Severe folliculitis in my scalp

[bigtronix]

I have had this painful problem for years (9 years and 6 month to be exact). I am 40 years old, male, from Canada. Here's how the problem started. Tiny red bumps and they endup with the white thing on it  on top of the scalp back in around 1999, they got very itchy and they blood and white things will be discharge from the pinples. After a few months, I went to a dermatologist, he prescribed me with antiboitic and shampoo and cream and lotion . i used them for 3 month and after i stoppped few one month after I had them back on my scalp and face.I called my dermotologist booked an apt and i saw him and said i should take accutane 40mg daily and antibiotic for 6 month and keep on using the stieprox shampoo for fungus , so i did that and i my scalp and face they got better , so after 6 month i was done my medication course went back for finale visit and he said that i am done .
after  5  to 6 month after the treatment  same issue is back i went and i saw my family Dr and he said to go back and see my dermotologist so i called book an apt , i went for my apt and same thing he want me to be back on accutane for 4 month this time and the stieprox shampoo and other shampoo brand i can't recall . so i did that and after 3 weeks my scalp face look better and after 4 month everything was cleared  saw my dermotologist and he was satisfied with the result again , so he said to stop treatment and i did.
after 4 to 5 month same issue i endup with than made me think more , went to my family Dr we talked and he recommend to see a another dermotologist than the one  i was seeing so i agree and we went through  that
same treatment for 6 month  and i did it   and after 5 to 6 month same issue i changed over 10 dermotologist  and on off on antibiotic and accutane and shamppo and lotions dalacin ....and till today's day no luck  same issue and all this dermotologist did culture and was negative result and they did alergy test negative tooo, few weeks ago as per oct 24 2009  a saw a new dermotologist she did a culture and the result endup with Citrobacter koseri  in my scalp and she said that the cause was from the antibiotic however i am still taken till now antibiotics , and she want to reffere me to another specialist who deal with the bacteria issue's so now i am waiting for my apt . honestly after all those yrs i had the worse time in my life , and i can't beleive that some dermotologist didnt care less for my situtation , i am loosing sleep and is effecting my daily life  and i am looking for a solution please helppppppp.
PS i did tryed all kind of prescription shampoo ,lotion,cream,antibiotic,accutane ,cureacne , i spend over 12000 dollars and no luck  , and i endup a one  year ago with a damaged lazy  liver i had to stop accutane and take other medication to get my liver back to normal situtation  please helpppppppppppppppppppppp

now i am under antibiotic but however not doing the job at all  and all it's doing is controlling the bumps a little. Like 1 week of the month, I will have 70% clear scalp. The other 3 weeks, I'll have 30-40 spots .
These spots are extremely painful, sometimes I can't sleep right since the scalp pushes against the pillow. I have to wait upto 3 weeks before scalp is somewhat clear so I can get a haircut, even the past few month i don't go to a barber anymore i cut mine with number one hair  cliper  

From all my research, this seems like extreme stubborn case of folliculitis, but I don't even know anymore what to do. Please, anyone out there, help me. I'm willing to pay you if you can help solve this problem


This discussion is related to Severe Scalp Folliculitis (Seen 4 Dermatologist already).

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
How are you? Cirobacter koseri folliculitis is caused by gram negative bacteria when antibiotics have been used for prolonged periods of time. You must be having type 1 lesions in which superficial pustular lesions without comedones is present. Treatment of gram-negative folliculitis includes the use of isotretinoin and systemic antibiotics like ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Topical and oral therapy rarely works and so intramuscular or intravenous shots of antibiotics are required.
My sincere advice is to consult a dermatologist. I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing or in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.

