Boils after shaving??? Be careful to avoid Folliculitis.

Folliculitis is a common skin condition in which hair follicles become inflamed. It's usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. At first it may look like small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles — the tiny pockets from which each hair grows. The infection can spread and turn into nonhealing, crusty sores.
The condition isn't life-threatening, but it can be itchy, sore and embarrassing. Severe infections can cause permanent hair loss and scarring.
If you have a mild case, it'll likely clear in a few days with basic self-care measures. For more serious or recurring folliculitis, you may need to see a doctor.
Certain types of folliculitis are known as hot tub rash, razor bumps and barber's itch.

Symptoms

Folliculitis signs and symptoms include:

• Clusters of small red bumps or white-headed pimples that develop around hair follicles
• Pus-filled blisters that break open and crust over
• Red and inflamed skin
• Itchy or burning skin
• Tenderness or pain
• A large swollen bump or mass

Types of superficial folliculitis

Superficial forms of folliculitis include:

• Bacterial folliculitis. This common type is marked by itchy, white, pus-filled bumps. When bacterial folliculitis affects a man's beard area, it's called barber's itch. It occurs when hair follicles become infected with bacteria, usually Staphylococcus aureus (staph). Staph bacteria live on the skin all the time. But they generally cause problems only when they enter your body through a cut or other wound.
• Hot tub folliculitis (pseudomonas folliculitis). This type is caused by pseudomonas bacteria. You may be exposed to these bacteria in many places, including hot tubs and heated pools in which the chlorine and pH levels aren't well-regulated. You may develop a rash of red, round, itchy bumps one to four days after exposure. These may later develop into small pus-filled blisters (pustules).
  The rash is likely to be worse in areas where your swimsuit held contaminated water against the skin or where skin — such as the back of the thighs — came in direct contact with a contaminated surface.
  
• Barber's itch (pseudofolliculitis barbae). This is an inflammation caused by ingrowing hairs. It mainly affects black men who shave and is most noticeable on the face and neck. People who get bikini waxes may develop barber's itch in the groin area. This condition may leave dark raised scars (keloids).
• Pityrosporum (pit-ih-ROS-puh-rum) folliculitis. This type is especially common in teens and adult men. It's caused by a yeast infection and produces chronic, red, itchy pustules on the back and chest and sometimes on the neck, shoulders, upper arms and face. 

 

Types of deep folliculitis

 

Deep folliculitis, where the whole hair follicle is involved, comes in various forms:

• Sycosis barbae. This type affects men who have begun to shave. At first, small pustules appear on the upper lip, chin and jaw. They become more prevalent over days and weeks as shaving continues. Severe sycosis barbae may cause scarring.
• Gram-negative folliculitis. This type sometimes develops if you're receiving long-term antibiotic therapy for acne. Antibiotics alter the normal balance of bacteria in the nose. This leads to an overgrowth of harmful organisms called gram-negative bacteria. In most people, this doesn't cause problems, and the bacteria in the nose return to normal once antibiotics are stopped. In a few people, the gram-negative bacteria spread to the skin around the nose and mouth. This can cause new, severe acne.
• Boils (furuncles) and carbuncles. These occur when hair follicles become deeply infected with staph bacteria. A boil usually appears suddenly as a painful pink or red bump. The surrounding skin also may be red and swollen. The bump then fills with pus and grows larger and more painful before it finally ruptures and drains. Small boils usually heal without scarring. A large boil may leave a scar.
  A carbuncle is a cluster of boils. It usually appears on the back of the neck, shoulders, back or thighs. A carbuncle causes a deeper and more severe infection than does a single boil. As a result, it develops and heals more slowly and is likely to leave a scar.
  
• Eosinophilic (e-o-sin-o-FILL-ik) folliculitis. This type mainly affects people with HIV/AIDS. Symptoms include intense itching and recurring patches of inflamed, pus-filled sores on the scalp, face, neck and upper chest. The sores usually spread and often leave areas of darker than normal skin (hyperpigmentation) when they heal. The exact cause of eosinophilic folliculitis isn't known. But it may involve the same yeast-like fungus responsible for pityrosporum folliculitis.

Causes

Folliculitis is caused by an infection of hair follicles, usually from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. May also be caused by viruses, fungi and even an inflammation from ingrown hairs.
The condition is classified as either superficial or deep, based on how much of the hair follicle it involves. Deep folliculitis is usually more severe.
Follicles are densest on your scalp, and they occur everywhere on your body except your palms, soles, lips and mucous membranes. Damaged follicles are at risk of infection.
The most common causes of follicle damage are:

• Friction from shaving or tight clothing
• Heat and sweat, such as that caused by wearing rubber gloves or waders
• Certain skin conditions, such as dermatitis and acne
• Injuries to your skin, such as from scrapes or surgical wounds
• Coverings on your skin, such as plastic dressings or adhesive tape

Risk factors

Anyone can develop folliculitis. But certain factors make you more susceptible to the condition, including:

