Inflammation of hair follicles

Inflammation of hair follicles includes processes called folliculitis, ostiofolliculitis and furunculus.

This is a disease most often caused by staphylococci affecting the hair or hair follicle.

Folliculitis
Folliculitis usually presents as bright red papulopustules. Staphylococci penetrate the entire depth of the hair follicle and cause so-called perifollicular inflammation. They can occur anywhere in the hairy part of the skin. Their seeding is typical in young boys who start shaving. It is also possible to observe secondary folliculitis on the skin of the face and back with the simultaneous occurrence of acne vulgaris.

Osteofolliculitis
In this condition, the mouth of the hair follicle becomes inflamed. They appear as small pustules with a tense surface (sometimes a small indentation can be seen) from which hair emerges. The content of the pustule is greenish-yellow pus, a narrow inflammatory rim is visible in the vicinity. They occur in children in the hairy part of the head and in adolescents, in addition, on the limbs and in the places of moist hair growth.

Furuncle
A furuncle is formed when the infection progresses to the sides and in depth, and at the same time necrosis of the entire follicle and perifollicular tissue occurs. First, a hard, painful mass forms on the skin, then a demarcation inflammation develops around the necrotic follicle and an abscessforms. When the superficial pustule is removed, the abscess will drain to the outside and heal with a scar.

It is most often found on the buttocks, inner thighs, nape of the neck and external ear canal. The occurrence of furuncle on the upper lip, in the nasal passage and nasolabial folds is associated with the risk of cavernous sinus thrombosis. School-age children and adolescents are usually affected.

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