[bigtronix]

hi Dr
Thank you for the respond , now i am taking as oral  one capsule daily of Minocycline antibiotic 100mg   and dalacin T 1% lotion , Stieprox shampoo 1.5 %  and Tersaseptic - Antibacterial Skin Shampoo, i have been on those treatment since MAY-21-2009 , i did stopped accutane in the mid of 2008 after having issue with my liver, So during the treating for 6 month personally i don't see any respond   ,1 week of the month i am fine , I will have 70% clear scalp. The other 3 weeks, I'll have 30-40 spots .
i did changed my diet for 2 years now , i don't eat anymore  butter and any kind of fat food or fast food  ( NO chocolat ,sugar, salt, so i am on fat free diet )
and as per today i do have the same symptoms 30-40 in scalp and my face  is acting now for few days ,
I have an apt with my Family Dr on thursday comming to see what are we going to do regarding the result with the culture i did few weeks ago . i will keep you posted
and i will mention your  treatment to my family Dr and to my Derm (Treatment of gram-negative folliculitis includes the use of isotretinoin and systemic antibiotics like ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Topical and oral therapy rarely works and so intramuscular or intravenous shots of antibiotics are required)

i do thank you for the respond and hope to find a solution for my situation because i can't handle it anymore to much pain and suffer...

[bigtronix]

Hi there
a week ago i saw a disease specialist and he put me on sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim 800mg/160mg   3 tablets a day , however after 2 days my scalp was clearing and healing  so fast , however i have some side effect due to this Med now stomach pain,diarrhea,nausea,no appetite ,been sleeping today all day so tired  muscle aches and pains ,headaches,Itchy and burning sensation in my bottom · Itchy anus · Itchy rectum , so all this happening now i called my family Dr and he said to reduce to dosage to 2 tablets per day and drink a lot of water with ,i only been on it for 5 days since Nov-19.  
Did anyone tryed that Med for folliculitis ( Citrobacter koseri ) ?  I did some research regarding the side effect any everyone is complaining about the side effect , I am scared now and lost of what to do please help if someone had or have  the same experience or a Dr too ...

Thx for reading hope for all to feel better God Bless everyone  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
What you seem to be having are side effects of this drug. Please consult your dermatologist immediately to review the drug and shift to some other alternative or get the dose decreased. I hope it helps. Take care and regards.

[bigtronix]

hi Dr
I did reduced it today  to 2 tablets daily and i am taking it straight after my meal , i do feel better this afternoon and my scalp is a lot cleaner now 90% better , finaly i did buz my hair today .
Dr do you think after your experience i will be able to kill that disease have a clean scalp after all without on keep having more Medication?
this treatment is going to be for period of 90 days

God Bless you

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hi,

It being a tough infection to treat should go away with Septra therapy. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Regards.

[bigtronix]

Hi Dr  ,
more updates as per today Nov-28  , i do feel  very well no side effect for the past few days after reducing the dosage to 2 tablets, and my scalp is very good & clean , I am very happy now and i hope it will be forever , I want to thank u  for all your help and respond and GOD BLESS YOU

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hi,

I am glad that you have found some relief. My best wishes are with you for a quick recovery. Warm regards.

[bigtronix]

Hi Dr

My Dr put me off the medication now
i been off it for 3 weeks now
and i do have same issue now a severe foliculitis on my scalp ,
what would u  recommend to do in this stage , i can't handle it anymore
i was fine when i was on the Med and now bang same problem

please help

[caramba]

Hi,
I am 40 years old and had exactly the same problem of Bigtronix since 1993. I tried all kind of antibiotics, but the best success I had so far was 3 years ago after my dermatologist put me on Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) same like Accutane for 1 year. I took the Isotretinoin on 4 different occasions in the last 17 years but never for 1 year no stop. The course was 20mg B.I.D. with accumulated dose of 83mg/kg (I am 100 kg). After 8 months the dose was reduced to 10mg per day until the end of the cure to reach 100mg/kg. After the course finished I didn't have an episode of fulliculatis for 14 months, the longest time ever. Then they came back, slowly.
I was prescribed antibiotics again for 4 months (doxy) but they don't work anymore. I am still using and tried all possible kind of shampoos.
Tomorrow  I am starting  again Isotretinoin 20mg per day for 1 year and see if this time it works. I am in Asia for work at the moment, I have been to dermatologist and specialist in Europe and Asia and no one really know what is going on. My fulliculatis is only happening on my scalp, I don't have it on my beard or anywhere on my body. I don't even have acne.
So far all swabs have came back sterile, so there is no staph infection that is causing this. I had some alopecia problems on my beard, so I m guessing this is an immune problem. Beside that I am very fit 6,3 ft and healthy. If anyone else have ideas on this condition or like to share your experiences I would be happy to know.
cheers

