Folliculitis (cont.)
What causes folliculitis? Does diet have anything to do with folliculitis?
Folliculitis is a basic problem with inflammation of hair follicles. This
inflammation may be caused by simple irritation, infections like bacteria and
yeasts, or other noninfectious skin conditions.
The bumps arise from the inflammation at the small hair follicles. Sometimes
there are common skin bacteria (such as Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas) infecting
the follicles. The upper skin layers may have some dilation of the small
superficial blood vessels, thereby giving the skin a red or flushed appearance.
Overall, diet does not seem to affect folliculitis. Some studies have
evaluated a potential association of drinking milk with acne and possibly
folliculitis. Vitamin A deficiency may cause similar symptoms to folliculitis.
What is hot tub folliculitis or Jacuzzi folliculitis?
Hot tub folliculitis is a very common inflammation of the hair follicles on
the trunk. It is seen a few days to weeks after someone has been soaking in a
hot tub or Jacuzzi. It is most common on the back and causes scattered pinpoint,
small red to purple bumps all over the back or trunk. These may be very itchy or
have no symptoms at all. Typically, there is a history of sitting for one to
three hours
in a hot tub days prior to the start of the bumps.
Hot tub folliculitis is thought to be caused by Pseudomonas bacteria, which
frequently thrives in the hot temperatures of hot tubs. It is also called
Pseudomonas folliculitis. Often, this type of folliculitis may clear on its own
in a few days without treatment. Hot tub folliculitis that does not clear
spontaneously or with simple topical antibacterial washes is often treated with
oral antibiotics like ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin) for five
to 14
days depending on the severity. The hot tub should be tested and possibly
treated by trained pool and spa personnel for bacterial overgrowth. Affected
patients may be more prone to recurrences in the future and should be cautious
about hot tub use.
Next: What is razor burn folliculitis? »
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