itch relief

Dear Dr Rokoff,

My dermatologist flippantly tells me I have folliculits.  He said  it's common and not contagious.  He didn't sound like he wanted to answer my questions, so I'm hoping you might be able to help me.  Besides changing to a anti-bacterial soap, is there anything else I can do to relieve the embarrassing itching?  Nothing works.  For how much longer will I be itching?  It's been about 2 1/2 weeks.  Is there such a thing as antibacterial shampoo?  If I do have an infection, I think it's on my scalp.  Neither Benadryl nor the prescription Rx helps against the itching.  

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The other measures you can take to help itch are to apply an OTC lotion like Sarna, as needed for itch, and to take an antihistamine like Benadryl 25 mg or chlortrimeton 4 mg (both also OTC.)  Antibacterial shampoos arent necessary.  In egeneral, I agree with your dermatologist about folliculitis.  If your symptoms persist for more than another 2-3 weeks, I'd get back to him, though.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff