Diet and Folliculitis: Eat Healthy and Vitamin Rich

Inflammation of hair follicles is called follicultis. Red pimples which are itchy with a white head at their center are the characteristic of this rash. This  can  occur on any hairy region of body skin. In addition to keeping a good hygiene for healthy skin and healthy life, a diet rich in sufficient contents of vitamins always ensure a healthy glowing skin. A healthy diet will protect skin and its appendages from all kind inflammation and infection. Association of diet and folliculitis can not be overlooked.

As we know folliculitis is the most commonly occurring skin condition. Which  although has a tendency of self cure with simple measure like standard hygiene and use home remedies. It is also strongly helped by a diet rich in vitamins important for keeping  skin strong and glowing. Inflammation of skin in folliculitis can be controlled by taking vitamin supplement or topical lotion and creams .

In individuals with folliculitis, not taking a balanced diet rich in important vitamins, the following edible items will help in healing and preventing recurrences:

a) Vitamin C rich diet: the role of vitamin C in collagen building is well established. Other advantages of vitamin C are ,that it enhances immune system and acts as anti-oxidant, thereby protects from cell damage. This vitamin is present in natural foods like kiwis, oranges, strawberries, broccoli.

b) Fortified cereals, sunflower seeds, almonds peanut, butter, and vegetable oil in balance diet give sufficient amount of vitamin E. This,  like vitamin C, is a potent anti-oxidant giving protection against cell damage. Topical use of creams and ointments containing vitamin E will promote healing in folliculitis. It can also help in preventing scar formation in folliculitis.

c) Fortified cereals, organ meat, fortified Soya products have vitamin B6 and when supplemented, help in the formation of new healthy cells fasten healing in skin effected with folliculitis.

d) foods containing folic acid added to diet in person effected by folliculitis, potentiates healing by cell development and protein build up needed for repair of damage tissues. Leafy vegetables, whole grains breads and fortified cereals have significant amount of folic acid.

e) Green tea is an anti-oxidant , it can help in reducing inflammation in follicultis effected skin. It is also rich in other vitamins like E,D and K.

f) Vitamin A is shown enhance immune function . Sweet potato with peel, carrots, fortified cereals,  spinach and blue berries  have Vitamin A. Its value is an advantage in diabetic with folliculitis, as it builds up immune system. The  recurrent folliculitis and its complication  in diabetic patients is prevented .

Eating tomatoes, beans ,peas, lentils , salmon, fatty fish all strengthen skin integrity and youthfulness. They not only help in healing process but prevent complication and recurrences of follicultis.

Foods to be avoided presumably are tea, coffee, sugary foods especially cakes and pastries, sweets, chocolates, white sugar and white bread. Not to forget about avoiding smoking as it causes premature ageing of skin and its susceptibility for folliculitis and other skin conditions.

We must keep in mind that best foods chosen are the balanced ones. They are not only good for healthy skin protecting it from damage and infection but also promote good health in wider perspective.

Types of Folliculitis & Their Remedy

Human skin is in most part covered with hair, whether small and silky or long and relatively tough. In all kinds they grow from small follicles, which has roots or attachments to deeper skin tissue. This gives some hint of what may occur if any damage takes place to follicles, opening an entry point for number of micro-organism harboring on normal skin or from  unhealthy environment. When a person gets folliculitis it can take the following shape or severity:

1) Superficial folliculitis,  80%  cases of folliculitis ,in which damage and subsequent infection remains limited to upper layer of skin,  as superficial pustular lesions. This may just appear as raised red area over skin in region of hair, a bump usually it is called. It has no specific location, as any area having hair follicle can become infected, like facial region specially shaving area including chin, scalp, buttocks, thighs, axilla, and trunk.

Treatment is based  on simple conservative approach, with more emphasis on taking shower regularly with some potent anti-bacterial soap, or regular application of benzyl peroxide, a potent local broad spectrum anti-bacterial preparation which effectively fasten healing process to full recovery without residual scaring or hair loss.

Occasionally, the simple form heals with simple measure but may leave a hardened nodular bump without any sign of redness or pain, seen at shaving area and also over the chest more commonly in dark skinned individuals.

As simple folliculitis or milder form is more itchy and tender,  using diphehydramine or some other anti-allergic and  pain killer is advisable. Applying moist hot compresses also help in clearing dead tissues as well as reduce itching.

2) Deep folliculitis, may morphologically be specific, occurring on its own causes or as complication of superficial folliculitis. The hallmark of deeper folliculitis is that infecting organism  penetrates deeper layers of  skin through damaged hair follicle, which in all probability may effect other parts of body once spread is not adequately treated. As it can be caused by different  classes of microbes, it can be discussed  individually. Even in all these different settings the basic principle of personal hygiene will apply, and use of conservative remedies used in superficial or simple folliculitis.

a) Bacterial folliculitis Most common micro-bacterium is staphylococcus , and anti-biotics of choice for treating folliculitis  by this organism are ciphalexin, dicloxicillin, or flocloxacillin in dose range of 250-500mg four times daily for ten days. Hot tub folliculitis is common incidence in person using public hot tub baths and swimming pools. The organism involved in such settings is usually pseudomonas aeruginosa  usually can be controlled with benzyl peroxide wash twice daily may suffice. But when it gets widespread as it commonly happens, suitable anti-biotic cover for 7-10 days is needed. Ciprofloxacillin is best choice, and dose  is 500mg two times /day.

b) Fungal folliculitis, most commonly on scalp, needs to be treated by topical ketoconazole shampoo 3-5 times per week/ econazole applied locally twice daily untill  condition heals up completely. If specific fungus is identified as in more severe infection oral anti-fungal drugs, such as fluconazole or itraconazole is given in dose range of 100mg -200mg once or twic daily for minimum of two weeks. As in most instances bacterial infection concurrently exist oral anti-biotics is also advisable as adjuvant treatment.

c) Viral folliculitis such as caused by herpes , has acyclovir available as treatment of choice in 200mg dose four times per day for 5-10 days duration.

d)Abscess can be one form of complicated   folliculitis, when  large collection of pus not only causes swelling of small bump but spreads into surrounding and deeper tissue. Most commonly  it is seen in facial and armpit region where not only the folliculitis becomes enlarged into swelling filled with increased amount of pus, even the lymph node draining the particular area becomes tender and enlarged too. The definitive approach to treatment is incision and drainage of pus filled cavity, until it is devoid of infected substance, sometimes surgeon may leave a sterile gauze to prevent refilling of space till healing is complete.  Use of anti-biotic may or may not be needed.

What ever type, severity , location folliculitis presents with, the corner stone of treatment is meticulous personal hygiene ,of which there is no alternative.