dermatologic disorders
Folliculitis
Treatment of Folliculitis
Topical antibiotics Sometimes systemic antibiotics Because most folliculitis is caused byS. aureus, treatment with topicalmupirocinor topicalclindamycinis generally effective. Alternatively,benzoyl peroxide5% wash may be used for 5 to 7 days when showering. Extensive cutaneous involvement may warrant systemic therapy (eg,cephalexin250 to 500 mg orally 3 to 4 times a day for 10 days). If these measures do not result in a cure, or folliculitis recurs, pustules are Gram stained and cultured to rule out gram-negative or methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) etiology, and nares are cultured to rule out nasal staphylococcal carriage. Potassium hydroxide wet mount should be done on a plucked hair to rule out fungal folliculitis. Hot tub folliculitis usually resolves without treatment. However, adequate chlorination of the hot tub is necessary to prevent recurrences and to protect others from infection. 