What are the symptoms of folliculitis?
Disease description:
My husband has recently developed some small bumps on his body, and I suspect they might be folliculitis. Some of these bumps are red, and some have small white pus-filled heads. He says they occasionally itch a little, and they feel somewhat painful when scratched. I would like to know whether these are typical symptoms of folliculitis.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Folliculitis is a common skin condition with various symptoms, such as red solid papules, white pustules, itching, redness, swelling, pain, and others.
The appearance of small red bumps with white pustules on the body, accompanied by itching and tenderness, is a relatively typical symptom of folliculitis.
In the early stages of folliculitis, it typically presents as red solid papules, which rapidly develop into pustules at the top. These pustules contain white or yellowish-white pus, and generally have a reddish halo around them.
In addition, because folliculitis can occur in different locations, symptoms may vary slightly. Severe folliculitis of the scalp may lead to hair loss; folliculitis in the beard area, which commonly occurs in males, presents as redness and swelling around the hair follicles with pain and can progress to pustules. If it is chronic folliculitis, symptoms may recur repeatedly, with rashes varying in severity over time, and may also be accompanied by worsening itching or pain.
Moreover, the severity of folliculitis symptoms correlates with the degree of infection. Mild folliculitis may present with only a few scattered skin rashes, while severe cases may show widespread rashes, along with systemic symptoms such as local lymph node enlargement and fever. If symptoms persist or worsen, timely medical consultation is recommended for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
