How to Grow Taller

The height reflects and affects any person’s looks and makes him/her attractive. You are all on the hunt for methods and means to find most appropriate ways to know how to grow taller than your present height. Technically, considering that you are a teenager or young adult and worried about how tall you may grow at later ages of your life, your height can easily be predicted. By taking into account the height of both of your parents and adopting the following formula, you can anticipate how tall you may grow at a mature age. It works like this:

Taking your father’s height + your mother’s height, divide the sum height by two. Adding 3” (7.62cm) to the figure will give a probable height in inches if you are a boy or male adult. In case of girls or female adults, deduct 2” (5.08cm) from the added figure to reach a possible future height in inches. This method of determining how taller you can get is formulated by research endocrinologists.

Why is it your concern as an adult to find how tall you can grow or if there are ways on how to grow taller? Although there are known standard ages for each bone responsible for your height building, one must keep in mind variations do exist from childhood, teenage and adulthood. These flexible parameters provide you options on how to grow taller if you are shorter than your peers. As you look around, you may find individuals taller than yourself. That should not be a worry. There are combination of steps on how to grow taller and to attain improved height and a more impressive personality.

Growth Rate Throughout The Years

How fast or slow we grow from our birth till our adulthood is something that varies from individual to individual but a general set of rules for it can be drawn out. 

During the first year, a baby grows 25-8cm a year, in declining order. Between the first and second year, he/she grows four inches a year. From 2-4 years, a toddler’s height grows an average of three inches a year. During the ages of 4-10, a child grows an average of 2.2 inches a year. Following this trend, preteen girls grow 2.2 inches a year whereas the boys grow 1.9 inches/year. After puberty, girls grow 3.33 inches/year whereas boys’ height shoots up to an average of 3.75 inches per year. By the time women reach their early 20s and men their mid 20s, the increase in height stops.

As we settle well into adulthood, our height also starts shrinking. Research shows that men lose an inch, and women two inches, as early as the age of 30 till the age of 70. It is likely that they might lose yet another inch of their after post-80. The causes for this are shown to be sarcopenia (decrease in muscle mass) and osteoporosis.

Bones That Determine How to Grow Taller

The two major bones responsible for making you taller are femur and tibia, present in your lower limbs. The ends of both these bones (epiphysis) are soft cartilages (elastic tissues in bones) which grow in center to give more length to each long bone. As the cartilage becomes harder, the bone elongates and makes you taller. This increase in length in both long bones and most of the other bones completes and stops between ages of 17-25. Their speed of maturity determines how taller you grow. Generally the end of femur becomes solid bone from plastic cartilage tissue between age 18-22 years in both males and females. Similarly tibia or the shin bone stops growing between ages of 18-23 years. This data provides options for taking all measures on how to grow taller.

Your vertebral column keeps growing till after limbs stop growing. The first peak of spinal vertebral length increase takes place at 8.5 years. In male it is 61mm, whereas in females it is 63mm. It further gains length of 42mm (for males) and 31mm (females) at 12.5 and 11.5 years respectively (research on Taiwanese population). Howell et.al indicated 14mm of increase in spinal length even after skeletal maturity.

Your 22 skull bones grow in circumference by adding one layer on the outer layer. Meanwhile there is resorption of inner layers in the skull cranium. This enables the skull cavity to accommodate a growing brain.

All the bones of your skeletal structure mature by 22 years. But most young male and female adults reach peak bone mass till the age of 30 years, where peak bone mass is the maximum bone size and strength. During the growth spurt this happens at the speediest rate of height development.

Organ System Monitoring on How to Grow Taller

The primary influences on your height and general growth build-up are following:

Growth hormone, which is secreted from the pituitary gland located in your brain. The pituitary gland produces GH when it gets the stimulus from adjacent brain. The mechanism of its release is found to be influenced by sudden lowering of sugar level in blood. Major functions of GH are building protein in muscles and enhancing osteoblast and chondrocyte formation in your bones, thereby playing major role in how to grow taller. GH also helps retaining calcium in bones, which is important for increase in their strength and length.

