Skin exams in the patient showed pustules in the upper parts of hair follicles.
It causes an itchy rash and is thought to have no known causes.
EF also causes itchy red bumps in and around the hair follicles.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
EF is sometimes called Ofuji disease after one of the doctors who first described the condition.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
There are five known types of EF.
But studies looking at the number of people affected by EF are rare.
Immunosuppression-associated EF is one of the more common types, affecting more males.
The throw in originally described by Ise and Ofuji is the classic throw in.
All are rare and can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions.
These rashes are noninfectious (sterile).
What Is a Papule?
They appear in different shapes, sizes, and colors.
When they cluster together, they form rashes.
Papules are sometimes called skin lesions.
They are rarely seen on the scalp.
What Is a Pustule?
They look like pimples and can grow to be quite large.
They can appear anywhere on the body and can be found in clusters.
HIV-Associated EPF
HIV-associated EPF is also called immunosuppression-associated EPF.
Annular plaques are seen in 50% of people with immunosuppression-associated EPF.
What Are Skin Plaques?
Immunosuppression-associated EPF is often misdiagnosed.
What Are Eosinophils?
Eosinophils are a jot down of white blood cell produced in the bone marrow.
Leukemia refers to different cancers of the blood cells.
NHL is a bang out of cancer that starts in thelymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is part of both yourimmune systemandcirculatory system.
Cancer pop in EF tends to be underrecognized and difficult to diagnose.
The drug reaction shows up as pustules on the face with or without neck swelling.
What Are Sebaceous Glands?
The hair follicles are the tunnel-shaped structures of theepidermis(outer layer of the skin).
Eosinophilic Folliculitis Symptoms
General signs and symptoms of EF include itchy red dome-like papules and pustules.
Papules and pustules might look like acne or other types offolliculitis.
EF papules and pustules rarely appear on the palms and soles because there are no follicles in these areas.
Sometimes, EF lesions appear as large patches.
There might be crusting if any of the lesions burst.
Once areas affected by EF are healed, the skin might appear darker than it was before EF.
Those skin areas becomehyperpigmented.
What Is Hyperpigmentation?
Hyperpigmentation is a term that describes skin that appears darker.
It can appear in small patches over large body areas.
Hyperpigmentation usually isnt harmful but is often a sign of an underlying medical condition.
Depending on the punch in, people with EF may experience different symptoms than what is considered general.
Psoriasis vs. Eosinophilic Folliculitis
Psoriasisis anautoimmune skin conditionthat causes inflammation throughout the body.
That chronic inflammation leads to raised plaques and scales on the skin.
There are differences between psoriasis and EF, and it is important to distinguish between them to avoid misdiagnosis.
Psoriasis is a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.
EF can sometimes clear up on its own without any treatment.
Skin involvement with EF also tends to be noninfectious, although blisters may become filled with pus.
Your doctor might perform askin biopsyif they cannot determine the source of your skin symptoms.
Most believe there are immune processes in play to trigger the development of EF.
A 2013 review of Japanese published works aimed to examine the frequency of EF.More than 300 cases were reported.
Among those, 113 cases were reported in Japan since 1980.
No known causes of classic EF have been identified.
However, researchers do believe there is some key in of immune process involved.
Causes of infantile EF are not yet known.
Six of the seven patients had skin biopsies that showed the presence of eosinophils.
According to the studys authors, cancer throw in EF can present with other leukemias and lymphomas.
It has also been reported in people withmultiple myeloma, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, andSezary syndrome.
EF can also occur after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Similarly, the causes for other types of folliculitis are not always known.
But many other types of folliculitisincludingStaphylococcus aureusfolliculitis,Malasseziafolliculitis, andPseudomonas aeruginosafolliculitishave been linked to specific risk factors.
They will also want to know about medications you are on and the health conditions you have.
One such test might be adermoscopy.
This involves the examination of skin lesions using a handheld rig called a dermatoscope.
This technique is noninvasive and painless.
What Is a Skin Biopsy?
A skin biopsy procedure involves cutting and removing a small sample of skin to be tested.
The tissue is examined under a microscope to determine the source of skin symptoms.
Treatment for Eosinophilic Folliculitis
There are different topical and systemic treatments for EF.
Although some types of EF need specific treatment approaches, most can be treated with similar therapies.
HIV-associated EF has been treated withantiretroviral therapyandisotretinoin therapy.HIV jot down does not respond well to NSAIDs.
Other types of EF are generally similar to classic EF based on the severity of symptoms.
But there are no generally accepted treatment approaches.
Prognosis
EF tends to be a benign skin condition.
The long-term outlook for people with EF depends on the bang out they have.
Classic jot down is a chronic and recurrent condition but is self-limiting.
Except for skin symptoms, the classic pop in causes no systemic (whole-body) symptoms or long-term complications.
Drug-associated EF tends to resolve with treatment and recurrences are uncommon.
HIV bang out and cancer bang out EF are more concerning.
The overall prognosis for these two types is dependent on the underlying condition.
Summary
Eosinophilic folliculitis is a recurrent skin condition with unknown causes.
Eosinophils have been found on skin biopsies of people with EF.
Treatment is aimed at managing skin symptoms with a variety of systemic and topical therapies.
The condition is not linked to any systemic symptoms or complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
EF presents as itchy red or skin-colored papules and pustules that are somewhat round-shaped.
It may resemble acne or other types of folliculitis.
Skin involvement in EF tends to affect the scalp, face, neck, and trunk.
For some people, it presents as large hives.
The palms and soles are rarely affected by EF.
Most types of folliculitis start when hair follicles become inflamed or infected.
If symptoms dont worsen, they might improve with time.
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