Folliculitis is a very common skin condition that results in inflammation related to a hair follicle. This can often have a clinical overlap with acne. This will often present with red bumps at the base of a hair follicle. Folliculitis can be caused by gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with treatment dependent on the causative agent of the eruption.
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 type of inflammatory cells varies depending on the etiology of the folliculitis and/or the stage at which the biopsy specimen was obtained.
You may get folliculitis if you have damaged hair follicles. Shaving or wearing clothes that rub the skin can irritate the follicles, which can lead to folliculitis. They also can become blocked or irritated by sweat, machine oils, or makeup. Folliculitis usually looks like red pimples with a hair in the center of each one. The pimples may have pus in them, and they may itch or burn. When the pimples break open, they may drain pus, blood, or both.
Folliculitis Decalvans (FD) is a rare neutrophilic infammation of the scalp characterized by painful, recurrent purulent follicular exudation resulting in primary cicatricial alopecia. However, unclear etiology makes FD treatment a difficult task.