• Having a medical condition that reduces your resistance to infection, such as diabetes, chronic leukemia and HIV/AIDS
• Having acne or dermatitis
• Past damage to your skin, as from injury or surgery
• Taking some medications, such as steroid creams or long-term antibiotic therapy for acne
• Being overweight
• Regularly wearing clothing that traps heat and sweat, such as rubber gloves or high boots
• Soaking in a hot tub that's not maintained well
• Shaving

Complications

Possible complications of folliculitis include:

• Recurrent or spreading infection
• Large, itchy patches of infected skin (plaques)
• Boils under the skin (furunculosis)
• Permanent skin damage, such as scarring or dark spots
• Destruction of hair follicles and permanent hair loss

Prevention

You can try to prevent folliculitis from coming back with these tips:

• Avoid tight clothes. It helps to reduce friction between your skin and clothing.
• Dry out your rubber gloves between uses. If you wear rubber gloves regularly, after each use turn them inside out, rinse with soap and water, and dry thoroughly.
• Avoid shaving, if possible. For men with barber's itch, growing a beard may be a good option if you don't need a clean-shaven face.
• Shave with care. Use an electric razor or a clean, sharp blade every time you shave. Adopt habits such as:
  
  • Washing your skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser before shaving
  • Using a wash cloth or cleansing pad in a gentle circular motion
  • Applying lubricating shaving cream or gel for five to 10 minutes before shaving to soften the hair
  • Applying moisturizing lotion after you shave
  Generally, men with barber's itch have been advised to shave in the direction of hair growth. But a study found that men who shaved against the grain saw their rash improve. Experiment to see what works for you. You may even want to consider hair-removing products (depilatories) or other methods of hair removal.
  
• Use only clean hot tubs and heated pools. And if you own a hot tub or a heated pool, clean it regularly and add chlorine as recommended.

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 Gynaecology-Centre-Nairobi

Galactorrhea

 

Galactorrhea (guh-lack-toe-REE-uh) is a milky nipple discharge unrelated to the normal milk production of breast-feeding. Galactorrhea itself isn't a disease, but it could be a sign of an underlying problem. It usually occurs in women, even those who have never had children or after menopause. But galactorrhea can happen in men and even in infants.
Excessive breast stimulation, medication side effects or disorders of the pituitary gland all may contribute to galactorrhea. Often, galactorrhea results from increased levels of prolactin, the hormone that stimulates milk production.
Sometimes, the cause of galactorrhea can't be determined. The condition may resolve on its own.

 

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms associated with galactorrhea include:

• Persistent or intermittent milky nipple discharge
• Nipple discharge involving multiple milk ducts
• Spontaneously leaked or manually expressed nipple discharge
• One or both breasts affected
• Absent or irregular menstrual periods
• Headaches or vision problems

Causes

•  Pituitary gland and hypothalamus

Galactorrhea often results from too much prolactin — the hormone responsible for milk production (lactation) when you have a baby. Prolactin is produced by your pituitary gland, a marble-sized gland at the base of your brain that secretes and regulates several hormones.
Possible causes of galactorrhea include:

• Medications, such as certain sedatives, antidepressants, antipsychotics and high blood pressure drugs
• Cocaine, marijuana or opioid use
• Herbal supplements, such as fennel, anise or fenugreek seed
• Birth control pills
• Noncancerous pituitary tumor (prolactinoma) or other disorder of the pituitary gland
• Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Chronic kidney disease
• Excessive breast stimulation, which may be associated with sexual activity, frequent breast self-exams with nipple manipulation or prolonged clothing friction
• Nerve damage to the chest wall from chest surgery, burns or other chest injuries
• Spinal cord surgery, injury or tumors

 

Idiopathic galactorrhea

Sometimes doctors can't find a cause for galactorrhea. This is called idiopathic galactorrhea, and it may just mean that your breast tissue is particularly sensitive to the milk-producing hormone prolactin in your blood. If you have increased sensitivity to prolactin, even normal prolactin levels can lead to galactorrhea.

 

Galactorrhea in men

In males, galactorrhea may be associated with testosterone deficiency (male hypogonadism) and usually occurs with breast enlargement or tenderness (gynecomastia). Erectile dysfunction and a lack of sexual desire also are associated with testosterone deficiency.

 

Galactorrhea in newborns

Galactorrhea sometimes occurs in newborns. High maternal estrogen levels cross the placenta into the baby's blood. This can cause enlargement of the baby's breast tissue, which may be associated with a milky nipple discharge

When to see a doctor

If you have a persistent, spontaneous milky nipple discharge from one or both of your breasts and you're not pregnant or breast-feeding, make an appointment to see your doctor.
If breast stimulation — such as excessive nipple manipulation during sexual activity — triggers nipple discharge from multiple ducts, you have little cause for worry. The discharge probably doesn't signal anything abnormal, including breast cancer, but you should still see a doctor for evaluation.
Nonmilky nipple discharge — particularly bloody, yellow or clear spontaneous discharge that comes from one duct or is associated with a lump you can feel — requires prompt medical attention, as it may be a sign of an underlying breast cancer.Gynaecology-Centre-Nairobi