[GammaGeorge]

I have the same problem [since 7 years or so]. I had cultures done and it showed only regular propionibacterium acnes. I took doxycyclinum for 3-4 months and it worked great while I took it [cleared me 100%] but right after I put it away it came back full force. Then I took low dose accutane for 8.5 months [10mg and 20mg], I was clear the first week of accutane already!  During whole accutane curation I didnt had a single pimple on my scalp! I almost forgot what folliculitis is! But right now it's 7 months since I finished my low dose accutane course and my scalp folliculitis came back FULL FORCE. My whole scalp is RED, extremely itchy, inflammed, i got like 10-20 pus-filled itchy pimples. Skin on my head hurts and sometimes it's hard to sleep. Also my hair has thinned drastically. My face is clear, my back is clear, only my SCALP is a TOTAL MESS. From my knowledge I'm suffering from "chronic non-scarring scalp folliculitis". Now I plan to try injections of gamma-globulin, because antiobiotics or isotretinoin helps only when u take it. So judging by that I would have to take it untill the rest of my life. Very depressing.

[leonski231]

I've had the same problem for 10yrs plus (I'm 38) . HAd a history of acne as a teenager and was on doxycyline for years and minocycline, even septrin, but ended up on accutane which cleared the acne. Nowadays I don't have facial acne anymore just the folliculutis on scalp only. It's really itchy, uncomfortable and sore when it's bad but I know how to control it. The only thing that works is roaccutane and I tend to take 40mg for 7 days then 20mg daily for 10 days then 20mg every second day for 14 days then I stop, I then get about 4-6 weeks symptom free before having to go again. By the end of the first 7 days I'm virtually clear. I'm about 90kg and I worry about long term effects but I try and use the lowest possible dose. I'm wondering if I stayed on 20mg every second day would it keep it away permanently but  I tend to just stop or forget and think I'm cured then it comes back again. It's not getting any worse and I know this treatment works and I just take the roaccutane when I need it. Regardless of any risks I think I'd take the roaccutane anyway. I keep an eye on liver fuynction and it's always fine - just keep doses low as possible. The other way of clearing it fast is 7 days of augmentin (co-amoxiclav) but I don't like using antibiotics for this unless it's an emergency given my use as a teenager. I've always wondered if there is an underlying imbalance there, or whether it's some immune imbalance or a food intolerance or something. I've never know what causes it, what brings it on - I know stress and eating junk food high in salt and fat makes it worse, but there has to be a missing piece in the puzzle that all of us sufferers all have - some sort of genetic link or we overproduce or underproduce sebum, or we react inappropriately to our own sebum or something ? Who knows about the theory. Anyway if you hear anything else let me know.Cheers
Leon

[GammaGeorge]

This preety much means that we have to take low dose isotretinoin till the rest of our lives [I don't even need to mention how devastating is that to our health :(

I might try pulse dose [500 mg thrice weekly] of azithromycin. I've heard it is used for skin infections. I am really running out of ideas.

Is it caused by excessive oil production? Some nasty bacterial infection? [my cultures only showed propionibacterium acnes type 1] or maybe autoimmune disease?

I had acne when I was younger, but It was mild so I didn't treated it with anything [my folliculitis is not induced by antibiotics because I didnt used any]. But I remember that my scalp problems started around 2 years after my acne started.

