Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle Quiz
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Rashes
Red blotches on the skin
There is a lump
Swelling of the affected area
Redness of the skin
Reddish skin lumps
Affected area of skin has stinging or tingling
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle?
Infection of hair follicles by bacteria or fungi. When more hair follicles are involved, they can merge under the skin to become carbuncles.
Typical Symptoms of Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle
- Red or yellow skin lumps
- Skin lumps
- Redness in the affected area
- Skin lumps with scabs in the center
- Ring-like rash
- Swelling in the affected area
- Skin problem on the chest, tummy or back
- Pus-filled blisters or bumps on the skin
Diagnostic Questions for Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have yellow or red lumps/bumps on your skin?
- Have you noticed any lumps on your skin?
- Is the affected area red?
- Do you have a skin lump with a scab or crust in the center?
- Do you have swollen red rings or circles on your hands, legs, or body?
Treatment of Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle
Mild cases can be treated with good hygiene, creams, or tablets. More severe cases may require simple surgery to drain the pus.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Feb 13, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle?
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Lumps under skin
- Yellowish skin lumps
- Red blotches on face that come and go
- Abnormal redness of the entire skin surface
- Bumps on my arm
- Lumps on my wrist
- Redness and irritation in private area
- Pink, bumpy skin
- Redness in the ear
- Lump on the back
- Many skin nodules
- Redness in the neck
- Skin lumps with black dots in the center
- Tip of nose red and sore to touch
- Lumps that dangle from the skin
See full list
Symptoms Related to Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle
Diseases Related to Folliculitis, Furuncle, Carbuncle
FAQs
Q.
Is it a Painful Boil? Why Your Skin is Swelling & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
A painful, red, warm lump that enlarges and forms a white or yellow center is often a boil, a bacterial infection of a hair follicle. The swelling happens as your immune system fights bacteria and pus builds, so start with warm compresses several times daily, keep it clean and covered if draining, and never squeeze. Seek medical care if it is larger than 2 inches, very painful, on the face or spine, not improving after about a week, or if you have fever, red streaks, multiple or recurrent boils, diabetes, or a weakened immune system; there are several factors to consider, and complete guidance with red flags, timelines, and next steps is outlined below.
References:
* Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, Dellinger ED, Goldstein ESJC, Gorbach SL, Hirschmann JF, Kaplan SL, Montoya AS, Wade JC. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Jul 15;59(2):e10-52. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciu296. Epub 2014 Jun 18. PMID: 24973501.
* Liu Y, Li H, Chen Z, Yang Y, Zhang J, Li Y. Cutaneous Abscess: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Mar 1;10:1086047. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1086047. PMID: 36923835; PMCID: PMC10014298.
* Singh N, Singh C, Arora P, Singh S. Recurrent furunculosis: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2018 Jan-Feb;84(1):64-69. doi: 10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_27_17. PMID: 28836569.
* Raff AB, Kroshinsky D. Cellulitis: A Review. JAMA. 2021 Mar 9;325(10):1098-1107. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.24271. PMID: 33688942.
* Mayersak R. Incision and Drainage of Cutaneous Abscesses. Emerg Med Clin North Am. 2019 Aug;37(3):439-447. doi: 10.1016/j.emc.2019.04.004. PMID: 31279435.
Q.
Itchy Red Bumps? Why Your Follicles Are Inflamed & Medical Next Steps
A.
Small, itchy red bumps around hair are often folliculitis, an inflamed or infected hair follicle triggered by shaving or friction, sweat and heat, bacteria or yeast, and it usually improves in 7 to 10 days with gentle cleansing, warm compresses, loose clothing, and pausing shaving. Seek care if pain or redness is worsening, fever occurs, deep or draining lumps form, symptoms last over 10 days, involve the face, or you have diabetes or a weakened immune system. There are several factors to consider, including look-alikes and when antibiotics, antifungals, or drainage are needed; see the complete guidance below to choose the right next steps.
References:
* Luelmo-Aguilar J, Giménez-Arnau AM. Folliculitis: A Practical Review of Diagnosis and Treatment. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 10;11(2):315. doi: 10.3390/jcm11020315. PMID: 35050854; PMCID: PMC8759556.
* Ogrum A, Kacar C, Demir M, et al. Folliculitis: update on diagnosis and treatment. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021 Nov;20(11):3445-3453. doi: 10.1111/jocd.14022. Epub 2021 May 26. PMID: 34165671.
* Varghese N, Varghese L, Abraham A. Bacterial folliculitis: Pathogenesis, clinical features, and management. Clin Dermatol Rev. 2021;5:1-9. doi: 10.4103/cdr.cdr_10_20. PMID: 33794354.