Thyroid hormone is produced by thyroid glands located in your neck. Its main roles are to increase metabolic rate, induce protein synthesis and enhance the growth of long bones along with GH.

Sex hormones are very important for stimulating your bones as to how to grow taller. Testosterone, from testis brings major changes in male organ, skin of face, bones and cartilage in your body, particularly of shoulders. Female hormone estrogen secreted from ovaries, enhances breast, vaginal and uterine growth. It also stimulates hip bones development. The phase of rapid bone development in females, called growth spurt, is influenced by androgen secreted by adrenal glands. It acts in same way for both male and female.

Parathyroid hormone produced by parathyroid glands in your neck helps in regulating deposition of calcium in bone matrix, thereby giving strength. It is also a key substance in converting inactive vitamin D to its active form.

Physical Adaptation to Different Conditions

When we speak about how to grow taller, broken bone repair is also a vital issue. There is an inflammatory reaction followed by soft callus formation during the initial two weeks. With this, the gap between two broken ends is filled which later gives place to hard callus formation. The hard callus formation with restoration of original woven bone structure completes in 12 weeks. The primary bone developing cells, which are laid at the damaged area, are osteoblasts.

There are also the chondroblasts, which form new cartilage. So when a bone breaks, your body has already started repairing it naturally with the help of these cells. This healing process is influenced by the parathyroid hormone.

Physician’s Guidance on How to Grow Taller

Your healthcare provider may have plenty answers on height issues. The history and physical examination he conducts can reveal the speed and rate of your bone growth. If it is found that your short stature is associated with some defects in the major bones of your body (such as arms and lower limbs), a number of lab tests should be undertaken.

X-ray of bones, usually of left arm and wrist to reveal any disparity in your chronological age and bone age.

Complete blood count may point towards your anemic state. Low serum calcium may occur in glucocorticoid deficiency. ESR for excluding Crohn’s disease and Juvenile arthritis.

Most important indicator in your quest of how to grow taller is GH (growth hormone) profile. In conjunction, glucagon hormone check may be done as a confirmatory test for GH. Other hormones such as thyroid stimulating hormone, testosterone, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin will evaluate functions of target organs responsible for your skeletal growth and overall development.

Bone-mass index or bone density test will clearly indicate an adult or teenager having chronic nutritional deficiency, puberty delay, stunting growth.

LH and FSH(luteinizing hormone/follicular stimulating hormones) level may indicate primary ovarian failure in female or secondary to mumps or testicular trauma.

Major Concerns on How to Grow Taller

Your height determines so many issues in your life. From attending school and college to career and matrimony, how tall you grow and look when reaching at maturity of growth has significant bearing. Sex, genes, general health status, nutrition, necessary vitamins and physical activities all play a role. With having consulted your healthcare provider, the conclusion will lead to steps on how to grow taller.

Genetics can easily predict how to grow taller to almost 70% accuracy, after you reach puberty. If both of your parents are taller than average, your chances of growing are 95%. That leaves variables which are affected by co-factors. Even if your parents are of shorter than average for height, you may still have better than fair chances of increasing your height. You can consider searching and applying methods and procedure as to how to grow taller.

Your nutrition during teenage and growing to adulthood plays a crucial role how to grow taller  The puberty or growth spurt period is the best time to attain peak bone mass. You should be aware that fresh fruit and vegetable intake goes a long way in maintaining optimum health and ideal growth level. Avoid sweets and fatty food during your quest on how to grow taller. An ample amount of protein is vital during bone growing years. Taking lean meat, egg white, fish oil and cheese on regular basis will assist in growth hormone functions. 

