6 Home Remedies To Treat Folliculitis

Folliculitis is the infection and inflammation of one or more hair follicles. It is a skin condition that may occur anywhere on the body as long as there are hair follicles present. The most common areas affected are the head, neck, armpit, legs and groin. Folliculitis appears as a pus-filled pimple but may also look like a red itchy rash with tiny white bumps.

What causes folliculitis? It starts when a skin pathogen (bacteria, fungi or even virus) affects a hair follicle. The skin pathogen is given entry in the hair follicle through various ways which cause damage to the hair follicles such as:

Shaving
Insect bites
Over scratching skin
Wearing braids too tight and close to the scalp
Eczema and dermatitis
Tight clothing
And more

These damaged hair follicles are usually infected by Staphylococcus, which is a strain of bacteria that is the common cause of folliculitis.

People with anemia, who have acne prone skin or a weak immune system are also more susceptible to an outbreak of folliculitis.

# Apple Cider Vinegar

For many skin conditions including skin tags, warts, poison ivy, hives and more, apple cider vinegar is a very effective remedy. It can be taken internally and externally to treat folliculitis. Raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar works because is a probiotic rich and antibacterial food that fights bad bacteria that cause inflammation and infections like folliculitis.

For internal use, add 2 tsp raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water then add a squeeze of half a lemon. Add 1 tsp of raw honey to sweeten then drink it first thing in the morning every day.

# Oregano

Oregano works from the inside-out to naturally treat folliculitis. It is a powerful natural antibiotic that you can consume regularly to fight infections like colds and folliculitis. You can add oregano to soups or take oregano capsules. You can also make your own oregano capsules by filling 00 vegetable capsules with dried oregano.

# Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that also disinfects skin. It is useful for many skin conditions like rashes, poison ivy, hives and even varicose veins. When applied to folliculitis, it helps disinfect the area and dries out the skin so it heals faster.

To use, soak a cotton ball with witch hazel and dab it on the area three times a day. After shaving, make a DIY ingrown hair spray (great recipe!) to prevent infected ingrown hairs which is folliculitis.

# Garlic

Garlic can be taken internally to fight folliculitis. If you regularly suffer from folliculitis due to a weakened immune system, garlic will help a lot. It contains sulfur compounds called allicin that have potent antiviral and antibacterial properties that treat various skin conditions including folliculitis.

Add 2-3 garlic cloves to soups and dishes to boost their flavor and also increase your immunity against infections like folliculitis!

# Turmeric Powder

Turmeric powder is a unique spice that boasts powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is effective in topical and internal treatments of various skin conditions including psoriasis and also folliculitis.

To use internally, make yourself a healing warm cup of delicious Golden Milk! Here’s the recipe: Pour a cup of warm milk into a cup. Then add ½ tsp of turmeric powder and a ¼ tsp of powdered black pepper. Now add 1-2 tsp of raw honey to sweeten. Stir well and sip away! It’s said when taken before bed, golden milk promotes deep and restful sleep! Take golden milk every night to strengthen your immune system and naturally fight off germs that cause infection.
To use turmeric topically, mix about ½ tsp in a small dish with enough water to form a thick paste. Apply it on your infected hair follicle(s) then apply a band-aid or bandage. Leave it overnight then remove it the next morning. It can stain skin yellow but the stain goes away gradually with warm water and soap.

# Essential Oils

Essential oils are highly concentrated liquid plant extracts. They are very helpful for treating a myriad of skin conditions. They possess antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiviral properties that help fight off infections. Essential oils like tea tree, oregano, thyme, cypress, lavender, rosemary are powerful natural remedies for folliculitis. They are only for topical use and must be diluted before use.

To use essential oils, mix 2 drops for every 1 tsp of base ingredient such as witch hazel, aloe vera gel or any vegetable oil like olive oil, coconut oil or sunflower oil. Then apply on the affected areas 2-3 times a day. Do not use essential oils over a large area of skin, limit its use to the infected area only.