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eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Diseases of the Adnexa

Folliculitis
Author: Elizabeth Kline Satter, MD, MPH, Chairman, Department of Dermatology, Naval Medical Center
San Diego
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Updated: Mar 3, 2010

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 Overview
 Differential Diagnoses & Workup
 Treatment & Medication
 Follow-up
 Multimedia
 References
 Keywords
Introduction

Background
Folliculitis is defined histologically as the presence of inflammatory cells within the wall and ostia of
the hair follicle, creating a follicular-based pustule. The actual type of inflammatory cells can vary
and may be dependent on the etiology of the folliculitis, the stage at which the biopsy specimen
was obtained, or both. The inflammation can be either limited to the superficial aspect of the follicle
with primary involvement of the infundibulum or the inflammation can affect both the superficial
and deep aspect of the follicle. Deep folliculitis can eventuate from chronic lesions of superficial
folliculitis or from lesions that are manipulated, and this may ultimately result in scarring.

Perifolliculitis, on the other hand, is defined as the presence of inflammatory cells in the
perifollicular tissues and can involve the adjacent reticular dermis. Folliculitis and perifolliculitis can
manifest independently or together as a result of follicular disruption and irritation.

Acne represents a noninfectious form of folliculitis. The follicular inflammation seen in acne occurs
as a secondary event as a result of follicular obstruction from abnormal keratinization. In acne, the
superficial aspect of the follicle distends and is obstructed by a keratin plug. The sebum fills the
follicle, and the normally commensal bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) produces excess free
fatty acids, which trigger follicular inflammation.

Acne-related eMedicine articles include Acne Conglobata, Acne Fulminans, Acne Keloidalis

Nuchae, Acne Vulgaris, and Acneiform Eruptions.

Pathophysiology
Folliculitis is a primary inflammation of the hair follicle that occurs as a result of various infections,
or it can be secondary to follicular trauma or occlusion.

Eosinophilic folliculitis differs in that it is thought to occur as a result of an autoimmune process

directed against the sebocytes or some component of the sebum.

Although the etiology of papulopustular eruption secondary to epidermal growth factor receptor
(EGF-R) inhibitors is unknown, it is hypothesized to occur secondary to abnormal epidermal
differentiation that leads to follicular obstruction and subsequent inflammation.1,2

Frequency
United States

Superficial folliculitis is common, but because it is often self-limited, patients rarely present to the
doctor. Those who are seen more often have either recurrent/persistent superficial folliculitis or
have deep folliculitis. Although the incidence is unknown, certain conditions make patients more
susceptible. These include frequent shaving, immunosuppression, preexisting dermatoses, long-
term antibiotic use, occlusive clothing and/or occlusive dressings, exposure to hot humid
temperatures, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and use of EGF-R inhibitor medications.

Folliculitis has been reported following smallpox or anthrax vaccine. These cases may become
more common because more military troops are being deployed.3

Mortality/Morbidity
Although complications from folliculitis are uncommon, they include cellulitis, furunculosis,
scarring, and permanent hair loss.

Race
Folliculitis occurs in persons of any race, but pseudofolliculitis and traction folliculitis occurs more
commonly in African Americans and classic eosinophilic folliculitis is more common in Japanese
persons.4,5
Sex
For most cases of folliculitis, no data are available to indicate the presence of a sexual
predilection; however, eosinophilic folliculitis is reported to more frequently affect males and
Pityrosporum folliculitis may have a slightly increased female incidence.

Age
Folliculitis can be seen in persons of all ages.

Clinical

History
The folliculitis patient typically reports an acute onset of papules and pustules associated with
pruritus or mild discomfort.

Patients with deep folliculitis usually experience more pain and may have suppurative drainage.
Persistent or recurrent lesions may result in scarring and permanent hair loss.

The papulopustular eruption secondary to EGF-R inhibitors typically occurs within the first 2 weeks
of the initiation of therapy and can be associated with pruritus, pain, and desquamation.

Physical
Patients with superficial folliculitis usually present with multiple small papules and pustules on an
erythematous base that are pierced by a central hair, although the hair may not always be
visualized. Deeper lesions manifest as erythematous, often fluctuant, nodules. Sometimes, a
patterned folliculitis occurs in areas that were shaved or occluded. Any hair-bearing site can be
affected, but the sites most often involved are the face, scalp, thighs, axilla, and inguinal area.

Folliculitis has been traditionally divided into superficial and deep forms; however, most superficial
forms can evolve into the deep form. The most common superficial form of infectious folliculitis is
known as impetigo of Bockhart or barbers itch and is caused by Staphylococcus aureus, such as
the infection shown in the image below . The lesions are seen in the bearded area, often on the
upper lip near the nose, as erythematous follicular-based papules or pustules that may rupture and
leave a yellow crust. The pustule is often pierced by a hair that is easily extracted from the follicle.
This form of folliculitis occurs more commonly in carriers of nasal staphylococci. Another type of
superficial folliculitis caused by staphylococci is a sty, which only differs from typical folliculitis in
that it occurs on the eyelid.

A 22-month-old boy with a staphylococcal folliculitis on the buttocks. The lesions

have been excoriated. Diaper occlusion may have been related to onset of the
rash.
When involvement of the follicle is more extensive, a follicular-centered dermal abscess results.
When the condition occurs on the face, it is referred to as sycosis barbae (vulgaris), but if it occurs
elsewhere, it is referred to as a furuncle or boil. A confluence of several furuncles results in a
carbuncle.6
Tinea barbae is an uncommon form of superficial folliculitis that clinically resembles its bacterial
counterpart; however, it is caused by a superficial infection by various zoophilic dermatophytes.
This superficial fungal folliculitis is most commonly seen in male farmers and typically affects one
side of the face in the submaxillary region or chin. Patients with more extensive involvement of the
follicle or those who experience an exaggerated hypersensitivity reaction to the dermatophyte
infection present with enlarged, boggy purulent plaques, called kerions, in the site of the prior
superficial infection. Another deep fungal folliculitis occurs on the legs of women who shave, and
this is called Majocchi granuloma.