Physical Training, Key for How to Grow Taller

Walking, running and stretching exercises will make sure you attain maximum height during puberty and at later growing age. These are weight-bearing, which result in the increase in bone size and strength. Young teens and adults who indulge in team sports like soccer and basketball during their peak development ages can achieve better than average height. Maintain a good posture during sitting. Keeping your spinal column straight assists in lengthening vertebral bodies and gaining further height. They are all positive efforts on how to grow taller. Here, it is of some interest to mention the aggressive manual cervical vertebral lengthening done by women of Burmese tribes. They place brass rings in concentric pattern on their necks. It results in increasing cervical length to as much as 15-20”!

Hanging over a chin-up bar will greatly help you grow taller. Stretching your legs up and laterally will also boost your efforts. These exercises stretch your spine and joints to further lengths.

Sleeping well is an excellent way to grow taller. It not only improves circulation in your skeleton but enhances release of growth hormone.

Yoga exercises have marked effects for speedy height gain. Stretching and adopting different postures during yoga can play significant role in making you grow taller.

Swimming minimizes gravity compression on your spine, improves your circulation for growth hormone and thyroid hormone production. Both of these hormones are major substances in increasing your peak bone mass and size.

Factors Blocking Efforts of How to Grow Taller

Smoking is a negative influence, not only for lungs and heart, but for growing bones. A teenager smoking will have very low bone density than a non-smoker of similar age group.

Alcohol acts as a toxic substance for growing bones. It not only hampers nutrition but depletes calcium supply.

Caffeine in excess of more than three cups results in loss of bones. It also causes calcium loss in urine.

Vitamins and mineral keep you on path of how to grow taller
                             

Calcium: Ensures strong bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. This in turn lessens strain on the joints and saves them from inflammation. In the form of milk, its regular intake helps building important bones in your body. These strong bones will grow significantly and enhance your height to desired level.

Vitamin D: Also important for healthy bones and joints is vitamin D. It helps in calcium absorption and can be obtained naturally through sunlight exposure. Fortified cereals, mushrooms, fruit juices, salmon and mackerel are also good sources for this vitamin.

Vitamin K: Found in green leafy vegetables, it is fat-soluble and is used to convert bone protein matrix 'osteocalcin' from its inactive to its active form. It safeguards us from osteoarthritis by preventing the bones and cartilage from mineralization. Vitamin K also repairs damage caused by arthritis.

Vitamin C: Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is crucial for the structural integrity of bones, tendons, blood vessels and ligaments. It forms collagen, which slows down the wear and tear of joints. Citrus fruits are high sources of vitamin C. Broccoli, strawberries, raspberries and red pepper also contain good amounts of this vitamin.

Vitamin B: Found in eggs, wheat germ, almonds, cottage cheese, bananas, soybeans, lean meats and fish, vitamin B is prerequisite for the proper functioning of joint.

Word of Advice on How to Grow Taller

Your personality is greatly influenced by your appearance. In that context, your height has major barring. You should keep one thing clear in your mind that even if odds of genes are against you, you still can gain height by adopting and altering certain environmental factors and lifestyle changes. Unless your healthcare provider finds some pathological reason or physiological imbalance in your hormones and nutritional values, rest assure you have an excellent chance of elevating your overall height.

اور سب بھول گئے حرف صداقت لکھنا ،
رہ گیا کام ہمارا ہی بغاوت لکھنا

لاکھ  کہتے رہیں ظلمت کو نہ ظلمت لکھنا ،
ہم نے سیکھا ہی نہیں پیارے با عزت لکھنا ،

نہ صلہ کی نہ ستائش کی تمّنا ہم کو ،
حق میں لوگوں کے ہماری تو ہے عادت لکھنا

ہم نے جو بھول کے بھی شاہ کا قصیدہ نہ لکھا ،
شاید آیا  اسی خوبی کی بدولت لکھنا

اس سے بڑھکر میری تحسین بھلا کیا ہوگی،
پڑھ کےناخوش ہیں میرا صاحب ثروت لکھنا

دہر کے غم سے ہوا ربط تو ہم بھول گئے
سرو قامت کی جوانی کو قیامت لکھنا

کچھ بھی کہتے ہیں کہیں شاہ کے مصاحب جالب،
رنگ رکھنا یہی اپنا اسی صورت لکھنا

جناب حبیب جالب 

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Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Introduction

The male organ or gland which produces a fluidly substance for carrying and nourishing your sperms during your sex act, is called Prostate gland. Prostate gland lies just below the urinary bladder and surround the urethra, which delivers urine from bladder and genital secretions from internal genital organs. It is very common occurrence for this gland to become enlarge in size with your advancing age. The most common variety of this increase in size of your prostate gland is known as Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or hypertrophy.