Is there even any point in taking antibiotics if the disease comes back everytime you stop taking them? Can it be low iron or high sugar levels? Maybe chromium supplementation would help?

It is really depressing that in 21st century dermatologists are clueless about this issue.

[Headsore]

Cephalexin works for me - one or two a day for a week or so. Folliculitis occurs after shaving or using creams or oil on back or head.

Pain to keep going to dermatologist...wish something topical helped

[GammaGeorge]

Yes, the scalp gets clear when you take antibiotic, but when you finish everything comes back.

You can't take antibiotic forever.

[masterdx]

i'm having similar problem, folliculitis for over 4 years and i have been on antibiotic treatment intermittently. i'm  free of pustules during the antibiotic tx. once the antibiotic course is over it will recur. its really distressing. n now my dermatologist started me on isotretinoin 10 mg for 5 months...n it seems not going to work...plz update if there is any definitive treatment for folliculitis :(

[pri84]

Yes, I have been struggling with the same problem for more than year. A chronic Scalp Acne. In May-Jun 2012, I have read this article and found my self helpless. I have gone through these all the phases. I have consulted so many dermatologists and browsed all the pages that I found at google.

But in Sep 2012, I was giving my last try to one of the doctor Jersey city, NJ. He was aged in 50s and having average review on the internet but since it was near to my home, I gave the try. I told him the whole history of Shampoo, Antibiotic and all the other problems with it. After reading my case history (which I described in paper), He told me a fact that this is never going to go. So prepare your mind set that you have to go with the treatment frequent. Secondly he suggested me to stop all the antibiotics (Doxy) as it will definitely cause stomach upset. And he suggested me some routine that changed the way I was looking at the problem. And you won’t believe the scalp acne has been reduced to 95%. I am not saying that I have completely cured the problem but believe me after having 95% of relief. Now I don’t have to spend those sleepless nights with this scalp acne. I have started this treatment with temporary relief only but this solution looks like working permanent. I am not telling based on 1-2 months of my experience. But now I am almost 6-7 month with out major scalp acne problem. Here is the solution

Solution:
The treatment goes with 2 shampoo and 1 ointment

Shapoo 1: Laprox (Dermatologist Prescribed)
Shapoo 2: Head and Shoulders (over the counter)
Ointment: Mupirocin (Antibitic ointment Dermatologist Prescribed)

Application:

Even if you have tried this shampoo, it is recommended to follow this routing as I have already used this shampoo earlier but didn’t work unless I applied correctly. Follow the below routine

Day 1: Apply Small amount of Laprox Shampoo on the scalp, lather and leave for 2-3 mins. Then wash off. Again take the same amount of Laprox shampoo, Apply on scalp, lather and leave it for 2-3 mins and then wash. So apply shampoo twice with leaving the shampoo for 2-3 mins.

Days 2: Follow the same routing as day one but instead of Laprox shampoo use Head and shoulders. Same twice application with lathering on scalp for 2-3 mins.

Day 3: Follows the Routing of Day1

Day 4: Follows the routing of Day 2

Keep following this treatment alternatively for 3 months. You don’t need to do extra. Just follow the same routing while taking bath.

One more thing, Everynight before slip, Take small amount of Mupirocin ointment on ear buds and apply it inside the both nostile (1/2 inch inside). This treatment will certainly fight with bacteria from the root and not having any stomach problem as no oral antibiotic. Feel free to use the ointment on the scalp acnes as you needed.
Result:

For me, the scalp acne didn’t go in 2-3 days or a week. The first whole month was gradual decline (this is very good sign as quicker it goes…quicker it comes back). After completion of a month of treatment I was feeling better. Again, I am not saying the scalp was clear but the result were amazing. But the end of 2 and 3 month, my scalp was 95% clear. I am followed the same routing for 5 months then gradually I have reduce the use of Laprox to 1 day in a week. I have also stopped the antibiotic ointment. Still at this phase also, I am following regular (2 days) application of Head and shoulder application. Some day Again I see acne but I will continue regular shampoo and apply small amount of ointment to acne before it spread to other places.This has worked for me for last 8 months or so.

