Infected Hair Follicle ( Folliculitis , boil , carbuncle)

Infected Hair Follicle ( Folliculitis , Boil , Carbuncle)

Infected Hair Follicle ( Folliculitis , boil , carbuncle)

Infection of hair follicles or bacterial disease of the hair follicles: A general term that refers to various conditions characterized by inflammation and infection of the hair follicles caused by bacteria.

What are the functions of hair

Protection: One of the primary functions of hair is to protect the body from external elements. Scalp hair acts as a natural barrier against harmful UV rays from the sun. Eyebrows help prevent sweat, debris, and moisture from entering the eye, while eyelashes act as a shield that helps protect the eyes from foreign bodies.Insulation: Hair helps regulate body temperature by providing insulation.Filtration: Nasal hairs, commonly known as nasal hairs or nasal hairs, help filter and trap particles, dust, and allergens from entering the respiratory tract.Sensory perception: Hair follicles contain sensory nerve endings that make them sensitive to touch, movement, and vibration.Sexual attraction: In many mammals, including humans, hair plays a role in sexual attraction and mate selection. Head hair, facial hair, and body hair can contribute to physical appearance and attractiveness.

Why should we beware of bacterial inflammation of the hair follicles?

As we have noticed, hair is very important, especially in terms of beauty and personality distinction, so a monthly budget is allocated to take care of it in all respects to always appear beautiful.
But we forget that the basis of this beauty depends first on the health of the hair follicle and its absence from diseases, which bacterial infection are the most important, because often begin simple and small and can treated with a simple treatment.
But when they are not treated, they lead to complication as spread of infection either by infect other hair , or go deeper to formation of painful cysts and abscess ,that require surgical intervention that leads to scarring and permanent hair loss , or spread to blood and caused sepsis .

In this article, we will learn about the most famous bacterial diseases that affect the hair follicle through the following points:

1. Predisposing factors .

1. Types of bacterial hair follicle disease .

1. Treatment and Prevention .

1. Predisposing factors :

• Are factors that reduce the protective function of the skin is necessary.
• Divided to Exogenous and Endogenous Factors.

Exogenous Factors:

1. Trauma to the skin.

1. Lack of hygienic skin care.

1. High or low temperatures.

1. Increased sweating.

Endogenous Factors:

1. Endocrine (diabetes mellitus, hypofunction of the thyroid gland, pituitary-adrenal system, sex glands).
2. the presence of foci of staphylococcal infection in various organs and tissues.

2.Types of bacterial hair follicle disease

1. OSTIOFOLLICULITIS.

• The disease is acute inflammatory process is localized at the mouth of the hair follicle. 
• Form of a superficial pustule the size of a pinhead, conical in shape, in the center of the hair penetrated. 
• Localized more often on the skin of the face, neck, thighs, lower leg. 
• Pustule exists for 2-3 days, after which it shrinks into a brownish crust.

2. VULGAR SYCOSIS.

• The causative agent is staphylococcus aureus.
•  Dermatosis has a chronic course due to a decrease in the protective properties of the skin in young men due to the presence of foci of infection, gastrointestinal pathology, depressive hypochondriac symptoms.
• Clinical : disease proceeds like ostiofolliculitis, superficial folliculitis. 
• It is necessary to differentiate with parasitic sycosis, which is characterized by a similar clinical course, but fungi of the genus Trichophiton are detected in the contents of pustules.

3. FOLLICULITIS.

• The disease develops when the infection spreads deep into the hair follicle.
•  Folliculitis is divided into superficial and deep. 
• Superficial form the follicle is affected at the level of the papillary layer of the dermis, so it ends without a trace.
• Deep form the inflammatory process captures the entire follicle, and the rejection of purulent-necrotic masses is accompanied by the formation of an ulcer, followed by scarring.

4. FURUNCLE

• Acute total purulent-necrotic inflammation of the hair follicle.
• Stages of furuncle: infiltration (deep painful infiltrate in the hypodermis) ,then fluctuation (softening in the central part of the node), then ulceration (opening the node with the formation of a deep ulcer with a purulent-necrotic rod), finally scarring (replacement of the ulcer with a scar). 
• The course and prognosis of the disease depend primarily on the localization of the boil.
•  Life-threatening to the patient is the localization on the face (above the nasolabial fold), the scalp, the external auditory canal, this is due to direct anastomoses between the sinuses of the brain and the vascular network of the face, the danger of developing meningitis and sepsis.

5. CARBUNCLE

• Differs from a boil by involving several closely spaced hair follicles in the process, which leads to more pronounced necrosis, destruction of the area of localization of the disease, in this regard, patients require the help of a surgeon (surgical removal of necrotic masses).
• The general condition is disturbed: headache, malaise, fever.
• In the general blood test, leukocytosis is noted with a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left.

3. Treatment and Prevention

Treatment

1. Antibiotics:

Topical antibiotics, such as antibiotic creams or ointments, may be sufficient for mild cases. Severe or recurrent cases may require oral antibiotics.

2. Warm compresses:

Applying warm compresses to the affected area can help soothe inflammation, reduce pain, and promote healing. Gently clean the area with mild soap and warm water before applying a warm compress. Be careful not to irritate or further injure the affected area.

3. Proper Hygiene:

Maintaining good hygiene is essential in managing folliculitis. Clean the affected area regularly with a mild soap and warm water. Avoid excessive rubbing or using harsh chemicals that can further irritate the skin. Keep the area dry and avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

4. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can help reduce the pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with osteoarthritis.

5. Avoidance of irritants:

This can include chemicals, allergens, or friction from tight clothing. Consider any products or personal care products that may aggravate inflammation and take appropriate measures to avoid them.

6. Medical evaluation:

If folliculitis persists, worsens, or becomes recurrent despite home care measures, see a physician.

7. Treatment of boil :

• when localizing a boil on the face or neck, it is necessary to go hospital, where treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics, strict bed rest is prescribed. No local treatment is applied.
• When localizing a boil in other areas of the skin, treatment depends on the stage of the disease.
• In the stage of infiltration, dressings with ichthyol ointment or ichthyol cakes (ichthyol + gauze or cotton wool) are used.
• After opening the node, removal of the node is used. necrotic rod, toilet wound surface with hydrogen peroxide, dressings with hypertonic solution.
• In the stage of scarring, healing therapy is used anti-scar agents .

Prevention

1. Prevention of boil and carbuncle:

• Timely treatment of folliculitis and ostiofolliculitis, rehabilitation of foci of focal infection (especially in young patients)
• Treatment of concomitant pathology (endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus), pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory diseases of the genital organs)
• Exclusion of provoking factors.

2. Prevention of ostiofolliculitis:

• Timely treatment.
• Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene
• Wiping the skin with disinfectant solutions.

3.Prevention of folliculitis:

• Elimination of factors provoking 
• Compliance with the rules of hygiene;
•  Treatment of superficial lesions (ostiofolliculitis) and folliculitis).

Finally, if you suffer from one of these diseases, you must follow up with your specialist doctor, and the article is not considered a substitute for seeing a doctor, but rather it is for educational purposes only.

reference 

1.  McMichael A, Guzman Sanchez D, et al. “Folliculitis and the follicular occlusion tetrad.” In: Bolognia JL, et al. Dermatology. (second edition). Mosby Elsevier, Spain, 2008: 517-9.
2. Durdu M, Ilkit M. First step in the differential diagnosis of folliculitis: cytology. Crit Rev Microbial 2013; 39: 9–25. DOI: 10.3109/1040841X.2012.682051.