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Folliculitis Treatment Overview

Find the right care and learn about different treatments.
Reviewed by Buoy's medical team
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Care Plan

1

First steps to consider

  • Can often be treated at home with acne cleansers and OTC medicated cream
See home treatments
2

When you may need a provider

  • Folliculitis is not starting to improve after 2 weeks
  • It is spreading (you have new bumps every few days), or some spots are very painful
  • Folliculitis developed after being in a hot tub.
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Emergency Care

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Call 911 or go to the ER if you have any of the following symptoms:

  • Fever and rash
  • Spreading redness around any of the folliculitis lesions
  • Severe pain
  • Body aches or chill

The suppliers listed follow Buoy’s clinical guidelines, but listing the suppliers does not constitute a referral or recommendation by Buoy. When you click on the link and/or engage with these services Buoy will be compensated.

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All treatments for folliculitis
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Read more about folliculitis care options

When to see a healthcare provider

Sometimes, you may need to see a healthcare provider for folliculitis.

See a provider if:

  • You have been using at-home treatments and changing how you shave for about 2–4 weeks and there isn’t any improvement.
  • You keep seeing new lesions or bumps.
  • You noticed the folliculitis after being in a hot tub. Certain types of folliculitis that are from being in a hot tub need to be treated with oral antibiotics.
  • Your folliculitis becomes painful.

Getting diagnosed

Your doctor can diagnose folliculitis by examining the rash. You may be asked about your shaving habits, certain medications you may be taking and whether you have been in a hot tub.

If your folliculitis is not getting better, your doctor may decide to take a bacterial, fungal, or viral culture to determine the cause of the folliculitis. To do the test, your doctor will use a needle to open one of the pus bumps (pustules) and then swipe the inside of the pustule with a cotton swab.

What to expect from your visit

  • Your doctor will examine your skin and ask what you’ve tried to treat your folliculitis.
  • They may recommend an OTC medication or give you a prescription cream or pill. If there isn’t any improvement after using topical antibiotics, or if your folliculitis is severe, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics. It could be a 2–4 week course.
  • If your folliculitis doesn’t seem to be getting better, your doctor may then take bacterial, viral, and fungal cultures of it to find out the cause.
  • If a fungus is causing your folliculitis, your doctor may recommend a prescription topical or oral antifungal.
  • If your folliculitis still doesn't get better, your doctor may take a skin biopsy to make sure that the rash is not another condition that looks like folliculitis.
  • Sometimes folliculitis is not from a bacteria, fungus, or virus. It may be diagnosed as chronic folliculitis. Your doctor may recommend taking isotretinoin (Accutane) to manage it. Accutane is a vitamin A derivative that helps stabilize the hair follicle and decrease oil production. It should never be taken if you are trying to get pregnant or not using birth control.

Prescription folliculitis medications

  • Clindamycin lotion or gel, a topical antibacterial
  • Bactroban ointment (Mupirocin), a topical antibacterial
  • Cephalexin (Keflex), an oral antibiotic
  • Doxycycline, an oral antibiotic
  • Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim, an oral antibiotic
  • Ciprofloxacin, an oral antibiotic used to treat hot tub folliculitis
  • Ketoconazole wash or cream, an antifungal used to treat fungal folliculitis
  • Fluconazole, an oral antifungal used to treat fungal folliculitis
  • Isotretinoin (Accutane)—do not take if trying to get pregnant or not using birth control.

Types of folliculitis providers

  • A primary care provider can treat mild to moderate symptoms.
  • A dermatologist can diagnose and treat folliculitis and evaluate you for other conditions that may mimic folliculitis.
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