Gram-negative folliculitis primarily occurs in patients on long-term antibiotic therapy, often

antibiotics given for the treatment of acne. This type of folliculitis arises from disequilibrium of the
normal skin bacteria in favor of gram-negative organisms such as Enterobacter, Klebsiella,
Escherichia, Serratia, and Proteus species. These lesions manifest as multiple small pustules that
are most pronounced in the perinasal region and can spread to the chin and cheeks.

Pseudomonal folliculitis is another gram-negative folliculitis and is also known as hot tub (spa)
folliculitis and wet suit folliculitis (see the images below). It appears 8-48 hours after exposure to
contaminated water or wet suits as erythematous follicular-based papules and pustules that are
most concentrated in areas occluded by swimwear. This form of folliculitis may be associated with
systemic findings such as fever, headache, sore throat, malaise, or gastrointestinal distress, but it
is a self-limited condition that resolves in 7-14 days. Another similar condition is hot hand-foot
syndrome, which occurs in a similar clinical situation but eventuates in painful erythematous
nodules and papules on the palms and soles rather than folliculitis.7
A 30-year-old woman with hot tub folliculitis. She had used a hot tub 2 days
prior, wearing a bikini-style bathing suit.

Pseudomonas folliculitis. Courtesy of Hon Pak, MD.

Pityrosporum folliculitis is typically seen in young adults, with a slight female predominance, as
intensively pruritic small uniform papules and pustules on the back, chest, and shoulders. It occurs
more often in warm, humid climates and may be more frequent in immunocompromised patients or
in patients on long-term antibiotics. This eruption is due to follicular infection by Malassezia furfur,
which is a lipophilic yeast.
An unusual cause of folliculitis occurs as a result of either overgrowth of Demodex mites or an
acquired hypersensitivity to the mite. This form of folliculitis manifests with a more diffuse
background erythema, in addition to the follicular-centered papules and pustules.8

An uncommon form of folliculitis is due to an infection with herpes viruses. This form of folliculitis
can be caused by an infection by herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 and is found in areas adjacent to
a primary cold sore. It is spread by shaving. These lesions appear as grouped or scattered
vesicles.9,10

Varicella-zoster virus may also cause a primarily follicular-based infection. These patients present
with erythematous plaques in a dermatomal distribution; however, vesicles do not typically occur.
Biopsy is often required to confirm the diagnosis.10

Folliculitis can also have a noninfectious etiology caused by follicular trauma or occlusion or may
simply be idiopathic. For example, pseudofolliculitis barbae, also known as shaving or razor
bumps, occurs primarily in the bearded area of African American males or other racial groups with
thick, coarse, curly hair. This condition is not a folliculitis per se, but rather a perifolliculitis that
arises as a result of the hair reentering the skin adjacent to its exit point from the follicle. The hair
then acts as a foreign body and incites inflammation. The inflammation can spontaneously resolve
if the hair is extracted or it can become associated with a chronic foreign body granulomatous
reaction and may result in scarring.

Acne keloidalis nuchae is a similar condition that arises on the neck and occipital region of the
scalp, but this condition is both a folliculitis and perifolliculitis and has greater potential for scarring.

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis and anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome both

manifest as an acute onset of a discrete pustular eruption arising shortly after beginning therapy
with various medications. Although the eruption that occurs in acute generalized exanthematous
pustulosis is often differentiated from anticonvulsant hypersensitivity syndrome by having
nonfollicular-based pustules, either condition can have follicular or nonfollicular-based pustules.
 Papulopustular drug eruption due to EGF-R is a relatively new entity and consists of a follicular
eruption on the face, chest, and upper back that occurs approximately 2 weeks after initiation of
chemotherapy. It is seen in up to 90% of patients taking EGF-R inhibitors, and its presence
correlates to a positive response to chemotherapy.1,2

The last noninfectious folliculitis to be discussed is eosinophilic folliculitis. It manifests as intensely

pruritic pustules and can occur in at least 3 different clinical situations. The first is the original
description of eosinophilic folliculitis, also know as Ofuji disease. It arises in Japanese males at an
average age of 30 years. The lesions initially begin as discrete papules and pustules that
eventually coalesce to form circinate plaques composed of a peripheral rim of pustules with central
clearing. These lesions appear cyclically on the face, back, and extensor surfaces of the arms and
spontaneously resolve in 7-10 days. Often, peripheral eosinophilia is present.5

A second form of eosinophilic folliculitis arises in patients with AIDS and other conditions that
result in immunosuppression.11 This form is seen most often in adult males with a CD4+ count of
less than 300 cells/μL. It is persistent and does not form an annular pattern. The lesions tend to
favor the face, scalp, and upper trunk.12

The last form of eosinophilic folliculitis occurs in infants, usually within the first 24 hours to first few
weeks of life. It is more common in male infants and usually is self-limited; however, as in Ofuji
disease, it may follow a cyclic course lasting months to years. The lesions primarily affect the scalp
and eyebrows. This form may also be associated with peripheral eosinophilia.

Causes
The causes of folliculitis are multiple and include infection, friction and other causes of follicular
trauma, excessive perspiration, and occlusion; however, many cases remain idiopathic. Patients
who have a reduced immune status, prior skin injury, or dermatoses or those who are obese may
be more at risk.

More on Folliculitis

Overview: Folliculitis
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Folliculitis
Treatment & Medication: Folliculitis
Follow-up: Folliculitis
Multimedia: Folliculitis
References
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