infection of hair follicles located on the surface of your skin. Naturally, tiny hairs growing out of the hair follicles to cover a large part of the skin surface.
When you have this type of hair infection, you will find that many hair follicles located in the same area will be affected.
The hair follicles that have been affected will then begin to swell and turn into small pimples that are filled with pus. The pimples will appear like small, but rounded yellowish looking spots.
Many cases dealing with unhygienic hair follicle are brought about by an infection caused by a bacterium that is referred to as S. aureus. It is a bacterium normally carried harmlessly in the noses of most people without causing any problems.
Folliculitis will in mainly occur at sites where the hair follicles have become damaged by shaving or friction, or when the follicle is blocked.
Excessive sweating that has been caused by the sweat glands being overactive may be another cause of follicle.
Here are pictures of inflamed hair follicles.
Bacteria can bring about an infected follicle and another type of fungus, as well as yeast could cause it.
If you happen to have damaged hair follicles, there is a chance that you may get an infected follicle. Wearing clothes that rub against your skin, as well as shaving, could irritate your follicles, and this can lead to folliculitis.
It is also possible for the follicles to become irritated by machine oils, makeup, as well as sweat. When your follicles become injured, there is a high likelihood that you will get an infected follicle.
It is possible for any person to develop an infected follicle. However, there are certain factors, which may make you more susceptible to this condition, which includes:
An infected follicle on the groin and vagina area is mainly caused by waxing or shaving the wrong way. When this happens, the hair follicles will start growing back into the vagina lips and will cause a small bump.
The resulting bump could be itchy, and may appear in the form of boils, genital warts, or herpes when they are many.
It is possible to lower your risks of getting an impure hair follicle by doing the following:
The symptoms of a contaminated hair follicle include an itchy skin rash accompanied by pimples that begin to develop near your hair follicles.
The pimples will in many cases begin to appear in the groin, genital areas, as well as on the neck. At times, your pimples could develop into a crust.
The symptoms include:
Symptoms of Deep Folliculitis
When inflammation begins to spread deeper into your skin around the infected follicle, the symptoms will include:
Serious Symptoms of an Infected Hair Follicle Which Could Indicate a Life-Threatening Condition
An unhygienic hair follicle is normally not a very serious condition, but when you leave it untreated, it could lead to a staph infection.
The infection could end up entering your bloodstream and spreading through the body, which may in the result in a systemic infection known as sepsis.
Sepsis should immediately be evaluated in a hospital setting. The life-threatening symptoms of an impure hair follicle include:
Ingrown hairs are hairs on the skin surface that have curled around, and then started growing back into the skin, rather than rise from it.
According to the University of Alabama, ingrown hairs mostly appear among people of African-Americandescent who have curly hair.
Infected follicles can produce red bumps that are raised, and which looks like small pimples. In some cases, the bumps could be filled with pus. It may also cause redness, inflammation, swelling, irritation, and pain in the affected area.
An impure hair follicle is a condition, which occurs when people have shaved their bodies in an attempt to get rid of unnecessary hair found in sectors such as the beard, legs, and the bikini region.
You can treat an infected follicle at home using the following remedies.
Sugar is often considered to be a great skin scrub, which can help in getting rid of the ingrown hairs. Sugar gently exfoliates your skin, and in the process removes all the dead cells, making it possible for the ingrown hair to come out of your skin surface.
Additionally, it helps make the skin really smooth.
Directions
The remaining scrub may be stored in an airtight container to use it in the future
Baking soda contains a soothing effect on your skin due to the fact that it contains anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps in relieving your skin by exfoliating it and reducing the redness, which is often brought about by ingrown hairs.
Directions
Tea tree oil comes with antiseptic and antibacterial properties, which will help your skin, heal, and at the same time thwart the happening of an infection
Directions
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Aspirin helps in reducing inflammation and redness caused by an impure hair follicle. Aspirin has anti-inflammatory properties, which are vital in reducing swelling, and treating mild infections, and in fighting inflammation.
It also contains salicylic acid, which is vital in scrubbing away the dead skin, and in the process helps in loosening the hair that is offending.
It works by as a good exfoliating agent, while at the same time helping increase circulation, reduces swelling, and promote healing.
Directions
If your skin easily gets irritated, you should not use this remedy
Black tea bags have also been known to help eliminate infected follicles. The black tea bags contain tannic acid, which helps in reducing inflammation, and swelling, while at the same time soothing the skin.
Directions
This is another very effective remedy for infected follicles or razor bumps. Aloe Vera contains cooling and soothing properties, which have been known to provide instant relieffrom inflammation and itchiness.
It will also assist your skin toremain moisturized at all times while ensuring that it speeds up the healing process
Directions
If you don’t have fresh leaves, you can also buy organic cold pressed Aloe Vera gel (Check price on Amazon)
Honey has been known to come with antibacterial properties, which will prevent the impure hair follicle from getting inflamed. Additionally, it moisturizes your affected skin area, and this will assist in reducing inflammation and swelling.
Directions
It contains anti-inflammatory properties, which are important when it comes to soothing your skin, as well as in reducing inflammation. Additionally, it plays a vital role in destroying yeast and skin bacteria, and in the process, helps reduce infection rates.
Directions
A cucumber comes with anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties, which will deal with the irritating symptoms that are caused by an impure hair follicle.
It also contains vitamins, which are important in reducing itchiness and relieving pain
Directions
In case the above home remedies do not provide you with relief, or if the infected hair follicle symptoms become worse, it is recommended that you visit a hospital for consultation purposes.
According to Mayo Clinic, an impure hair follicle develops when bacteria gains entry into one or more of the available hair follicles.
When developing, it starts out as a red bump, which forms around your hair follicle. If you leave it untreated, there is a possibility that this infection could become worse. When it worsens, it may cause weeping, pain, and inflammation.
To treat an infected follicle, you will need to undergo lifestyle changes and have to leave out some products in a bid to resolve the infected follicle, calm your skin, as well as do away with the inflammation.
The more mild cases of folliculitis will be self-limiting and will usually self-resolve within a few days, normally within three days.
If this condition persists, or if the infected follicle recurs, it is recommended that you seek medications, which arespecific to the kind of infection you have at the moment.
Once treatment has been prescribed, it is recommended that you ensure you take the full dose for the infected follicle, or else there could be a recurrence of this condition. Failure to take the prescribed medication could also lead to it becoming worse, or begin to spread as soon as you have stopped taking the medicine.
Treatments for contaminated hair follicle include topical or oral antibiotics, topical or oral antifungal agents, topical corticosteroids, as well as oral antiviral medications.
The treatment choices that will be provided by the physician will depend on the severity, and type of disorder that has afflicted you.
They may include:
Minor cases of an impure hair follicle will resolve within seven to ten days, and you may not need to see a physician for treatment purposes.
However, it will be important to make sure that you always use a moisturizer, which contains antibacterial properties.
The properties will help in not only soothing the skin but in improving its condition as well. In many cases, it will also help decrease the possibility of aggravating the dirty hair follicle, while also making sure that the healing process is hastened. While at home, you can:
For this kind of impure hair follicle, you will find that an antibiotic cream will come in handy. Ensure you apply the cream as directed by the physician.
The remedies described above will help in dealing with an unhygienic hair follicle. However, if you feel that its symptoms are becoming severe, instead of decreasing, it will be best to visit the local emergency center to be checked out.