This condition is more common in people with darker skin.

Follicular Eczema Symptoms

Follicular eczema causes symptoms similar to other types of eczema or dermatitis.

Symptoms can include:

Causes

Follicular eczema fromatopic dermatitisis resulting from an overactive immune system.

Home Remedies for Follicular Eczema Flare-Ups - Illustration by Jessica Olah

Verywell / Jessica Olah

Certain skin defects have also been identified in people with this condition.

These defects are inherited, which is why this throw in of eczema often runs in families.

Irritant dermatitisdevelops when a substance damages the skin cells that it has touched.

Skin irritation shows up quickly.

Common irritants include:

Allergic dermatitiscauses an allergic reaction within a day or two of exposure.

Your diet might also play a part in your eczema flare-ups.

Changes in the weather can also cause flare-ups of follicular eczema.

High levels of stress can also make a flare-up more likely.

Diagnosis

Follicular eczema is diagnosed by your doctor during a physical exam.

This condition is distinct-looking because it specifically affects individual hairs.

However, youll likely need some testing to determine what caused your symptoms in the first place.

Apatch testis commonly used to determine contact allergies.

After 48 hours, the patches are removed to look for skin reactions.

The doctor will re-check your skin a few days later to look for delayed reactions.

This typically causes a reaction within 30 minutes if you have an allergy.

Your follicular eczema symptoms may be treated with a topical (placed on the skin) medication called corticosteroids.

This is applied directly to your skin to decrease inflammation.

In severe cases, your doctor might prescribe an oral steroid medication as well.

you’re able to also treat your follicular eczema symptoms and help prevent future flare-ups with home remedies.

These include:

Prognosis and Coping

Prognosis for follicular eczema depends on the underlying cause.

Maintaining a consistent skincare routine can help.

Summary

Follicular eczema is inflammation of the hair follicles, often resulting in a dotted red rash.

It can be due to irritants or allergens.

Treatment is with corticosteroid cream.

Talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for your condition.

Look for a support group or find online resources to helpimprove your quality of life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follicular eczema is treated with topical medications and a good skincare routine.

Follicular eczema is not a contagious condition.

Eczema can be a chronic condition, especially if you have allergies, but symptoms can come and go.

Both follicular and papular eczema cause rashes, but follicular eczema specifically affects the hair follicle.

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