SKINIPEDIA - Skin Obesity Problems: Folliculitis II
Obesity and Skin Problems: Folliculitis
When to Seek Medical Care Make an appointment to be evaluated by a dermatologist or by another physician if the above self-care measures do not resolve the condition within 2–3 days, if symptoms recur frequently, or if the infection spreads.
Be sure to tell your doctor about any recent exposure to hot tubs, spas, or swimming pools, as a less common form of folliculitis may be caused by contamination from these water sources.
If you are currently being treated for a skin infection that has not improved after 2–3 days of antibiotics, return to your doctor.
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a strain of "staph" bacteria resistant to antibiotics in the penicillin family, which have been the cornerstone of antibiotic therapy for staph and skin infections for decades. CA-MRSA previously infected only small segments of the population, such as health care workers and persons using injection drugs. However, CA-MRSA is now a common cause of skin infections in the general population. While CA-MRSA bacteria are resistant to penicillin and penicillin-related antibiotics, most staph infections with CA-MRSA can be easily treated by health care practitioners using local skin care and commonly available non-penicillin-family antibiotics. Rarely, CA-MRSA can cause serious skin and soft tissue (deeper) infections. Staph infections typically start as small red bumps or pus-filled bumps, which can rapidly turn into deep, painful sores. If you see a red bump or pus-filled bump on the skin that is worsening or showing any signs of infection (ie, the area becomes increasingly painful, red, or swollen), see your doctor right away. Many people believe incorrectly that these bumps are the result of a spider bite when they arrive at the doctor's office. Your doctor may need to test (culture) infected skin for MRSA before starting antibiotics. If you have a skin problem that resembles a CA-MRSA infection or a culture that is positive for MRSA, your doctor may need to provide local skin care and prescribe oral antibiotics. To prevent spread of infection to others, infected wounds, hands, and other exposed body areas should be kept clean and wounds should be covered during therapy.
Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Folliculitis is fairly easy to diagnose in most cases. Your physician may wish to perform a bacterial culture in order to determine the cause of the folliculitis. The procedure involves:
- Penetrating the pus-filled lesion with a needle, scalpel, or lancet.
- Rubbing a sterile cotton-tipped applicator across the skin to collect the pus.
- Sending the specimen away to a laboratory.
Depending on bacterial culture results, your physician may recommend the following treatments:
- Prescription-strength antibacterial wash, such as hexachlorophene
- Topical antibiotic lotion or gel, such as erythromycin or clindamycin
- Oral antibiotic pills, such as cephalexin, erythromycin, or azithromycin
- A combination of two different oral antibiotics, including rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, or tetracycline
- A topical medication, mupirocin ointment, to apply to the nostrils
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