What are the treatments for folliculitis?
Bacterial folliculitis may disappear without treatment, but is likely to recur. Non-prescription topical antibiotics like Bacitracin, Mycitracin, or Neomycin, gently rubbed on to affected areas three or four times a day, can clear up a small number of bacterial folliculitis pustules. Oral antibiotics such as erythromycin (Erythocin) may be prescribed if the infection is widespread. The drug griseofulvin (Fulvicin) and topical antifungal medications are used to treat fungal folliculitis. A doctor should be notified if: • pustules spread after treatment has begun or reappear after treatment is completed • the patient’s fever climbs above 100°F (37.8°C) • the patient develops boils or swollen ankles • redness, swelling, warmth, or pain indicate that the infection has spread • unexplained new symptoms appear Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
