folliculitis_treatment
How to Treat Folliculitis
Folliculitis, inflammation of the hair follicles that may develop into a bacterial or fungal
infection, usually manifests as an itchy, painful, blistering and/or oozing rash surrounding
one or more infected follicles.
Folliculitis can be caused by a variety of pathogens and can develop to various levels
of severity and thus has many options for treatment.
Whether you have a mild case or a full-blown skin emergency, start with Step 1 below to
get your skin looking its best in no time.
Treating Mild Folliculitis With Home Cures 1
Wash the area periodically with antibacterial soap.
Most mild cases of folliculitis will eventually go away on their own.
However, it's possible to speed this process by taking good care of the infected area.
Twice a day, use a gentle antibacterial soap to cleanse the infected area and kill any
folliculitis-causing bacteria.[2] Rinse and dry with a clean, dry washcloth or towel.
Be sure to wash gently.
Don't use a harsh soap or scrub roughly�these things can irritate the area, worsening any
redness and inflammation.
If you happen to have folliculitis on your face, choose an antibacterial soap that's
specifically labeled for facial use.
These are often gentler than run-of-the-mill antibacterial soaps.
2 Try a simple salt-water compress.
Warm compresses are rags or other absorbent materials soaked in warm liquid and held against
the affected area to sooth irritation, promote drainage, and speed the healing process.
Using salt water for your compress conveys an added antibacterial benefit (albeit a minor
one).
To create a salt-water compress, first dissolve a few spoonfuls of table salt in a cup or
two of warm water.
Soak a clean cotton ball or washcloth in the salt water and hold it gently against the
affected area.
Apply twice a day�once in the morning, once at night.
3 Soak the area with warm water and aluminum
acetate.
Also known as Burow's solution, aluminum acetate is an astringent and antibacterial that is
commonly used as a cheap over-the-counter treatment for a variety of minor skin conditions.
Aluminum acetate can be used to kill folliculitis-causing bacteria and to reduce swelling in the infected
area, lessening irritation and speeding recovery.
To use Burow's solution, simply dissolve one packet in the recommended amount of warm water.
Soak a clean washcloth in the aluminum acetate solution, wring it out, and then apply to
the affected area gently.
Hold the washcloth there, intermittently wetting the cloth in the acetate solution as needed.
When done, clean out the receptacle used for the aluminum acetate and run the washcloth
under cool water.
Launder the wash cloth in hot water and dry thoroughly to kill any bacteria or fungi on
the cloth.
4 Treat with oatmeal.
Believe it or not, oatmeal has long been used as an ingredient in home remedies for skin
irritations due to its anti-itching properties.
Try soaking your body (or just the affected area) in a homemade oatmeal bath or covering
the area with an oatmeal lotion.
Enjoy the gentle soothing sensation of your oatmeal cure, but, to avoid aggravating your
folliculitis further, avoid prolonged exposure to even these mild solutions.
As above, be sure to use a clean towel or washcloth to gently dry the affected area.
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