Pityrosporum folliculitis is a common condition that causes breakouts on the skin. It arises once yeast bacteria which is naturally present on the skin, moves under the skin and into the hair follicles.
Oftentimes, the doctor wrongly identifies it as recurrent acne. Those who have pityrosporum folliculitis have other conditions such as dandruff and seborrheic dermatitis.
What are the indications?
Pityrosporum folliculitis generally forms on the facial skin, along the hairline as well as on the back, chest or upper arms. The condition is likely to occur in areas where the skin is oily. Small-sized bumps or pustules are present on the affected site which tend to itch and feel uncomfortable.
Some individuals have several outbreaks while others end up with symptoms on one region of the skin.
Management of pityrosporum folliculitis
There are various treatment options for pityrosporum folliculitis. An oral antifungal, specifically itraconazole is effective. Use a combination of steroid and topical anti-acne creams along with the oral antifungal if both condition and acne are present.
There are several measures for home care. Use a selenium sulfide shampoo if the symptoms arise around the hairline. In some cases, apply a topical cream to eliminate the yeast overgrowth on the skin.
What is the outlook?
If diagnosed with pityrosporum folliculitis, the symptoms must settle within 3-4 weeks with treatment. Nevertheless, it is expected for the symptoms to recur especially if antibiotics are used. Lastly, the doctor might suggest continuing treatment intermittently to lessen the chances for the rash to recur.
FACT CHECK
https://www.aocd.org/page/PityrosporumFollicu
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1091037-overview
https://www.healthline.com/health/pityrosporum-folliculitis