Vaginal Folliculitis, or Genital Folliculitis: Causes and Treatment

What Is Vaginal Folliculitis?

First, let us understand the terms vaginal folliculitis and genital folliculitis. Are they the same? Even though these terms are used interchangeably, there is a slight difference between the two. 

Vaginal folliculitis is a skin infection caused by inflammation of the hair follicles around your vagina, especially the labia. Genital folliculitis refers to the same condition, but here, the painful, pimple-like bumps appear anywhere in your genital region, like the inner thighs, pubic mound or labia. 

If you look closely, you can observe these small pus-filled pimples at the base of your hair follicles, right where the hair emerges from your skin. Vaginal folliculitis causes pain, swelling, irritation, itching and redness in the genital region. 

Causes of Vaginal Folliculitis

Everyday habits like shaving and waxing, wearing tight clothes and sweating excessively may result in vaginal folliculitis. Surprising, right? Here’s a list of causes of vaginal folliculitis:

1. Bacterial Infections:

• Bacteria (most commonly Staphylococcus aureus) can enter the hair follicles when your skin is irritated due to shaving, excessive sweating, friction caused by clothes rubbing on your skin and so on. These bacteria infect your hair follicles.

2. Fungal Infections:

• Just like bacteria, fungi can also cause hair follicle infections. Fungal infection occurs particularly in women with a weak immune system.

3. Ingrown Hairs:

• Shaving or waxing the vaginal area can cause the hair to grow back into the skin instead of outward, leading to irritation, infection and folliculitis.

4. Sweating and Tight Clothes:

• If you sweat excessively or use tight clothes, the warm and moist environment, along with friction, allows bacteria to grow easily and enter your hair follicles, causing infection.

5. Poor Hygiene:

• Lack of proper hygiene and using harsh soaps and chemicals will irritate your skin and cause folliculitis in the genital area.

6. Weak Immune System:

• Health issues like diabetes, treatments for long-standing illnesses like cancer, use of immunosuppressive medicines, poor nutritional status and stress can lower your immune response, making you more susceptible to folliculitis.

7. Sexual Activity:

• Engaging in sex can sometimes cause friction and minor scratches in your genital area, which increases the risk of infections and folliculitis.

Being aware of what might cause vaginal folliculitis can help you make better choices to keep those painful red bumps at bay.

What Are the Symptoms of Vaginal Folliculitis?

One of the primary symptoms of vaginal folliculitis is the presence of reddish pimples in your genital area. 

Here are some other common symptoms to look out for:

• Pain and tenderness around the bumps.
• Itching of the skin around the bumps.
• Pus-filled blisters that break open and form crusty sores.
• A cloudy or yellowish pus discharge from the red bumps.

Risk Factors for Vaginal Folliculitis

Are your everyday habits putting you at risk for vaginal folliculitis? Protect yourself from these pesky little pimples by understanding the conditions that make you more vulnerable to them.

1. Shaving and Waxing: 

The use of razor and waxing can result in tiny cuts or scrapes in your genital area, which acts as a passage for harmful bacteria to penetrate the hair follicle. It may also lead to chances of vaginal folliculitis due to ingrown hairs and more friction.

2. Tight Clothes:

Frequent use of tight clothes also causes vaginal folliculitis from the chafing of tight clothes and the warm and moist environment it creates, which is conducive for bacteria.

3. Excessive Sweating:

Excess sweating or excessive engagement in sports or workouts can make your sebaceous gland produce oil, which, along with dead skin cells, blocks the follicles, causing irritation and bacterial growth to occur.

Hormonal Changes:

• Hormonal changes happening during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause can increase oil production and weaken the skin’s natural protective barrier making you more susceptible to vaginal folliculitis.

4. Weakened Immunity:

• If you are diabetic, under treatment for long-standing health concerns or taking immunosuppressive medicines, you have a higher risk of vaginal folliculitis.

How Vaginal Folliculitis Is Diagnosed

Your doctor can easily diagnose vaginal folliculitis by taking a thorough history and carrying out physical exams. It usually does not require any complicated diagnostic testing or radiographic evaluations. Diagnosis of vaginal folliculitis involves the following steps:

• Your doctor will take a thorough medical history by asking you questions about the medicines you take, how often you shave or wax, how much you tend to sweat and so on.
• A physical examination of your genital area is done to look for possible symptoms like bumps, redness, or swelling.
• Sometimes a swab test to check the pus or fluids from the bumps may be done to pinpoint the microorganism responsible for vaginal folliculitis and to treat it accordingly.
• If your vaginal folliculitis keeps recurring, or in severe cases, blood tests are carried out to check for other health issues that increase the risk of folliculitis.
• In rare cases when vaginal folliculitis does not respond to treatments or if the bumps look unusually big or widespread, you might also need a biopsy, where a part of your infected skin is removed and studied under the microscope.

