Causes of pelvic folliculitis

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thi Thu Hang - Dermatologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Folliculitis can appear on any part of the body, including pelvic folliculitis. When having folliculitis in the genitals, also known as pubic folliculitis, the patient will see some small pustules in the private area, located in the hair follicles.

1. Causes of vaginal folliculitis

Both men and women can get folliculitis due to:
Infection can be caused by bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (staph), viruses or fungi. Infected cysts can initially occur due to an ingrown hair, caused by a mass of cysts blocked by sweat and dead skin cells. Genital folliculitis is more common in areas of the body that have stiff hair and are frequently shaved. In the intimate area, the hair is coarser, the skin is more sensitive, and the risk of bacterial infection from razors or hair removal products is higher than on other parts of the body. Tight clothing and stretchy panties increase the friction between skin and clothing, which, combined with perspiration from exercise or even just constant walking, creates the ideal environment for folliculitis to occur. Dirty hot tubs can also cause folliculitis because bacteria thrive in hot water. Clean between your legs and around the vagina after sex and after using a hot tub to reduce the risk of a hair follicle infection. Some women may also experience higher levels of vulvar folliculitis during menstruation, which is caused by changes in hormone levels.

2.Symptoms of genital folliculitis

Vaginal folliculitis presents as pimples on the inner thighs, labia, and pubic region of women.
Signs and symptoms of folliculitis include:
Clusters of small red bumps or whiteheads that develop around hair follicles. There is a large swelling. People should see a doctor if inflammation is widespread or signs and symptoms do not go away after a few days.

3. Effects of pelvic folliculitis

If left untreated, folliculitis can develop into boils or pustules. These are larger infections under the skin that can turn into an abscess. In immunocompromised people, the disease can resolve on its own, in cases of squeezing or in immunocompromised people, the infection can spread, causing large abscesses.

4. Treatment of genital folliculitis

Treatments for folliculitis depend on the type and severity of the disease.
With mild severity, only need to be treated with topical antiseptics or topical antibiotics, severe cases with complications need systemic antibiotics.
In some other cases, it is necessary to treat with:
Minor surgery: In case of complications into boils or abscesses, the doctor can make a small incision to drain the pus. This technique can reduce pain and speed up recovery. The doctor will then cover the area with sterile gauze in case the pus continues to drain. Laser hair removal. If other treatments fail, laser hair removal or IPL light can help limit recurrence. This method is expensive and must be performed many times. This method will reduce the density of hair in the treated area. The side effects of this method include discolored skin, herpes...

5. Prevention of male and female genital folliculitis

Prevent infected hair follicles in the pubic area with proper hygiene, including frequent washing of the intimate area with mild soap and warm water. Do not share towels and change towels often to avoid bacteria accumulation, especially women need good vaginal hygiene during menstruation because hormonal changes not only make the skin more sensitive but also prone to infection. hair follicle infection.
If shaving requires cleaning the skin before shaving, should use a disposable razor, apply lotion after shaving. You can also consider alternative hair removal methods, such as hair removal gels or laser hair removal.
Genital folliculitis is easily prevented with proper cleaning and care. However, it's important to note that certain STIs can look similar to the folliculitis bump or genital acne. You need to see a dermatologist if the disease often recurs, or the lesions are painful and take a long time to heal.
Doctor Thu Hang has over 10 years of experience in the field of dermatology. Especially experienced in the treatment of adult and pediatric skin diseases, sexually transmitted diseases, autoimmune and rare skin diseases. The doctor has obtained certificates and university degrees at home and abroad such as: Degree I - Dermatology, Hanoi Medical University, DFMS Degree - Dermatology, University of Paris XIII, France before becoming a doctor. dermatology at the Department of Internal Medicine, Vinmec Hai Phong Hospital today.

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References: Flo.health and Mayoclinic.org