Folliculitis

Alternative names:

barber's itch; pseudofolliculitis barbae; tinea barbae

Definition:

A group of superficial common infections of the hair follicle.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The usual cause is the bacteria Staphylococcus (staph) or by a fungus. It may occur anywhere on the skin, as a result of injury or damage to the hair follicle caused by friction from clothing, by blockage of the follicle, or by such things as shaving.

Barber's itch is a staph infection of the hair follicles in the bearded area of the face, usually the upper lip. Shaving aggravates the condition. Tinea barbae is similar to barber's itch, but the infection is caused by a fungus.

Pseudofolliculitis barbae is a disorder occurring primarily in Black men where the hair of the beard grows into the adjacent hair follicle and forms a small curled mass (aggregation of cells) within the follicle. This becomes chronically infected with any of a variety of bacteria. It is aggravated by shaving.

Carbunculosis and furunculosis are 2 other forms of folliculitis caused by infection with staph. They may occur anywhere on the body.