Preventing and Reversing Blocked Hair Follicles

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Preventing and Reversing Blocked Hair Follicles

Folliculitis refers to the inflammation and irritation caused by clogged hair follicles. Hair follicles become inflamed after being plucked from the face, groin, legs, and armpits due to a bacterial or fungal infection, chemical irritation, or mechanical harm. 

If you're dealing with this issue, give your skin lots of time to recover. Warm compresses and washes can speed up the healing process. The next step is to take precautions to ensure that the issue does not recur.

Important Information

• Open your pores by applying a warm compress to the area 3–4 times a day for 15 minutes at a time.
• For the next 30 days, refrain from hair removal and wear loose clothing to prevent further irritation. After that, use an antibiotic cream three times daily for seven days.
• Take a shower daily, and more frequently if you sweat a lot, to keep your pores unclogged. Use a wet razor and shave in the direction that your hair grows.

1. The Management of Confused Follicles

For the next 30 days, you should refrain from hair removal. Shaving, waxing, and trimming can all lead to irritated or blocked hair follicles, which can spread to other places. It will take significantly more time for your skin to heal if you continue hair removal while the follicles are inflamed. Give your skin at least 30 days to recover before starting a new routine.

See a dermatologist as soon as possible for advice on how to remove hair without making your condition worse, if doing so is a requirement of your job.

Warm compresses should be applied three times daily. A warm compress might help unclog your hair follicles and open your pores. Each should be used for 15–20 minutes. You should do this treatment three or four times a day to keep your pores open and prevent any buildup from forming.

You can buy a warm compress from the shop, or you can create your own.

A washcloth dampened with hot water can also be used, although its warmth may not last very long.

To avoid skin damage, a warm compress should be removed after 20 minutes.

Use an apple cider vinegar rinse to clean your hair. The scalp is also susceptible to folliculitis. Multiple washes may be necessary if the clogged hair follicles are located on the scalp. Apple cider vinegar can help unclog follicles by removing dead skin clumps and oil buildup organically.

Apple cider vinegar can be substituted for the water. Use the same volume of apple cider vinegar as you would water, so if you use 1 cup (.24 l), use 1 cup of vinegar.

After you've washed your hair with shampoo, apply the mixture. Before using the vinegar, make sure you rinse off all of the shampoo.

Apply the concoction to your scalp and let it rest for a while. Then, thoroughly wash it with water.

You should skip the conditioner.

Tight clothing should be avoided until the inflammation subsides. Clothing that is too restrictive or skin that rubs together can promote folliculitis, especially in overweight people. This typically happens in hot and humid weather, and it affects the armpits, groin, and upper thighs. While your skin recovers from inflammation, looser clothes are preferable. It will take much longer for your skin to heal if friction from garments keeps irritating it.

You should treat the region with a topical antibiotic three times daily for seven to ten days. Folliculitis can be treated by applying a topical antibiotic three times a day to the afflicted area. Keep using the antibiotic cream for another 7–10 days.

To cure your folliculitis, try a topical treatment like Mupirocin (Bactroban). Antibiotic creams are available without a prescription at most pharmacies and online.

You should consult a doctor to determine whether more therapy is necessary if you don't feel better after a few days.

If the condition doesn't improve after a week, you should see a dermatologist. Inflamed hair follicles are notoriously difficult to treat with home treatments. In the event that self-care measures have yielded no positive results after a few days, it is recommended that you consult a dermatologist.

Depending on the root cause of your hair follicle inflammation, the dermatologist may recommend a range of therapies. Antibiotic pills or a topical antibiotic cream might be recommended if the diagnosis is a bacterial illness.

Infected areas that have resulted in cysts or abscesses will likely be drained by the dermatologist.

Inquire further as to what you may do to avoid a recurrence of the issue with your dermatologist.

2. Folliculitis Preventive Measures

Keep up with your personal hygiene routine to avoid breakouts. The folliculitis-causing bacteria and fungi on your skin can be washed away with a regular soap and water bath. When you get particularly dirty or sweaty, take a shower. Apply a light coat of moisturizer when you get out of the shower to keep your skin from drying out.

To wash away grime, oil, bacteria, and fungi, use a mild soap.

You need to fortify your defenses. Folliculitis is typically caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, so taking steps to strengthen your immune system is a good first line of defense. This will give your immune system a head start in the fight against any future infections.

• Try to sleep for at least 7 or 8 hours a night. A loss of energy can weaken defenses.
• Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
• Eat more whole foods, especially vegetables and fruit.
• Stay away from sugary and processed foods.

Only use clean, safe hot tubs and pools. Hair follicle infection-causing bacteria are commonly acquired via unclean swimming pools and hot tubs. Don't risk your health by taking a dip if you have any doubts about the sanitization of a pool or hot tub.

Keep your pool or hot tub chlorinated to stop the growth of bacteria.

Cloudiness in the water is unacceptable. Before getting into the pool, check that you have unobstructed visibility to the floor.

When the jets are turned off, hot tub foam should sink to the bottom, but if it remains on the surface, the water has not been properly filtered.

If you swim and have any doubts about the water's cleanliness, you should immediately take a shower.

Always clean your swimwear after each use. Hair follicle inflammation-causing bacteria can survive on your swimsuit for hours after you've dried off. This means that if you don't wash it, you could end up reinfecting yourself. Avoid getting sick by not washing your swimwear between uses.

Use proper technique when shaving. Ingrown hairs and infections are both possible outcomes of poor shaving technique. Some precautions should be taken when shaving if you are prone to inflamed hair follicles.

• Warm water will soften the hair on your skin, making shaving easier.
• If you want a close shave, shave in the same direction your hair grows.
• Keep your razor out of the moisture to keep germs at bay.
• To avoid nicks and tears, use only a quality razor.

When the temperature and humidity are high, you should dress loosely. Flare-ups of folliculitis are often brought on by sweat and the friction caused by clothing rubbing against the skin. Avoid this issue by not wearing tight clothes when the weather is hot and humid.

Baby powder can be used to protect the skin from further irritation caused by friction.

Don't wear anything too constricting when you work out. If you do choose to work out in skintight clothing, you should take a shower right afterward.

Waxing should only be done at a recognized spa. Folliculitis-causing bacteria can be disseminated at unclean waxing salons. Waxing can be potentially dangerous; therefore, it's important to go to a clean and trustworthy salon.

Check online for any unfavorable comments about, or news about, the salon you're thinking of visiting.

Find out from your pals what waxing places they've tried and liked.