How To Treat Hair Follicle Infection Naturally

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If you've got dazzler questions, Cosmopolitan.com's dazzler editor, Carly Cardellino has the answers. Email your beauty Q's to ccardellino (at) hearst (dot) com or tweet your questions to @carlycardellino.

Q: I have bumps that look similar blemishes on my upper arms, buttocks, and backs of my thighs, but they aren't going away even though I'm applying acne products on them. WTF?

A: Virtually likely they're non blemishes. What you're probably dealing with is folliculitis, tiny red, inflammed hair follicles that produce pustules that look very like to a whitehead or pimple, and usually evidence up on areas where you wouldn't normally go acne, like the backs of your thighs. So, what causes them? "Folliculitis can occur from friction — when your upper arms rub confronting your clothing, or your legs rub against the cloth of your jeans or shorts, or your tight bathing suit bottoms shift back and along against your barrel and bikini line," Dr. Kate Lowenthal, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, says. "Your hair follicles can also become infected when you vesture workout great (the fabric traps moisture, which mixes with the leaner that lays naturally on your pare), as tin nicking yourself with a razor, which too invites bacteria into the pare easier."

If the description of these annoying bumps sound familiar, to prevent more from forming, Lowenthal suggests showering three times a week using an antibacterial wash, like Punch or Cetaphil, which will help eliminate the bacteria on your body that'southward causing these unsightly blemish-like bumps. And, if you workout a lot and are prone to folliculitis, she said that it's also a proficient thought to rinse off right later yous work out using 1 of these washes. That way the bacteria, sweat, and dirt on your skin don't have time to mix together, brew, and infect your hair follicles.

To get rid of any folliculitis you may already accept, Lowenthal says to dab on an over-the-counter antibiotic cream or ointment, like Bacitracin or Neosporin, which will assistance clear away the infection inside the hair follicle.

"If the bumps don't go abroad later on a few weeks, first to deepen in their cherry colour, spread to other areas, or the pustules get larger in size, make sure you make an appointment with your dermatologist, as you might need an prescription-strength oral antibody," Lowenthal says.

Hither's to having articulate body skin when you're half-naked in your bikini!

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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