Treatment of Folliculitis in the Groin and Buttocks

Treatment of folliculitis in the groin and buttocks
Folliculitis is a purulent inflammation of the hair follicle (hair bulb). Folliculitis can occur on any part of the body where there is hair growth; it commonly affects the scalp and beard area, the armpits, the groin, the perineum, and the perianal areas.

Folliculitis can develop in various ways:

In the first case, the process spreads from the surface deeper into the tissues. In the initial stage, the opening of the hair follicle becomes inflamed, followed by the follicle itself. This process is characterized by increased redness around the follicle and the development of moderate infiltration. After a few days, the pustule forms a scab, which soon falls off, after which the inflammatory changes in the area surrounding the follicle subside. Sometimes an abscess forms in the hair follicle; after it ruptures and the purulent contents drain, an epithelial defect is exposed, which heals and leaves behind a small scar.

In the second variant of the disease’s progression, the condition begins with the appearance of a bright pink, painful pimple around the hair follicle, in the center of which a pustule forms after 2–3 days. The subsequent course of the process is similar to that described above. Deep folliculitis is characterized by large size (up to 1 cm), pain, and the depth of the lesion (involving the entire follicle); however, unlike a furuncle, a necrotic core does not form.

The inflammatory process can affect a single hair follicle (single-lesion) or multiple follicles (multiple-lesion).

The disease affects the skin where hair grows. Statistically, men are more commonly affected.

IMPORTANT!

During treatment for folliculitis, it is not recommended to get the affected area wet; hair in the area of pustular rashes should be trimmed short, and shaving is prohibited, as this may lead to the spread of infection to nearby areas of the skin. For topical treatment of folliculitis, antibacterial ointments and antiseptic solutions are usually applied to the affected area.