Many skin conditions can look the same. When you have inflamed, irritated skin, how are you supposed to know what’s causing it?
Take, for example, folliculitis; it looks similar to acne, presenting as small, red bumps on the skin, but requires a very different approach for treatment.
To complicate matters even more, many other skin conditions can also cause acne-like bumps on your skin.
That’s why you should trust a board-certified dermatologist at Galt Dermatology & Concierge Medicine for a proper diagnosis.
Folliculitis treatments in Fort Lauderdale target the root cause of this common skin condition, but they won’t work for other skin conditions that appear like folliculitis.
The key to effective care lies in pinpointing the precise culprit. Self-treating based on visual similarities is a gamble, and a misdiagnosis can lead to wasted time and ineffective remedies. Proper identification, through expert examination, is the crucial first step toward lasting relief and healthy skin.
Why You Should Visit Galt Dermatology for Folliculitis Treatments
At Galt Dermatology, a board-certified dermatologist will always see you, giving you access to an expert who can accurately identify and treat over 3,000 diseases related to your skin, hair, and nails. As we mentioned before, many dermatological conditions can look the same and often require a trained eye for accurate diagnosis and a precise plan for effective resolution.
This is particularly true of folliculitis, where identifying the specific cause—which could range from inflammation, bacteria, or fungus—is critical to choosing the most appropriate treatment. At Galt Dermatology, we utilize advanced diagnostic tools to ensure a swift and targeted approach, minimizing discomfort and maximizing your path to clear, healthy skin.
Meet Dr. Miguel Villacorta
Dr. Villacorta makes his patients the priority, as shown by his direct-care dermatology practice, which raised the bar for care and inspired other dermatologists nationwide.
His diverse educational background includes earning an osteopathic medical degree and a Master of Public Health at Nova Southeastern University. His skin cancer research led to his recognition as a Young Innovator by the American Academy of Medical Entrepreneurs, and he received the Resident of the Year Award at Broward Health for his extensive research publications.
With a solid foundation in whole-person and dermatological care, he excels in medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology. Whether he’s helping determine the best skin care products, wound care, or folliculitis treatments in Fort Lauderdale, he always addresses each patient with empathy, starting with an in-depth conversation and ending with a personalized treatment plan that focuses on whole-person wellness and the health of your skin.
What Is Folliculitis?
Folliculitis is a skin condition that is caused by inflammation or infection of your hair follicles. Not only does it cause small red bumps that resemble acne, but also redness, irritation, and itching. It can affect any part of your body, but is most commonly found on the:
- Face
- Arms
- Upper back
- Lower legs
What Causes Folliculitis?
Hair covers most of your body, although some is very fine and may go unnoticed. Every strand attaches to a follicle, which anchors the hair and holds oil. Bacteria, fungi, and microscopic parasites can collect in these follicles, causing inflammation or infection that swells the hair follicle to form the acne-like bumps on your skin.
There are many different types of folliculitis, each with its own distinct appearance, location on your body, symptoms, and cause. To begin the appropriate folliculitis treatment in Fort Lauderdale, the first step is to identify the exact type of folliculitis, cause, and potential risk factors.
Certain risk factors that can make your skin more susceptible to folliculitis, include the following.
Shaving, Waxing, or Tweezing
At-home hair removal methods can cause folliculitis, especially if you use old, dirty tools. Typically, these techniques cause ingrown hairs, which are hairs that curl back into the skin post-removal. An ingrown hair appears on the skin as a raised bump—sound familiar?
However, at-home hair removal can damage the hair follicles and open an entry point for bacteria, causing folliculitis.
To reduce the risk of folliculitis and ingrown hairs, we recommend a series of laser hair reduction sessions. This treatment harnesses the power of light to penetrate your skin and target the hair pigment. After reaching the follicle, it converts into heat, which damages the follicle to prevent future growth.
→ Read more about the benefits of laser hair reduction in this article!
Wearing Tight-Fitting Clothing
When you wear very tight clothing, the friction can create a humid environment, which can damage your hair follicles and cause infections. We recommend wearing loose-fitting clothes if you are susceptible to folliculitis.
Tight-fitting clothing can also trap sweat and dead skin cells, blocking the hair follicles and further increasing the risk of folliculitis. Treatments in Fort Lauderdale can offer relief, but you may need to make changes to your wardrobe to prevent recurrence.
Excessive Sweating
While cleansing your skin immediately after physical activity can help, we recognize conditions like hyperhidrosis (excessive, uncontrollable sweating) can complicate matters, causing excess sweat production regardless of activity levels. For patients with this condition, we offer excessive sweating treatments like Botox, topical deodorants, and oral medications to block sweat glands and reduce sweating.
