Painful would best describe folliculitis–those bumpy, red, pus-filled pimples that appear on the hair follicle and give enough pain that you would wish body hair never existed. Folliculitis is an inflammatory condition of hair follicles–those small pouches from where body hair grows. Usually caused by the bacteria, staphylococcus aureus, folliculitis most commonly affects the arms, legs, back, buttocks, scalp, and beard area.
Painful as it is, folliculitis is usually minor and will go away on its own without the need for any treatment. Good hygiene and washing with an antibacterial soap are all that are required. For more serious cases like deeper or nonhealing lesions, antibiotic treatments and antihistamines may be necessary. However, there are quite a few natural home remedies that are effective in treating folliculitis. Let’s have a look.
# White VinegarA potential antibacterial and disinfectant agent, white vinegar can cure folliculitis since it is useful in reducing staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
How to:
Mix one tablespoon of white vinegar to two cups of water. Then dip some cotton balls in this solution and apply it on the boil. Keep the cotton balls firmly pressed on the boil for 20 minutes. Re-apply if necessary. This treatment should be done twice daily for a few days. Any superficial boils will clear up in one to two days.
# Tea Tree Oil
For those with scalp folliculitis, using a shampoo which contains tea tree oil is considered to be beneficial. Tea tree oil is believed to be a natural germicide. It has the ability to disrupt the permeability barrier of cell membrane structures of the disease-causing microbes. Regular use of tea tree oil shampoo can help prevent the recurrence of scalp folliculitis.
# GarlicLike tea tree oil, garlic also has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. It is also a rich source of sulfur which is beneficial in preventing various skin disorders. However, care should be taken when opting for this herbal treatment. Since garlic is strong, applying garlic directly on the infected follicle can burn the skin.
# ThymeAnother easy to use herbal treatment is thyme. Thyme contains thymol, a chemical compound that has antibacterial properties that can help clear staphylococcus infection in folliculitis.
# Honeysuckle
This herbal plant is believed to be a good home remedy for folliculitis. Its anti-inflammatory properties help in calming and soothing the aggravated follicles. Honeysuckle needs to be taken internally. Having a concoction made from boiling honeysuckle leaves with water will help fight the bacteria from within.
# GoldensealGoldenseal, a small perennial herb, is a good antimicrobic agent with bacteriostatic activity against a host of bacteria, especially staphylococcus aureus.8 Like honeysuckle, goldenseal should also be taken internally as soon as the symptoms appear. It can also be used by making a paste using powdered goldenseal and water. This paste needs to be applied directly to the affected area which is then covered with a clean bandage and left on overnight.