Can inflammation of hair follicles cause hair loss?

Author: Rosalind Lynch  |  Last update: Friday, January 23, 2026

Folliculitis decalvans is a rare condition that causes ongoing (chronic) inflammation of your hair follicles and scalp. Over time, hair falls out and scarring occurs. The condition causes permanent hair loss with scarring (cicatricial alopecia).

Can inflamed hair follicles cause hair loss?

Mild folliculitis will likely heal without scarring in a few days with basic self-care. More-serious or repeat infections may need prescription medicine. Left untreated, severe infections can cause permanent hair loss and scarring.

Can hair loss from inflammation grow back?

Scarring alopecia can cause permanent hair loss, so your hair will be difficult to regrow after the follicle is destroyed. But if you catch the condition very early, medication may be able to stop inflammation before it completely destroys the hair follicle.

What does inflammatory hair loss look like?

Hair loss caused by folliculitis decalvans, an inflammatory disorder that leads to the destruction of hair follicles, is often accompanied by redness, swelling, and lesions on the scalp that may be itchy or contain pus, known as pustules.

How do you fix inflamed hair follicles?

Self care
  1. Apply a warm, moist washcloth. Do this several times a day to relieve discomfort and help the area drain, if needed. ...
  2. Apply a nonprescription antibiotic. ...
  3. Apply a soothing lotion or cream. ...
  4. Clean the affected skin. ...
  5. Protect the skin.

Blocked Hair Follicle – Everything You Need To Know

What do inflamed hair follicles look like?

Folliculitis (foh LICK you LIE tiss) is a common inflammation of the hair follicles. Follicles are the openings in the skin where the hair grows. The rash appears as small red bumps or pus bumps that can itch or be mildly painful. Folliculitis is common on the buttocks, arms and legs - especially the thighs.

What kills folliculitis naturally?

Essential Oils. Tea tree oil, neem oil, geranium oil, grapefruit seed oil are very effective in treating folliculitis. Tea tree oil can be added to your shampoo, lotion or body wash. Rub it gently onto the affected area and let it sit.

Will hair grow back after folliculitis?

Will hair grow back after having folliculitis decalvans? Unfortunately, hair loss from folliculitis decalvans is permanent. If you notice symptoms, seeking treatment right away may help you minimize hair loss. Folliculitis decalvans causes bald patches and red, crusty pustules to form on the scalp.

What does autoimmune hair loss look like?

Hair typically falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter, but in some cases, hair loss is more extensive. Most people with the disease are healthy and have no other symptoms.

How to treat hair loss due to inflammation?

Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed to reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system's activity. By calming the immune response, corticosteroids can minimize damage to hair follicles, allowing hair to regrow.

How do I know if my hair follicles are permanently damaged?

Hair loss or thinning: A damaged hair follicle will be unable to create a strong piece of hair. Consequently, hair will become thin, brittle, and weak. You might notice that it's breaking more frequently than it would or altogether falling out. Breakage can be a direct result of this.

What shampoo reduces scalp inflammation?

Shampoos containing hydrocortisone can help reduce swelling, redness, and itching. Shampoos with salicylic acid, urea, or lactic acid soften and gently peel away thick scales.

What does thyroid hair loss look like?

Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.

What vitamin deficiency causes folliculitis?

Severe vitamin A and C deficiency may cause folliculitis. [1] In vitamin A deficiency the skin shows follicular hyperkeratosis, dryness and generalised wrinkling. [11] It requires about 2 months of vitamin C deprivation to produce mucocutaneous signs, including perifollicular petechiae and follicular hyperkeratosis.

How to tell if hair is regrowing?

  1. What Does New Hair Growth Look Like? Understanding the signs of new hair growth is crucial for anyone concerned with hair health, whether dealing with hair thinning or loss. ...
  2. Texture Changes. ...
  3. Increased Volume. ...
  4. Darkening Of Hair Follicles. ...
  5. Growth At The Hairline. ...
  6. Itchy Scalp. ...
  7. Shiny, Strong Strands. ...
  8. Rate Of Shedding.

Can you reverse autoimmune hair loss?

There is no cure for alopecia areata—only treatment. In mild cases, hair usually grows back, sometimes on its own. However, if treatment is necessary, steroid injections and topical medications may be recommended. But there have been no reliably effective treatments for severe cases of alopecia areata until recently.

What does lupus hair loss look like?

Lupus hair loss usually happens gradually all over the head instead of in obvious bald patches like in male or female pattern baldness. Keep an eye out for more hairs on your brush, thinning at the scalp line or crown, and unusual breakage. Don't ignore these red flags.

What parasites cause hair loss?

Several insect parasites can produce oozing skin eruptions and hair loss. Prominent among these is the sarcoptic mange mite, which has a worldwide distribution. Sarcoptes scabiei mites parasitize many different mammals.

Which hormone causes hair loss in females?

Androgenic alopecia is generally used to describe female pattern hair loss, it is the most common cause of hair loss in women. It usually occurs after menopause because of an excess of androgens (“male hormones”) such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) caused by rapidly decreasing estrogen.

How do I get rid of folliculitis asap?

Folliculitis Treatment
  1. Antibiotics. Your doctor can prescribe infection-fighting lotions or gels if your folliculitis is caused by bacteria. ...
  2. Antifungals. If you have fungal folliculitis, your doctor may prescribe antifungal shampoos, creams, or pills.
  3. Steroids. ...
  4. Draining the infected follicle.

What flares up folliculitis?

Folliculitis starts when hair follicles are damaged or when the follicle is blocked. For example, this may occur from rubbing against clothing or shaving. Most of the time, the damaged follicles become infected with staphylococci (staph) bacteria.

What does a severe case of folliculitis look like?

Superficial folliculitis usually presents with multiple small spots and pustules, on an inflamed base, pierced by a central hair, although this might not always be visible. Deeper lesions present as painful, often pustular, inflamed lumps. Persistent or recurrent lesions may result in scarring and permanent hair loss.

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