Antibiotics for Folliculitis

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Steve (Ms.) on 02/15/2016:
5 out of 5 stars

My dermatologist diagnosed me with bacterial hair folliculitis on my head. He prescribed an antibiotic called "Bactrim" 160 mg. I took it for 10 days 2xdaily and at the end of the 10 days my folliculitis was cleared up. My Dr. suggested I take it for another 10 days which I did with 7 days in between. I have been clear for 2 months now with no further problems other than some occasional itching. All of the sores are gone. BTW he did state that it is a problem that could come back as there is no permanent cure.

Hope this helps others as it is an insidious disease.

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Bats (Perth, Wa) on 10/16/2012:
3 out of 5 stars

It's clear reading the posts here that there are many causes as well as many potential rememdies to the problem. Some work for some people whilst not for others. The only time in 12 years that my folliculitis has gone away has been as a side effect of taking antibiotics for sinus or chest infections (1 course in every 1 or 2 years). The problem has gone for up to 4 months at a time but has always returned. I have only ever had antibiotics specifically for this problem on one occasion. A 1 month course. It took the problem away after a week but it returned after 3 weeks, I. E. before I'd even finished taking the anitbiotics.

I have recently taken a stronger antibiotic for a bad sinus infection that I had had for 4 weeks. Sure enough the folliculitis has gone away and I've been free of it for a month now. It remains to be seen how long it will be gone for this time.

One thing is for sure, the fact that it goes when I take antibiotics proves that my problem is related to a bacteria not a fungus or diet etc. That will not be the case for everyone.

I just have to find a permanent cure now, although I have no doubt that I will have to take antibiotics again for a sinus or chest infection, I have no deisre to take them for folliculitis.

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Angie (S, Indiana) on 07/31/2011:
1 out of 5 stars

I am prone to folliculitis. Over the past 6 years I have had it twice. In both instances I felt the bumps on my scalp, had flu like sympoms and ran a fever. I was put on antibiotics and was better in a week. This past May I was again diagnosed with folliculitis. I thought it was weird that I was getting folliculitis again because I had just gotten over pneumonia and an ear infection and had been on two rounds of antibiotics.

My doctor put me on more antibiotics and I got worse. He switched me to Kflex and I took four rounds of that and got worse. I switched doctors and the new Dr. Put me on Cipra. After 10 days on Cipra, I started developing a rash on my chest, arms and legs. My face was flushed and I developed sores in my mouth. I found out I am allergic to sulfides so I decided to see a dermatologist. Before I saw him they took a culture of the blisters and tested them against different antibiotics. I took that report to the dermatologist and based on the report he put me on augmentin. I got a lot worse on augmentin.

I decided to research and I found this site. I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar and it made it worse. Tea tree oil helped and turmeric helped, but it was still spreading rapidly. Swimming made it worse. Sweating made it worse. I could feel it move and spread. It hurt and burned. I quit going to the gym.

Then I read a comment on this site about developing folliculits while on antibiotics and how it caused not a bacterial based infection, but a yeast based infection. I gave this info to my dermatologist and he took me off anitibiotics and put me on a 10 day oral antifungal medication and for the first time in 11 weeks my scalp is blister free. It is all healing up and drying up. I can't thank this site enough. I am going to continue to add turmeric to my daily vitamins because I believe that it will help prevent it from coming back. I would say that you might check into yeast even if you have had a culture taken. They took a culture of my blisters and it showed a high concentration of bacteria and the report didn't say anything about yeast, but the bacteria wasn't the problem. Good Luck!

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