Perhaps by this name, you do not know what it is; however, it is a nuisance that frequently occurs in young people of any age and regardless of sex. Folliculitis is an infection in the hair follicle, the part of the skin where hair grows. Folliculitis can occur anywhere on the body, such as the face, neck, buttocks, thighs, and the genital area; the latter is the most painful and challenging to treat due to its location. In women, it occurs in the vulvar area and even around the vaginal lips, while in men, it is usually evident where the growth of pubic hair is found.
The appearance of genital folliculitis can be due to the inflammation of one or more hair follicles that could turn into painful pimples of pus, causing discomfort when walking and sitting for a long time. Next, in this FastlyHealarticle, you will learn everything about genital folliculitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Table of Contents
Causes of genital folliculitis
The appearance of genital folliculitis can be due to different causes, among which are:
Bacterial infection
It is the most common cause of folliculitis, produced by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus. It causes what is known as staphylococcal folliculitis, specifically the entry of this bacterium into the follicle in the genital area after suffering a wound or friction.
Fungal infection
This folliculitis is known as fungal, and it must be taken into account that it is contagious. Among its symptoms, it generates:
- Irritation to the skin.
- Genital itching
- Inflammation of the area where the affected follicle is located.
One of the fungal infections can be the following: Male genital candidiasis.
Yeast infection
The yeast that causes this infection is Pityrosporum ovale. This generates candidiasis that gives rise to the appearance of very painful, itchy red bumps in the genital region.
Pseudomonas infection
Contamination with this bacteria can occur in hot tubs or swimming pools. Red, round, itchy bumps characterize hot tub folliculitis. These symptoms become present approximately two days after being in contact with the bacteria.
Hair follicle obstruction
This obstruction of the hair follicle occurs due to the use of cosmetic products in the genital area, such as creams or soaps with high-fat content, and generates infected pimples.
Incarnate old men
The presence of a pimple in the groin can frequently occur in people who wax the bikini or groin area. The removed hair grows back, but this time under the skin, generating a pimple that can cause pain, inflammation, and irritation.
Genital hair removal
Shaving the intimate area causes damage to the hair follicle, and, in this way, the hair cannot break the epidermis, so it cannot go outside, giving rise to ingrown hair.
The friction in the genital area
The use of tight clothing and synthetic material can damage the hair follicle in the genital area, thus causing folliculitis due to friction.
Symptoms of genital folliculitis
The appearance of genital folliculitis generates some symptoms that characterize this alteration, such as:
- An injury that resembles an insect bite. Sometimes it can contain pus.
- Genital irritation.
- Redness of the skin.
- Genital swelling
Treatment of genital folliculitis
Genital folliculitis should be treated by a specialist in gynecology or urology; after a medical examination, they will indicate the treatment to follow. It will make general recommendations such as the following:
- Daily cleaning of the skin with antibacterial soap.
- When the cause is due to a mild bacterial infection, the specialist will indicate a topical antibiotic depending on the degree of the injury.
- If it is a fungal or yeast infection, the treatment will be based on creams for local use to calm the symptoms and eradicate the fungus or yeast causing this alteration.
Topical medications can be combined with oral antibiotics to reinforce the treatment and obtain better results, depending on the degree of affectation. To treat pain and inflammation, anti-inflammatories or antihistamines are used to relieve genital itching.
Prevention of genital folliculitis
Now that you know what genital folliculitis is: its causes, symptoms, and treatment, you should also prevent its appearance. The best way to avoid genital folliculitis is by following these recommendations:
- Maintain adequate daily hygiene at least two times a day.
- Use soaps that maintain the natural PH of the genital area.
- Avoid tight clothing that causes chafing or friction on your genitals.
- Wear mostly cotton underwear.
- Do not sit in hot places, and do not take a shower with boiling water, as this facilitates the appearance of genital folliculitis.
- When waxing or shaving, use epilators with new razor blades to avoid damaging the hair follicle. If you use hair removal cream, it must contain elements according to your skin type, preventing genital folliculitis from occurring.
You should also be careful when having sex. Although it is not a sexually transmitted disease, genital folliculitis can facilitate the spread of venereal diseases. The injury exposes the skin and becomes a gateway for these diseases during sexual intercourse.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any kind of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Genital Folliculitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment, we recommend entering our Skin, hair and nails category.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.