Why does folliculitis turn black?

Blackening of folliculitis may be caused by several factors, mainly including: 1. Crusting: Folliculitis, an inflammatory skin disease involving hair follicles, may lead to papules or even pustules on the skin. After rupture of the pustules, black crusts may form locally, causing the affected area to darken. This usually indicates improvement of folliculitis; no special treatment is required, and maintaining local cleanliness and avoiding scratching the crusts are sufficient. 2. Pigmentation: If the patient does not protect against sun exposure during folliculitis and the affected area receives excessive ultraviolet radiation, pigmentation may occur, causing the skin to darken. In such cases, medications such as hydroquinone cream may be used under a doctor's guidance to lighten the pigmentation. 3. Tissue necrosis: If folliculitis develops secondary infection and is not treated promptly, local tissue necrosis may occur, resulting in darkening of the skin. In such cases, timely medical attention is necessary, including debridement to remove necrotic tissue and administration of antibiotics to control infection.