Folliculitis is quite common and can appear on any area of the body. With mild levels of folliculitis, you can completely cure it at home. Let's take a look at effective ways to treat folliculitis at home with Dermalogica!
Signs of folliculitis you should know
Folliculitis can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp. When you have folliculitis, your pores will be red and rough. Initially, an inflamed hair follicle will look like a small pink or red rash on the skin. Mild folliculitis can cause signs and symptoms such as:
- Itchy
- Swollen and painful hair follicles
- Tingling sensation
- Rough and flaky skin
There are different types of folliculitis, including:
- Razor folliculitis
- Hot tub folliculitis
- Folliculitis due to shaving
- Sun-induced folliculitis
According to dermatologists, folliculitis can look like acne. At this time, you will see small pimples appear, red or white. Additionally, fluid-filled bumps can crust over and become painful and itchy. In some cases, folliculitis also appears as a large bump on the skin.
10 Ways to Treat Folliculitis at Home
#1 Use soap to bathe
Bathe with warm water and soap twice a day. For facial skin, you should also clean your skin in the morning and evening with a gentle cleanser. Then dry with a clean towel and avoid sharing towels with anyone. In addition, you should also wash clothes and towels with hot water and detergent that does not cause skin irritation.
#2 Wear loose, cool clothing
Folliculitis can occur from wearing clothing that irritates the skin. Or when tight clothing rubs against the skin. You should avoid wearing clothes that hug your body such as yoga pants, tight jeans...
Wet skin is also more susceptible to folliculitis. You should wear fabrics that are loose, breathable and easily absorb sweat. Also, if you sweat a lot or your clothes get wet. Remember to dry your sweat and change your clothes immediately.
#3 Warm compress
The next way to treat folliculitis at home is to apply a warm towel. This method can help relieve pain and swollen skin caused by folliculitis. You should use new or sterilized towels. You can wash the towel in warm water and soap. This helps ensure that all bacteria remaining on the towel are eliminated.
How to apply warm towel to skin
- Soak the towel in warm water.
- Squeeze out all the water and apply a towel to the folliculitis affected area.
- Apply the towel several times a day, using a clean towel each time.
#4 Apply aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel can help heal skin faster. In addition, aloe vera gel also has a cooling effect on the skin. This can help relieve itching, redness and swelling on the skin. Besides, it can also help prevent some types of bacteria that cause infections.
You should use pure aloe vera gel, without adding perfume or other chemicals. Apply aloe vera gel to your skin after cleaning the area with soap and water.
#5 Use hydrogen peroxide
Another way to treat folliculitis at home is to use hydrogen peroxide. You can find hydrogen peroxide at drug stores. Hydrogen peroxide can help eliminate some of the bacteria and fungi that cause folliculitis.
How to use hydrogen peroxide for skin areas with inflamed pores is as follows:
- Dilute hydrogen peroxide with clean water.
- Apply the mixture to the skin using a cotton swab. You can use a small spray bottle to cover larger areas of skin.
- Allow skin to dry and reapply if needed.
Avoid using hydrogen peroxide on healthy skin areas. This will kill the good bacteria on your skin. Because some beneficial bacteria help eliminate infection-causing germs. Such as folliculitis.
#6 Use a soothing cream
Over-the-counter anti-itch products can help relieve folliculitis symptoms. They contain hydrocortisone, a steroid that helps reduce itching, swelling, and redness.
You should apply a thin layer of steroid cream or lotion to the inflamed skin. Wash hands after use. Hydrocortisone cream is a medicine. Therefore you need to read the instructions for use carefully..
#7 Use antibiotic topical medication
Using antibiotic skin medication is also an effective way to treat folliculitis at home. Antibiotic creams, gels, and ointments can help improve small areas of skin affected by folliculitis. You should apply the cream with a clean and new cotton swab.
Avoid using too much antibiotic cream and only apply it to your skin when necessary. Overuse of these products can eliminate the good bacteria on your skin.
#8 Avoid shaving
Some types of folliculitis, like itching from a haircut, occur after shaving. This can happen when shaving. This can irritate the skin and expose hair follicles. It also increases the risk of infection.
Avoid shaving until the folliculitis is gone. Every time you shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Don't forget to clean your skin with warm water and soap before and after shaving.
#9 Don't wax
Using wax can cause the hair follicles to open too much. This can lead to ingrown hairs and skin infections. For example, folliculitis.
Avoid waxing areas with folliculitis. Instead, try other types of hair removal methods like depilatory creams.
#10 Use essential oils
Another way to treat folliculitis at home that you can refer to is using essential oils. According to dermatologists, some essential oils have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Therefore, they can fight bacteria and fungi that cause folliculitis.
You should not apply essential oils directly to the skin. Dilute the essential oil by adding a few drops to your moisturizer. Essential oils have powerful effects. So if you use it directly or too much, it can cause skin irritation.
Essential oils that can help treat skin infections such as folliculitis include:
- Cinnamon essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Tea tree essential oil
- Chamomile essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
Avoid using essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. They may not be safe for infants.
When should I see a doctor?
In some cases, folliculitis can sometimes become serious. At this time, you need to take prescription antibiotics and steroids. In some rare cases surgery is required.
You should see a doctor if your folliculitis gets worse. Some symptoms that indicate your folliculitis is more serious include:
- Whiteheads around hair follicles
- Pus oozing from the skin
- Scaly sores on the skin
- Swollen skin
- Hair loss
- Scar
Hopefully this article will help readers learn more about how to treat folliculitis at home. Please apply folliculitis treatment methods properly to have healthy skin! If you have any questions about skin health, please contact hotline 0911370011. Experts from Dermalogica will quickly answer all your questions.