Using Makeup and Oil-Based Skincare
Personal hygiene is important for all dermatology concerns. Unfortunately, sometimes the products you put on your skin can cause a reaction if you have an allergy or ingredient sensitivity. When you visit our physicians, we recommend the right products based on your medical history and skin type.
Additional Causes
Many factors can contribute to the development of folliculitis. These include:
- Oral medications
- Topical medications
- Obesity
- Diabetes
When you visit Galt Dermatology, we review your medical history to determine if these factors may be the culprit. In addition to your folliculitis treatments in Fort Lauderdale, we may also recommend primary care services like our weight loss program, which might include medications like semaglutide.
We take a whole-body approach to dermatology because, in this field, we recognize that your external appearance is a window into your internal health. Therefore, we consider all aspects of your well-being when developing a treatment plan, from diet and lifestyle to underlying medical conditions.
Treatments for Folliculitis
Recurrence is common with folliculitis, which means we need to go beyond resolving the immediate symptoms to also look into the root cause.
Along with lifestyle and prevention guidance, we provide you with medications and washes to clear your folliculitis. These include:
- Fungal medications if your folliculitis stems from a fungus.
- Antibiotics if your folliculitis is bacterial.
- Antiviral medications if your folliculitis is a viral infection.
- Benzoyl peroxide washes or chlorhexidine wash
However, in some cases, what you might think requires folliculitis treatment in Fort Lauderdale is actually an entirely different skin condition altogether, calling for an alternative approach.
What Other Conditions Might Resemble Folliculitis?
With Dr. Villacorta’s dedication to patient care and thorough understanding of various skin conditions, he can identify, diagnose, and properly treat a range of skin conditions that are commonly mistaken for folliculitis. These include the following.
Acne
Since acne and folliculitis look almost identical, it’s no surprise you’d mistake sudden red bumps on your skin for acne. One key difference in their appearance is the presence of black or white heads and the depth of inflammation.
Acne is another skin condition, with various types of symptoms, each with a unique look and cause. These include:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Pimples
- Cysts or nodules (deep, under the skin pimples)
Acne and folliculitis even share similar causes, as acne develops when pores become clogged with bacteria, oil (sebum), and dead skin cells. However, the risks and triggers for acne differ from folliculitis. Everything from your diet to your skincare routine to hormonal imbalances can contribute to acne.
Should your bumps look like acne, instead of finding the best folliculitis treatment in Fort Lauderdale for you, we will tailor a more suitable approach to help clear your skin. This could range from oral medications and topical treatments to diet and lifestyle guidance and a new skin care routine.
Rosacea
Acne and folliculitis can also resemble rosacea, a chronic skin condition that not only causes acne-like breakouts but also:
- Flushing
- Persistent redness
- Visible blood vessels
- Skin thickening
- Burning or stinging
Unlike acne and folliculitis, there is not currently a known cure for rosacea. Instead, treatments include identifying triggers like stress, certain foods, and sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures to help manage your condition.
In addition to lifestyle guidance, we also offer intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments, which minimize redness and the visible or broken blood vessels related to rosacea. The light targets hemoglobin (pigment in your red blood cells) and reduces redness, flushing, and inflammation.
→ Learn more about the benefits of intense pulsed light therapy in this blog
Miliaria Rubra
Heat rash, or miliaria rubra, can result from sweat-related irritation. It causes a burning, itchy, and prickly sensation on your skin that worsens when you scratch it. Just like acne, folliculitis, and rosacea, miliaria rubra can also appear as a group of tiny, discolored bumps on your skin.
Sweat, tight-fitting clothing, and warm weather all contribute to a heat rash, which further emphasizes the importance of personal hygiene and loose-fitting clothing. If you’re prone to heat rash, visit our dermatologists for lifestyle guidance and prevention tips.
Related Skin Conditions
Acne, rosacea, and miliaria rubra are just 3 of many skin conditions that resemble folliculitis; others include:
- Pseudomonas folliculitis (hot tub folliculitis)
- Pityrosporum folliculitis
- Tinea barbae
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae,
- Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis
- Milia
- Perioral dermatitis
- MRSA folliculitis
At Galt Dermatology, we have a solution for every skin condition listed above. You can worry less about identifying the condition itself that’s irritating your skin, and instead focus your time and energy on the solutions we offer.
Trust a Dermatologist at Galt Dermatology
If itchy, red bumps are causing you discomfort, visit a board-certified dermatologist at Galt Dermatology for the proper diagnosis and treatment. From acne solutions to rosacea reduction to folliculitis treatments in Fort Lauderdale, we personalize your care to your unique needs.
To get started, you can request a consultation.
Alternatively, you can try our treatment planning tool, which allows you to pinpoint your area of concern.
Up Next: Learn about head-to-toe skin tightening with Morpheus8