Believe me at stage where I just ready for temporary treatment and turned out to 95% permanent solution. Pleas try this routing and spread to everyone who is struggling with same chronic problem.

[dinsu911]

Hi I am from India, living in Switzerland.
Wow, I am surprised at the coincidences ! I too around 40 and I have these stubborn Folliculitis for the past 10 years or so.  With the application of Ketoconazole shampoo and antibiotics Azithromycin / similar ones, it used to get controlled for a while. After about 15 days to one month, it  resurfaces.  I can understand your sufferings and embarrassment. I too have delay my haircut sometimes for months, as I would not have a respite. Its very painful if I comb unmindfull of the pimples.      

I too have now come to realise that this doesnt really get cured for life. We have to continue the medication for a life time.  
Currently I am using the ketoconazole shampoo, azithromycin antibiotics and desonide lotion - a corticosteroids.  

I have also realised that I sleep very late and my body is not getting sufficient sleep.  The week I do not get enough sleep, the situation gets worse!  

So besides, the remedies suggested here, if we get sufficient sleep, drink sufficient water and keep our finger nails very very short and avoid itching these nasty pimples on the scalp , we should be able to control it better I guess. Also avoid peeling off the drying pimples, while that is extremely addictive and my favorite passtime. So much so that on my keyboard of office desktop, once I was cleaning it by turning upside down, I found zillions of scales of dried pimples from my scalp gathered there over a period of  time..:-)  

But now, I too have resolved that I have to sty with this condition for life.  But I really wonder, how come the dermatologists around the world do not come up with a solution to this popular problem?? Or may be simply they dont want you to get cured...else their business will be hampered?? I dont know.. but its strange there is no solution still.
I will try the loprox shampoo and head&shoulder shampoo combination too and lets see.
Lets start a "Nasty Folliculitis Club" friends..:-)

[Bens0715]

I am 43 years old and I have had folliculitis for over 16 years.  There are nights I cannot even place my head on the pillow due to excessive pain on the back of my scalp.  I have tried a handful of different treatments and taken so many different medications.  I can tell you that the dermatologists today are clueless.  I was told that there is no cure for this disease.  I am also willing to pay anyone who can cure this damn condition.  If you guys hear anything please keep my posted.  My personal email address is ***@****
Benjamin

[nityly9]

I have found a very effective treatment for my scalp folliculitis. I have been using Neem soap for the last 2 months and it cured 80% of my scalp folliculitis. This soap has been better than any antibiotics/topical medications which I tried for the last 8 years.

Recommendation:
Apply the soap to the scalp once during shower (after shampooing) and leave it for about 5 minutes and then rinse.

History of my scalp folliculitis:
I used to have a severe case of scalp folliculitis and I have seen 5 dermatologists in the last 8 years. Their prescriptions and medications were effective for only a temporary period, but after stopping medications, folliculitis will return and it becomes much worse. I was prescribed clindamycin phosphate 1% topical solution/pills and different types of antibiotics. I also tried to cut my hair short, shower twice a day but nothing worked. Gradually, folliculitis started spreading to other scalp areas.

[NICO1985]

Did you have any folliculitis on your face ?

PLease describe what you folliculitis looked like

Does anybody have folliculitis on their chin , if so please describe what it looks like and what is the best procedure to cure this .

[NICO1985]

Did you have any folliculitis on your face ?

PLease describe what you folliculitis looked like

[kdrrr]

Hi I too suffer with this condition almost for 12 years now and I realized that after seeing so many Dermatologist and spending thousands of dollars for medications and tests,it is better to live with  this condition for rest of life than having any hope.

[positivo]

Can folliculitis or the pimples on scalp cause a bald spot?

Will dalacin cream help?

[Betttie]

Yes