It is termed benign as it does not spreads even though its size increases like a tumor. It will keep growing after you get older than 25 years of age. Not infrequently it starts producing troublesome urinary symptoms after you reach the age of 50. Your doctor will make rectal examination  and inform you that you have developed BPH(benign prostatic hyperplasia). It may be regarded as one of the effects of male aging.

Ÿ  Incidence : It is estimated that if you are 60 years old, your chances of developing BPH is 50%, which rises to 90% as you age to 70 years.

Ÿ   Symptoms    :  Your severely enlarged prostate will cause you urinary complains, as it will press tight on your urethra. But sometimes, even if your prostate is not much enlarged it can create all the following troublesome complaints confined to urinary discharge:

                            

 ·delayed urine stream:  your urethra is clamped by enlarged   prostate. That makes you strain for urine stream. Commonly termed hesitancy..                                                                                                      .                               

·       Retention of urine  : At some stage ,due to straining , bladder  becomes weak and urine is not completely emptied out and  remains in your bladder.

                                     

  ·      Blood in urine    :  This is an indication that either you   have infection or some stone formation in your bladder due to retained, concentrated urine.                                              

•    Dribbling of urine :  you may loose control on your  bladder   as blockage by enlarged prostate results in left over  urine to constantly irritate your bladder. You may constantly  leak through urethra or fail to hold urine.

  ·    Weakening of stream of urine  : Due to pressure of  your  hypertrophied prostate on urethra, you fail to attain stream of  urine.

           .                                    

·     Frequency of micturation at night : retention of urine in your bladder irritates and cause more frequent desire to urinate during day and night.

 Causes and Risk factors

The major reason for your prostate to enlarge is a physiological or normal aging phenomenon. It keeps growing even after 25 years, but when it produces pressure symptoms on your urinary tract flow system, it is noticed and diagnosed as BPH.

Ÿ        Testes and BPH     : It has been observed that men whose testes have been removed do not develop benign prostatic hyperplasia. This just indicates some stimulating effect of your testes on your BPH.(National Kidney and Urologic information, US department of health.)

Ÿ        Hormones          :    With aging you start to loose your male hormone, testosterone. But ,the small amount of female hormone that is being produced now dominates. This female hormone, estrogen is secreted  through out your life and is known to enhance the activity of substances which promote cell growth in animal gland

Ÿ    Dihydrotestosterone      : This hormone is produced by your prostate and with age its concentration lowers . Interestingly, it has been observed that, while men loose testosterone, some still show higher concentration of DHT(dihydro-testosterone). This may result in your prostate growth. Men who do not have high DHT, don’t develop benign prostatic hypertrophy.

Risk factors

Ÿ          Age        : Your age is the main risk factor in development of enlarge prostate or benign prostattic hypertrophy(hyperplasia). The more older you get , more likely to  chance for you to suffer from BPH,  and viz-a viz(other way round). At 50 years you have 50% greater risk of BPH.

Ÿ         Family history    :  Your susceptibility increases if any of your siblings(father or brothers) have benign prostatic enlargement.

Ÿ         Heart diseases risk and BPH :  your chances of getting an enlarged prostate at later years of your life, if you have risk factor which play major role in heart disease. They can be, over weight, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, lower concentration of HDL( cardio-protective lipoproteins), diabetes and disease of peripheral arteries.

