Dr. Alai is an actively practicing medical and surgical dermatologist in south Orange County, California. She has been a professor of dermatology and family medicine at the University of California, Irvine since 2000. She is U.S. board-certified in dermatology, a 10-year-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and Fellow of the American Society of Mohs Surgery.
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
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.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or widening of the main artery (the aorta) as it courses down through the abdomen. The most common cause of aortic aneurysms is
"hardening of the arteries" called arteriosclerosis.
Cancer is a disease caused by an abnormal growth of cells, also called malignancy. It is a group of 100 different diseases, and is not contagious. Cancer can be treated through chemotherapy, a treatment of drugs that destroy cancer cells.
Keratosis pilaris (KP) is a common skin disorder in which small white or red bumps appear around hair follicles on the upper arms, thighs, buttocks, and cheeks. The cause of KP is unknown. There is no cure for keratosis pilaris, and the condition may resolve on its own. Gentle exfoliation, professional manual extraction, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion, along with topical products, are the best treatments for this condition.
Scar formation is a natural part of the healing process after injury. The depth and size of the wound incision and the location of the injury impact the scar's characteristics, but your age, heredity and even sex or ethnicity will affect how your skin reacts.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
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