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Monday, February 15. 2010
Folliculitis and Ingrown Hairs In Hispanic and African American patients
Folliculitis (ingrown hairs) is one of the more difficult skin conditions my African American and Hispanic patients are faced with. Shaving irritates the skin and the hairs curl back into the skin causing redness and inflammation.
If there are aggressive bacteria on the skin a true infection (or Impetigo) can ensue. This, in turn, can cause scarring and discolorations that can last for years.
Treating folliculitis can be very challenging. Every skin type requires a different approach:
- I encourage my male patients not to shave too close in the neck area. In fact switching to an electric Razor often helps.
- Reducing the bacterial count on the skin also helps; this can be achieved by the application of prescription topical or oral antibiotics (Erythromycin and Clindamycin solution, oral Tetracycline, Minocin, Dynacin, Doryx, Oracea etc).
- Benzyl Peroxides (BP): Application of BP to the skin causes a significant decrease in the number of bacteria and helps lighten residual brown spots from previous ingrown hairs.
- Retin A, Tazorac and Differein Gel: These 3 classes of topical agents decrease sebum production and loosen up the clogged hairs. This, in turn, reduces ingrown hairs and smoothens the skin. The drawback is that they make the skin more sensitive to the Sun and getting facials.
- Microdermabrasions and light chemical glycolic peels help improve impacted pores and those white bumps called Milias.
- Scrubs: Neutrogena makes a great facial and body scrub. Once a week under the shower helps exfoliate the dead layers of the skin and reduce bacteria counts.
- Stronger acids such as Jessner and TCA (Tri-Chloro-Acedic Acid) can also be judiciously used to treat scarring and clogged pores.
- Lasers and Light sources: Resistant cases can benefit from Phodynamic Therapy and lasers such as the Cooltouch laser (see our menu of services).
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