Ÿ          Race    :  If you belong to white race, you are at higher susceptibility of having benign prostatic hyperplasia with severe symptoms. You have more on risk of being on surgeon’s list for prostate removal due to BPH. Asians are least likely to have benign enlargement of prostate.

 complications

Your benign prostatic hyperplasia rarely causes any serious complication. When in case you start having severe symptoms attributed to your BPH, they are from pressure of your enlarged gland on urethra. These are entirely due to partial or complete blockage of your urine flow.

Ÿ                 Urinary retention   :  You may develop sudden and complete inability to pass urine, called acute urinary retention(AUR). This situation may cause severe pain at your bladder region( pubic area), which needs emergency measures like passing urethral catheter or supra-pubic needle at your bladder to empty your bladder and relieve the severe pain. If  your benign prostatic hyperplasia is blocking the urethra partially, then slow retention of urine in your bladder will complicate into CUR( chronic urinary retention).

Ÿ                   Urinary tract infection      :   The residual urine in your bladder may become seat of infection. This may produce some worrying symptoms of blood in your urine,  and painful micturation. It may cause ascending infection to your kidneys, resulting in its functional disturbances and damage.  If untreated, this kidney infection may cause waste products of protein metabolism to accumulate, which can make your health to get worse.

Ÿ           Urolithiasis (stone in urinary tract)  : The retained urine in your bladder because of BPH, is concentrated. The crystals of mineral present in this residual urine clump to form bladder stones. The stone may travel down to your urethra and block passage of urine. It is considered an emergency and needs immediate bladder relief via catheter.

Ÿ            Kidney damage    : benign prostatic hyperplasia and its blocking effect on your urine outflow passage secondarily causes damage to your kidneys. This is due to chronic(of long standing) back pressure of residual urine, on kidney’s normal filtration process.

You should keep this in mind, that, your benign prostatic hyperplasia will not effect your sexual ability nor it will become cancerous( progress to cancer). It will also not rreduce your fertility.

 Pharmaceutical therapies

                            It has been observed that you will consult your doctor not before you have urinary symptoms start bothering you. Your health care provide will not only take into account the extent and severity of your urinary complaints, but he will also have a physical examination done to make an initial assessment of your prostatic enlargement. He may advise test which will give a more confirm clue to diagnose your BPH.

Ÿ                        If your symptoms are milder and not bothering(American Urological Association score 0-7), all you will be advised is to make few changes in your daily routine, such as fluid intake, self controlling bladder urge, and avoiding night hours of tea, coffee or any liquid etc. you will not be given any medication or surgical options. All you will be asked is to keep regular follow up to your doctor. In case your symptoms get worse report.

Ÿ                       If your symptoms associated with BPH are not bothering you much (AUA score 8 or more) , your doctor advises you watchful waiting with or without medication. If symptoms get severe, specially night time visit or painful urination you will be given options for either surgery or transurethral prostate ablation(removal).

Ÿ                       In case you are unable to pass urine, or have blood in urine or stone in your bladder you will be cured of your symptoms by surgical means only.

                        

                         

                                                                                                                                                                     Medicine you will commonly be prescribed are following ;    

Ÿ                    Alpha (sympathetic) blockers     :  They will make easier flow of your urine from blocked urethra due to BPH. This effect is exerted by relaxation of smooth muscle of your enlarged prostate in BPH and bladder neck, loosening its grip on your urethra. They are given when you symptoms are moderate and bothersome. You will feel much better when the alpha blocker is given to you in combination with 5-alpha reductase. They give good result in improving symptoms in nearly 2-3 weeks. Commonly used alpha blockers are;

Ÿ                    Alphazosin

Ÿ                    Doxazosin 

Ÿ                    Silodozosin

Ÿ                   Tamsulosin

Ÿ                   Terazosin

Side effects of these alpha blockers you may face are, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, fainting due postural hypotension( lowering of BP after sudden standing from sitting position), headcahes, nausea, and upward semen discharge into bladder( retrograde ejaculation).

