a typical case of folliculitis that looks just like acne.
There is a skin condition called folliculitis that can look just like acne. It looks like small, non-inflamed bumps that frequently shows up on the forehead, but can be anywhere on the face or body. This skin condition fooled me for years; and I remember being so frustrated that this “acne” wouldn’t respond to acne treatments or products. Oftentimes, people can have a combination of both acne and folliculitis.
What is folliculitis?
It is an inflammation of the hair follicles most often caused by a fungal or yeast infection. It can remain dormant for long periods of time and then flare up with humid weather. There are bacterial forms as well and one must be tested to know which it is. (However, trying to find a doctor to test for it has been extremely exasperating - they think it’s acne too….). We can tell that is folliculitis by the way it extracts much differently than an acne lesion. Also, if it’s a condition that “comes and goes” then that is a clue that is folliculitis and not acne.
It can be caused from the extended use of antibiotics, the use of steroids, oily skin, humidity, occlusive clothing, heavy moisturizers and the use of hot tubs/spas.
How to treat folliculitis
- Mandelic cleansers and serums are great as an anti-fungal remedy.
- Keep the affected areas dry - applying “Gold Bond Powder” can help keep the skin dry (on the body).
- Avoid sugar and yeast containing foods (bread, alcohol, processed/frozen foods, sandwich meat and dairy).
- Cotton clothing and cotton sheets are best. Avoid use of fabric softener.
For more information about this condition and for acne, go to our website.
©2009 Face Reality Acne Clinic
Tags: acne, acne treatments, Folliculitis
Great info. Thanks for sharing this with the world!
Great to see you blogging! I just wanted to add my own experience with treating folliculitis (on my chest and back). I also thought it was acne for the longest time - but it turned out to be a fungal form of folliculitis.
The things that have worked best for me in keeping this problem under control are watching my sugar/yeast intake, avoiding fabric softener and using your Face Reality Mandelic Serum every night. Your mandelic is by far the best topical treatment I have used (and I’ve tried a lot of products to treat this!). I also have found physical exfoliation with a gentle cleansing scrub helps a lot too. Hey, maybe you should make a mandelic scrub!?
Thanks Kim. Speaking of Mandelic Scrub - I see that Dr. Fulton of Vivant now has a Mandelic Scrub. We just got the email from him about his new products, that being one of them.
I just took a closer look at the picture, and I think I have a client with just this condition. It’s nice to know it’s not acne.
Thanks for the review! I want to say - thank you for this!
Great post! Just wanted to let you know you have a new subscriber- me!
This is wonderful…I flippoed when i thought my face was breaking out but it wasnt. I had to be prescribed an antibiotic by my doctor though so you should prolly check into that
That is almost exactly what I have been fighting on my face for several years now. I have been through the ropes with my derm with no progress. I have tried retin-a, tazorac, atralin, and several bp products. Recently he looked at some of it under a microscope and said there was a high concentration of yeast. He prescribed my 7 pills of diflucan (flucanozole). This did not do anything. I am thinking of trying a mandelic…sound reasonable?
Take care.
Yes, mandelic is perfect for folliculitis. Also, try Nizoral shampoo on your face for a cleanser. Leave it on in the shower as long as possible, then rinse it off. If you become a client of ours you can get a great mandelic serum from us and get more information about folliculitis. Also, when you are a client, you get free coaching on how to manage your homecare to get great results.
http://www.facerealityacneclinic.com/longdistanceclients.html
I’ve been trying the nizoral (1% ketocanozole) shampoo as a wash, which I leave on for like 5 min before rinsing in the shower. I have been doing that for about 3 weeks, with moderate progress. I also am trying the nucelle 10% mandelic serum at the moment (2nd day). If I can’t get this under control soon, I will definitely be reaching out to your company for assistance.
Hello, it really interesting, thanks
Hello, it really interesting, thanks
Hi there, I just come across your site browsing on Google as I am looking for some info on yeast infections. Looks like a good site so I bookmarked this site and will return tomorrow to enjoy a more detailed read when i have more time. Thank you.
Thank you so much for posting this pic! It looks just like my forhead. I have been on the computer for hours trying to find out why just my forhead is breaking out..I have come to the conclusion that it is follicullitis caused by candida overgrowth! I will be going to the doctor tomorrow and I have only been eating chicken, angus beef and fresh green veggies! Wish me luck!
You can also try some Nizoral shampoo from the drugstore - use it as a cleanser. Good luck!
Does folliculitits include getting monthly hair bumps on your face? My doctor said I have folliculitis and has prescribed a facial antibiotic which has not worked for me. Around cycle time I ALWAYS break out with hair bumps on my chin. I treat this with queen helene mint julep mask to dry out the bump so I can then pluck out the hair which works but I am left with facial scars. My face never clears up! This is what I get for not having skin problems as a teenager and young adult. I am now over 40. Help!
I’m not sure what “hair bumps” are. Are you talking about ingrown hairs? If so, you need to stop plucking them and get on a good exfoliant like glycolic or mandelic so they don’t get ingrown.
It’s nice to read a quality article. I really enjoy lots of the blog posts on your website.
Pityrosporum folliculitis only worsens with antibiotics. Oral fluconazole (every day for 30 days) and then cutting back to every other day, combined with Extina foam or Ketaconazole gel/cream, along with a decrease in sugar and alcohol in diet should help. Look out for contraindications with fluconazole (cannot take with crestor, for example) and the liver can be implicated so see doctor.
Thanks to your post, I think I discovered what I have on my forehead. The picture looks exactly like what has surfaced upon my face. Never in my life has my forehead ever been acne-prone so it was a shock for me to have such a terrible explosion of bumps this last week and a half on my forehead area and even around my ears. I really have no clue what could have triggered it. Sugar intake, very humid weather (east Texas), I switched shampoos, and I had micro-dermabrasion last week at the first sign of a breakout. I’ve also been working out a lot more lately and going into a dry sauna. There are so many factors that could have contributed. Just yesterday I purchased a new skin-care system. Its the Murad Vitalic Regimen. It comes with a foam cleanser, gel/serum, and a moisturizer. I was wondering if this might help? Or if I should seek dermatological help?
@Sel - I don’t know anything about the Murad system. We have had good luck with our Mandelic Serums. You need to be a client of ours to get it. If you are interested, you can become a client here -
http://www.facerealityacneclinic.com/long_distance_acne_clients.php