* Langan A, Higgins E. Topical and systemic treatments for folliculitis: an update. Br J Dermatol. 2022 Dec;187(6):798-809. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljac082. PMID: 35905186.
* Al-Ghazzawi D, Al-Nuaimi Y. Current concepts in the management of recurrent folliculitis. Dermatol Ther. 2019 Jul;32(4):e12933. doi: 10.1111/dth.12933. Epub 2019 Mar 18. PMID: 30883492.
Q.
Painful Ingrown Hair? Why Your Skin Is Inflamed & Medical Next Steps
A.
Painful, inflamed bumps after shaving are often ingrown hairs caused by a trapped hair that triggers inflammation, sometimes progressing to infection such as folliculitis, a boil, or a carbuncle. There are several factors to consider. See below for exactly when home care like warm compresses and pausing hair removal is appropriate, and when to seek medical care urgently for spreading redness, worsening pain, pus, fever, or higher risk conditions like diabetes, since these details can change your next steps.
References:
* Nouri, K., & Patel, P. R. (2022). Pseudofolliculitis Barbae. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
* Chung, J., Lee, J., Lee, E., & Chung, J. (2016). Recent advances in understanding the pathogenesis of pseudofolliculitis barbae. The Journal of Dermatology, 43(11), 1269–1274.
* Ribas, C. A., Gabelman, C. G., & Maibach, H. I. (2013). Pseudofolliculitis barbae: update on management. Cutis, 91(6), 284–288.
* Borda, L. J., & Pergolizzi, J. V. (2014). Pseudofolliculitis barbae: Treatment with a high-potency hydrocortisone cream. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 7(12), 48–51.
* Draelos, Z. D. (2009). The science of shaving. Clinics in Dermatology, 27(1), 18–24.
Q.
Angry Red Bump? Why Your Staph Infection Spreads & Medical Next Steps
A.
A rapidly spreading angry red bump is often a staph skin infection that can worsen when bacteria multiply quickly, you squeeze or pick it, treatment is delayed, immunity is low, or the strain is MRSA. Do not squeeze; keep it clean and covered, monitor closely, and seek prompt care if it enlarges, drains, or you develop fever or red streaks, since antibiotics or drainage may be needed; there are several factors to consider, and important details that could change your next steps are explained below.
References:
* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21206013/
* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32211388/
* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28387019/
* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30231846/
* pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34736856/
Q.
Angry Red Bumps? Why Your Pores Are Flaring and Medical Steps to Clear Folliculitis
A.
Folliculitis causes small, itchy red or pus-filled bumps around hair follicles, most often from bacteria, shaving or friction, ingrown hairs, or hot tub exposure. Mild cases often clear with gentle washing, warm compresses, and pausing shaving, but persistent, widespread, very painful, or feverish cases and those in people with diabetes or weakened immunity may need prescription antibiotics or antifungals and sometimes drainage; see below for detailed causes, prevention, look-alikes, and step-by-step guidance that can shape your next care decisions.
References:
* Luelmo-Aguilar J, Giménez-Arnau A, Segarra-Mir L, Salleras-Redonnet M. Folliculitis: Pathogenesis, Clinical Presentation, and Treatment. Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas (English Edition). 2021 Jul;112(7):594-604. doi: 10.1016/j.ad.2021.05.006. Epub 2021 Jun 17. PMID: 34148782.
* Zhang C, Zhang W, Yu Q, Wang J, Shi Z, Sun S. Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of folliculitis. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022 Dec;33(8):1201-1211. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2021.1916307. Epub 2021 Apr 22. PMID: 33887968.
* Al-Hassani A, Al-Marzooq H. Gram-negative folliculitis: A systematic review of cases and treatment. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Sep;83(3):910-917. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.08.067. Epub 2019 Sep 12. PMID: 31522067.
* Rubenstein MH, Kim J. Malassezia folliculitis: an update on diagnosis and treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2024 Jan 22. doi: 10.1007/s40257-023-00850-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38252277.
* Bédard P, Habel M, Poulin Y, Viau R, Brousseau L. Acneiform eruptions and folliculitis related to drugs: A review of the literature. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020 Oct;83(4):1142-1153. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.12.008. Epub 2019 Dec 10. PMID: 31837494.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Davidson, L., Knight, J., & Bowen, A. C. (2020). Skin infections in Australian Aboriginal children: a narrative review. Medical Journal of Australia.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.5694/mja2.50361Singer, A. J., & Talan, D. A. (2014). Management of Skin Abscesses in the Era of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. New England Journal of Medicine.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/abs/10.1056/NEJMra1212788Kobayashi, S. D., Malachowa, N., & DeLeo, F. R. (2015). Pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus abscesses. The American Journal of ….
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000294401500070X