1. Adult Skin Problems Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Skin Conditions Quiz
3. Gallery of Skin Problems Pictures

Medical Author:

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Gary W. Cole, MD, FAAD

Dr. Cole is board certified in dermatology. He obtained his BA degree in bacteriology, his MA degree in microbiology, and his MD at the University of California, Los Angeles. He trained in dermatology at the University of Oregon, where he completed his residency.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

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.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• Folliculitis facts
• What is folliculitis? What are folliculitis symptoms and signs? What does folliculitis look like?
• Who develops folliculitis?
• What are the causes of folliculitis?
• How is folliculitis diagnosed?
• What else could folliculitis look like?
• What are common types of folliculitis?
• What is hot tub folliculitis or Jacuzzi folliculitis?
• What is razor burn folliculitis?
• What is pseudofolliculitis barbae?
• Is folliculitis curable? Is folliculitis contagious?
• What are possible complications of folliculitis?
• How is folliculitis treated?
• What is the prognosis (outlook) with folliculitis?
• How do I prevent folliculitis?
• Patient Comments: Folliculitis - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Folliculitis - Describe Your Experience
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Folliculitis Index

Most cases of folliculitis are completely curable. There are very uncommon, long-standing cases of folliculitis that may not be curable. Often these more resistant cases may be controlled with proper treatment and medication. Folliculitis sometimes clears completely by itself without treatment. It usually improves after the teen years and young adulthood. Most patients may expect a short course with easy clearing.

Although most cases of folliculitis are not contagious, cases caused by an infection may be transmitted through person-to-person skin contact, shared razors, or through Jacuzzis or hot tubs. Folliculitis may be sterile (noninfectious) or caused by a fungus, bacterium, or virus. It is possible to give it to someone else through close skin contact. Some people are simply more prone to developing folliculitis because of their overall health, possible altered immune status, exposure history, and other predisposing skin conditions like eczema or severely dry skin.

Complications are infrequent since folliculitis is usually a self-limited skin condition. Rarely, the infected bumps may enlarge, causing an abscess (furuncles or carbuncles) or painful cysts requiring minor surgical drainage. Deeper or more extensive skin infections called cellulitis can be a rare complication.

Another potential complication includes temporary skin discoloration called post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (lighter than the regular skin color) or hyperpigmentation (darker then the regular skin color). This altered skin color may occur after the inflamed red bumps have improved or after a temporary flare.

Permanent scarring is uncommon but may occur from picking, overly aggressive scrubbing, or other deep inflammation.