13 Home Remedies for Folliculitis Treatment

Folliculitis is an inflammation or irritation in the hair follicles. It’s a common skin condition that’s a result of fungal or bacterial infections, leading to small red bumps, pus-filled follicles and look like clogged pores or break open pimples.

Types of folliculitis may appear in superficial and deeper form, including:

• Bacterial Folliculitis: Staph infections in deeper skin tissues, by wound or damage hair follicles.
• Pseudofolliculitis Barbae: Type of folliculitis that is caused by ingrown hairs.
• Pseudomonas / Hot Tub Folliculitis: Hot Tub rash caused by tight clothing while on the swimming pool.
• Pityrosporum Folliculitis: Caused by a yeast (yellowish surface froth) infection of the skin that shows red and itchy occurring lesions.
• Sycosis Barbae: Deeper form of Barber’s Itch or Pseudofolliculitis
• Boils: Deep hair follicle infection that can result extreme scarring.
• Gram-negative Folliculitis: Can be a side effect of a severe acne antibiotic therapy.
• Eosinophilic Folliculitis: Dark pigments that appear in people with badly controlled HIV, late stage of cancer or AIDS.
• Many, find it uncomfortable, and most people who experience it want to get rid of it fast. Luckily, some folliculitis home remedies may soothe to clear up clogged follicles – tiny openings or pockets where hair grows – and prevent spread from one part of the skin to another.

Folliculitis Treatment at Home (Remedies)

1. Regular wash

Washing at least twice a day using antibacterial soap helps to keep hair follicles clean. It helps remove dirt, sweat, and excessive oil that may increase risk of developing folliculitis, and prevents bacterial growth.

Clean the area with warm water and soap at least two times a day – every morning and evening – and dry off with unshared towel. Also, since extra sweat may trigger bacterial infection and can worsen the skin condition, make sure you use hot water and detergent to wash clothing or towels.

2. Do not use tight wearing

Wearing tight yoga pants, skinny jeans, spandex, high boots, rubber gloves, leggings, and other tight clothing irritate the skin and likely get infected. When skin rubs against skin or trap heat, especially wet with sweat, it allows the normal-sitting bacteria back down into pores and help cause breakouts.

Wear loose, breathable, and comfy cotton outfits. If you’re having gym routine or workout and can’t avoid to sweat or use sporty clothing, dry off and change right away after.

3. Saltwater Sitz Bath

Soak yourself in a warm tub or hot tubs with saltwater in it or sitz bath for butt area. Saltwater may help to sterilize an affected pus area and effective home treatment folliculitis for minor cases. It’s soothing warmth may help to open pores, draw out bacteria or pus, relieve and clear the skin naturally.

4. Apply Warm Compress

Warm washcloth may help open the hair follicles, making pus and bacteria easier to withdraw. The warmth may soothe to help soreness, swelling, and pain controlled.

Mayo Clinic (rights reserved), recommends 1 teaspoon of table salt in 2 cups of water mixture, then apply it with newly sterilized or boiled washcloth to affected areas.

5. Exfoliate

One effective treatment of folliculitis include exfoliation. Using loofah, or exfoliating scrub helps get rid of dead skin cells and residual dirt. It may contribute much to clogged pores, hair follicles, and infection. However, over scrubbing also result harsh, especially for those with sensitive or tender skin.

You can use soft wash cloth or mild loofah scrubs to avoid abrasive exfoliation.

6. Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera has proven more effective natural ingredient that stop some bacteria-causing infection. It works to heal faster redness, swelling, or itching and with cooling sensation that relaxes layering skin areas. Simply apply Aloe Vera to the affected skin areas after wash and soap with water.

7. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

You can easily find Hydrogen Peroxide in your local pharmacy. It helps get rid of bacterial or fungal cause folliculitis. How to treat them goes as follows:

• Dilute hydrogen peroxide in sterile water.
• You can use cotton swab or spray to apply in affected areas.
• Let it dry and reapply as needed. Note: Avoid application on healthy skin areas, it kills “good” bacteria that protects skin from harsh elements.

Example: Hydrogen Peroxide topical product

8. Try Over-the-counter lotions, steroid cream, and moisturizer

Anti-itching creams and lotions can help soothe folliculitis symptoms. Hydrocortisone, kind of steroids, help to ease down itching, redness, and swelling. Apply it thinly over the skin area and wash hands after.

Keep the skin moist and use non-greasy moisturizers that have lactic acid content. It has a similar salicylic acid compound that gets rid of dead skin cells and keep moisture.

9. Topical Antibiotic Creams

Over-the-counter antibiotic creams such as Bacitracin or Neosporin gels, and ointments may clear up small patch signs and symptoms of folliculitis. Simply apply the cream with a new, clean cotton swab.

Creams containing mineral zinc can also help to reduce folliculitis symptoms.

10. Avoid shaving

Barber’s Itch or Pseudofolliculitis, happen after skin shaving – especially folliculitis on legs. This can happen on the skin, face or whole body. Hair follicles may open up and irritate skin if the shaving is improper, such irritation may risk infection.

If you’re having signs and symptoms of folliculitis, avoid shaving. When you do shave, make sure your blades are clean with warm and soapy water before and after shaving.

11. Skip Waxing

Too much hair removal like waxing can cause damage to hair follicles and cause ingrown hair or skin infection like folliculitis. Use depilatory creams for an alternative hair removal procedure or perhaps opt for laser hair removal if you want to diminish it fast.

12. Wet wrap therapy

You can do this home treatment for folliculitis to reduce itching and irritation. Prevent folliculitis to worsen, by not scratching (like folliculitis in scalp) itchy skin. It speeds up healing, for sure.

• Wash the area with warm soapy water.
• Cut the cotton cloth into strips or use gauze bandages.
• Pour boiled or sterile water into a bowl.
• Soak the cotton or gauze and squeeze out the water.
• Pat in the entire affected area.
• Cover the wet cotton or gauze strip with dry ones, then leave it at 8 hours in maximum.
• Remove bandages and reapply if necessary.

13. Natural and Essential Oils

Some oils may work against bacteria and fungi, as it has its antibacterial and antifungal properties. However, you can’t be too aggressive to apply it directly on the skin as it may cause irritation. Make sure to dilute an essential oil to a carrier oil or moisturizing cream.

Essential Oils that help treat folliculitis may include:

• Tea tree oil
• Chamomile oil
• Eucalyptus oil
• Cinnamon oil
• Lemon oil
• Clove oil

Natural Folliculitis Home Remedy:

• Apple Cider Vinegar
• Turmeric Paste