Ÿ                         5-alpha reductase inhibitors   :     The mode of action of these agents work through inhibition of testosterone conversion to dihydrotestosterone(DHT). DHT is shown in studies to be responsible for growth of your prostate. Hence by this action 5-alpha reductase reduces the size of  your benign prostatic hyperplasia to nearly 25% in about a year time. As mentioned their effects are better taken advantage of when given with alpha receptor blocking medicines.

Following are common drugs of this group ;

Ÿ                    Finasteride

Ÿ                    Dutasteride

Side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may cause , loss of sexual desire( libido), difficulties in ejaculation,  erection problems, and enlargement and tenderness of your breasts.

Ÿ                        Tedalafil  : This medicine has been in use for some years for erectile dysfunction. It has been approved recently for your benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is a phosphodiasterase-5(PDE5) inhibitor. Tedalafil has proven efficacy in relieving or minimizing your BPH related urinary symptoms. It is not prescribed with nitrites(nitroglycerine) or alpha blockers, as sudden and severe drop of your blood pressure may occur.

Side effects of tedalafil use are, headache, dyspepsia, back pain, muscular pain, nasal congestion, flushing and painful limbs. Loss in hearing and visual impairment have also  been reported. In such cases your doctor should immediately be informed for further advise.

Herpes and Folliculitis: Their Co-existence

The inflammation of hair follicles termed follicultis can effect an individual of any age, region or sex. It also can be initiated by one or more micro-organisms at a given instance. It is the damaged hair follicle, which is a pre-requisite to initiate folliculitis. It can then be invaded by staphylococcus aureus, the commonest infecting agent, fungus such candida, pityrosporum or malassezia , demodex mite, or virus of herpez class.

Herpes virus itself causes skin eruption. Its two different entities are seen in young children and adult age groups. Varicella (chickenpox) is one type which appears as systemic illness with typical skin eruption on face, trunk and other body parts. The rash  is quite distinct from typical folliculitis. It is vesiculo-papulo-pustular and a black scabbing at the end of this eruptive illness. All  forms of rash can be seen at one time on different parts of body. Face and trunk are mostly crowded with typical chickenpox rash as its commonly known name. This variety of herpes vericella skin eruption is most commonly confined to kids and young adults. The rash and the accompanying systemic illness is highly contagious in herpes vericella infection, either as droplets infection through coughing, sneezing or even the vesicular lesion can spread the illness.

The red pimple of folliculitis is papulo-pustular in appearance and it is seen in hairy parts of body, where injury to follicles gives way to invasion by micro-organism residing on skin as normal flora. Folliculitis can spread from one individual to another due to unhygienic lifestyle. Sharing the same toiletries, swimming pools, hot bath tubs are the common mode of its spread.

As for management is concerned, vericella (chicken pox) is self limiting, and rash resolve in about week to ten days time. Only supportive treatment is enough. Itching is controlled by some soothing agent, such as calamine lotion. A local anti-viral cream (zovirex) is also used when extensive facial eruption occur.

Treatment protocol for simple folliculitis stresses more on adopting better hygiene in daily life. Anti-septic soap baths and concurrent use of some solution of anti-infective property must be used along with warm damp washout of effected skin will help in faster healing. Itching is controlled with anti-allergic formulations.

Folliculitis and herpes varicella share common symptoms of severe itching and therefore spread from one part to another part of body. Same virus reactivates many years of being dormant after primary infection but it is localized to nerves and the rash is also distributed in same pattern of nerves. This is commonly called herpes zoster or shingles. Severe pain is predominant in shingles.

In some instances, herpes simplex virus itself causes inflammation of follicles commonly at bearded area. This  can become stubborn in responding to conventional methods of treatment unless a definitive diagnosis is made by isolating virus by doing smear of skin lesion and positive culture for infecting virus. Anti-viral drugs can effectively treat folliculitis of HSV, given for 5-10 days. Isolation of infected individual until active phase is over can save many  from getting troublesome skin condition

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.