Treatments for Vaginal Folliculitis

“Vaginal folliculitis can be treated using simple measures because it is self-limiting and usually resolves on its own. However, if the bumps are bigger and accompanied by severe pain, discharge and discomfort, medications or even draining the pus might become necessary.” – Dr Anjana A R, Health Coach at Nirva.

Treatments for vaginal folliculitis include:

1. Antibiotics:

• If your folliculitis is caused by bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotic creams or gels, like mupirocin, to be applied to the infected area. If the infection is more widespread, then you may have to take oral antibiotic pills like clindamycin or cephalexin.

2. Antifungals:

• If fungus is the cause of folliculitis, the application of antifungal creams like clotrimazole can relieve the symptoms and heal your skin.

3. Steroids:

• If folliculitis is triggered by an allergic response or associated with severe inflammation or swelling, steroid creams are useful.

4. Draining the Follicle:

• If the infected follicle is filled with fluids or pus and is big in size, the doctor makes a small cut over it to help drain and heal it.

Home Remedies for Vaginal Folliculitis

There is always a high chance that vaginal folliculitis will resolve by itself with simple home remedies. Here are a list of expert-recommended tips you can practise to treat vaginal folliculitis at home:

• Keep your genital area clean and dry. Use a mild soap and water to clean this sensitive part of your body.
• Applying a warm compress to the infected area can give you quick relief from pain and swelling.
• Try not to scratch the infected area.
• Do not squeeze or pop the pimples, as it can worsen the infection.
• Opt for loose-fitting cotton clothes. Avoid tight clothes and synthetic fabrics.
• A warm sitz bath can soothe the irritated skin and promote the healing of the infected follicle.
• Applying aloe vera gel to the infected area can soothe the skin, reduce irritation, and help heal.
• Turmeric paste application on the infected follicle can help in reducing pain and inflammation.
• Dilute tea tree oil with coconut oil and apply this on the irritated skin to reduce infection and irritation in mild cases.

Tips to Prevent Vaginal Folliculitis

Did you know that making a few simple changes to your routine can keep those uncomfortable bumps away for good? Here are some tips to prevent vaginal folliculitis:

• Use a clean, sharp razor and a gentle shaving cream for shaving.
• Apply a moisturiser to hydrate and soothe your skin after shaving or waxing.
• Keep your genital area clean and dry.
• Exfoliate your genital area to remove dead skin cells and prevent clogging of hair follicles.
• Use undergarments made from breathable fabrics like cotton. 
• Avoid tight-fitting undergarments and pants to reduce friction and moisture build-up.
• Change out of sweaty and damp clothes as soon as possible.
• Make sure to use only mild soaps and water to clean your genital area.
• Stay away from harsh chemicals like hair removal creams, perfumed soaps, douches and bleaching creams.
• Maintain a healthy diet and drink plenty of water for healthy skin.

When to Consult a Doctor 

Is your vaginal folliculitis not getting better? You must know when to turn to the doctor. If the condition is not easing up with home remedies, or if it is worsening, you should see your physician. 

If you experience frequent episodes of vaginal folliculitis, your doctor might conduct some tests to identify any related health issues, such as lowered immunity or hygiene habits. Seek immediate medical attention if the infected follicle develops into a pus-filled abscess or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever or chills.

Complications

Although vaginal folliculitis is a minor health problem, ignoring it or leaving it untreated can cause complications like:

• Recurring infections and outbreaks.
• Formation of pus-filled abscesses.
• Scarring in the genital region.
• Damage to hair follicles, causing permanent loss of hair.
• Inflammation and redness of skin, called cellulitis.
• Patches of skin that are darker (hyperpigmented) or lighter (hypopigmented).
• Spreading of infection to surrounding skin.
• Spread of infection into the bloodstream, causing sepsis.

Summing Up

Vaginal folliculitis is easily preventable with the right approach, like proper hygiene and simple lifestyle changes. Catching the infection early and treating it can prevent complications and help you recover quickly. 

For more insight on natural ways to treat folliculitis, get in touch with expert Ayurvedic practitioners at Nirva. Book your appointment today!