How to completely cure folliculitis
Sep 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
Generally speaking, there is no such thing as a "complete cure for folliculitis." Treatment methods for folliculitis mainly include general management, topical medication, systemic medication, physical therapy, and surgical treatment. In addition, patients must strictly follow medical advice when taking medications during treatment and should not adjust the dosage or discontinue medication on their own. If symptoms do not improve or even worsen after treatment, patients should seek medical attention promptly to adjust the treatment plan.
Generally speaking, there is no such thing as a "complete cure for folliculitis." Treatment methods for folliculitis mainly include general management, topical medication, systemic drug therapy, physical therapy, and surgical treatment. Specific analysis is as follows:
1. General Management
Patients need to keep the affected skin clean and dry, avoid scratching or rubbing the area, and prevent skin damage that could worsen infection. In daily life, loose, breathable clothing should be chosen to reduce irritation to the affected area. Additionally, it's important to maintain a light diet, reduce intake of spicy and greasy foods, follow a regular sleep schedule avoiding late nights, and enhance overall immunity—providing a solid foundation for skin repair and inflammation resolution.
2. Topical Medication
Topical medications act directly on the affected area to relieve inflammation. Commonly used drugs include mupirocin ointment, fusidic acid cream, and compound polymyxin B ointment. These medications inhibit or kill bacteria causing folliculitis, reduce symptoms such as redness, swelling, and pain, promote healing of the affected area, and should be used according to medical guidance.
3. Systemic Drug Therapy
If folliculitis symptoms are severe, widespread, or show poor response to topical treatments, systemic therapy may be required. For bacterial infections, antibiotics such as cefuroxime axetil tablets, doxycycline hydrochloride capsules, or azithromycin dispersible tablets can be prescribed under medical supervision. For fungal infections, antifungal agents like itraconazole capsules, fluconazole tablets, or terbinafine hydrochloride tablets may be used. Systemic administration helps control infection and improve the condition.
4. Physical Therapy
Physical therapies can assist in relieving symptoms of folliculitis, with common methods including ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and ultra-short wave therapy. UV irradiation damages the structure of bacteria or fungi, inhibits their reproduction, and reduces inflammatory responses. Ultra-short wave therapy improves local blood circulation at the affected site, accelerates metabolism, promotes absorption of inflammation, relieves redness and pain, and supports skin recovery.
5. Surgical Treatment
For folliculitis that has developed into an abscess, surgical intervention is necessary, typically performed via incision and drainage. When folliculitis progresses to form an abscess filled with pus, medications often cannot effectively penetrate. Incision and drainage allow the pus to be removed, reducing local pressure, preventing the spread of infection, and creating favorable conditions for healing. Postoperative care is essential to prevent secondary infections.
In addition, during treatment, patients must strictly follow medical instructions regarding medication use and should not adjust dosages or discontinue treatment on their own. If symptoms fail to improve or worsen after treatment, prompt medical consultation is necessary to adjust the treatment plan and prevent chronic progression or complications.
