Follicultis

Follicultitis is otherwise known as Barber’s itch or Barber’s rash. It is a common problem in many of us and yet we do not know much about it. Those affected with folliculitis get a lot of pimples on their face, scalp, thighs or buttocks. On the face it is normally mistaken for acne and is treated like normal pimples with no effect. It offers an embarrassingly itchy and uncomfortable experience with the risk of permanent hair loss or scarring.

What is folliculitis?

Folliculitis is a primary inflammation of the hair follicle (superficial or deep) occurring as a result of various infections. It can also be secondary to follicular trauma or occlusion. The infection is mostly bacterial caused by staph but in some cases it is fungal. Each strand of hair in our body grows from a tiny sac called follicle, into which the sebaceous glands open. Follicles are present wherever there is hair growth. Thus, follicultitis can occur in all areas like face, scalp, axilla, and inguinal area and areas rubbed by clothing, such as the thighs and groin. Folliculitis can affect anyone of any age group though certain conditions make people more prone to it:

  • Diabetes, chronic leukemia, organ transplantation or HIV/AIDS
  • Obesity
  • Inflammatory skin conditions, such as dermatitis, acne or eczema.
  • Tight clothing
  • Friction from shaving
  • Lack of hygiene
  • Heat and humidity
  • Staphylococcal infection in the nasal passages
  • Excessive perspiration
  • Injuries to your skin, such as abrasions or surgical wounds
  • Covering skin with plastic dressings or adhesive tape
  • Exposure to coal tar, pitch or creosote

And since it is bacterial it is contagious! Non infectious forms of folliculitis is caused by tars, oil and greases that come in to contact with the skin.

Superficial staphylococcal folliculitis is the most common while Deeper staphylococcal folliculitis is the least. Gram-negative folliculitis usually affects people using a contaminated tub or those who have been treated for a long time for acne. Fungal follicultitis are generally three types Trichophyton folliculitis, Pityrosporum folliculitis and Candida folliculitis.

Help yourself

You can nip it in the bud.

  1. Always use loose clothing and cotton undergarments.
  2. Use an electric razor or use new blades always. Keep the area clean and devoid of cuts and scratches.
  3. Use hot tubs well cleaned and sanitized.
  4. Use an antibacterial soap and loofahs. If you have it on the scalp, shampoo regularly.
  5. An oatmeal lotion or hydrocortisone cream can soothe itchy skin.
  6. Use warm compresses several times a day.
  7. Do not share your razors, towels and washcloths. Use antibacterial liquids, soap and hot water to clean your clothes.

Do not hesitate to get medical help if you develop a fever, pain or if the symptoms worsen.

-Aparna K V

Cinnamon…miracles at ease

Although in Europe and the U.S. cinnamon is most often associated with sweet dishes, it has broad culinary uses. For example, in India, cinnamon is never used with desserts, but is the main ingredient in curries.

Cinnamon is the bark of three bushy evergreen trees of the laurel (Lauraceae) family. The most fragrant and delicate cinnamon is obtained from the Cinnamomum zeylanicum tree native to Sri Lanka (which used to be called ‘Ceylon’), the western coast of India (known as the Malabar coast), and Burma. Zeylanicum cinnamon is sometimes called ‘true cinnamon’ and ‘old fashioned cinnamon.’ But the ‘true’ part was just advertising copy for the Dutch East India Company’s 17th century monopoly.

The 1997 Commission E on Phytotherapy and Herbal Substances of the German Federal Institute for Drugs recommends Cinnamon ‘For loss of appetite, dyspeptic complaints such as mild, spastic condition of the gastrointestinal tract, bloating, flatulence.’ It is chiefly used to assist and flavor other drugs, being helpful in diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and to relieve flatulence. The oil is a powerful germicide, but being very irritant is rarely used in medicine for this purpose. It is a strong local stimulant, sometimes prescribed in gastro-dynia, flatulent colic, and gastric debility.

It is found that a mixture of Honey and Cinnamon cures most of the diseases. Honey is produced in most of the countries of the world. Ayurvedic as well as Yunani medicine have been using honey as a vital medicine for centuries. Scientists of today also accept honey as a very effective medicine for all kinds of diseases. Honey can be used without any side effects for any kind of diseases. Today’s science says that even though honey is sweet, if taken in the right dosage as a medicine, it does not harm diabetic patients.

Honey and cinnamon mixtures are researched to be effective in a myriad of therapeutic conditions. These are enumerated below:

HEART DISEASES: Make a paste of honey and cinnamon powder, apply on bread, chapati, or other bread, instead of jelly and jam and eat it regularly for breakfast. It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and saves the patient from heart attack. Also those who already had an attack, if they do this process daily, they are kept miles away from the next attack.

Regular use of the above process relieves loss of breath and strengthens the heartbeat. In America and Canada, various nursing homes have treated patients successfully and have found that as age the arteries and veins lose their flexibility and get clogged; honey and cinnamon revitalizes the arteries and veins.

INSECT BITES: Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body slowly. It is noticed that the pain recedes within a minute or two.

ARTHRITIS: Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one small teaspoon of cinnamon powder. If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured.

In a recent research conducted at the Copenhagen University, it was found that when the doctors treated their patients with a mixture of one tablespoon Honey and half teaspoon Cinnamon powder before breakfast, they found that within a week out of the 200 people so treated practically 73 patients were totally relieved of pain and within a month, mostly all the patients who could not walk or move around because of arthritis started walking without pain.

HAIR LOSS: Those suffering from hair loss or baldness, may apply a paste of hot olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, one teaspoon of cinnamon powder before bath and keep it for approx. 15 min. and then wash the hair. It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

BLADDER INFECTIONS: Take two tablespoons of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink it. It destroys the germs in the bladder.

TOOTHACHE: Make a paste of one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and five teaspoons of honey and apply on the aching tooth. This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

CHOLESTEROL: Two tablespoons of honey and three teaspoons of Cinnamon Powder
mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to
reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. As mentioned for arthritic patients, if taken 3 times a day, any Chronic cholesterol is cured. As per information received in the said journal, pure honey taken with food daily relieves complaints of cholesterol.

COLDS: Those suffering from common or severe colds should take one tablespoon lukewarm honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days. This process will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

INFERTILITY: Yunani and Ayurvedic Medicine have been using honey for thousands of years to strengthen the semen of men. If impotent men regularly take two tablespoon of honey before going to sleep, their problem will be solved.

In China, Japan and Far-East countries, women, who do not conceive and need to strengthen the uterus, have been taking cinnamon powder for centuries. Women who cannot conceive may take a pinch of cinnamon powder in half teaspoon of honey and apply it on the gums frequently throughout the day, so that it slowly mixes with the saliva and enters the body.

A couple in Maryland, USA, had no children for 14 years and had lost hope of having a child of their own. When told about this process, husband and wife started taking honey and cinnamon as stated above; the wife conceived after a few months and had twins at full term.

UPSET STOMACH: Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache and also clears stomach ulcers from the root.

GAS: According to the studies done in India & Japan, it is revealed that if honey is taken with cinnamon powder the stomach is relieved of gas.

IMMUNE SYSTEM: Daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

INDIGESTION: Cinnamon powder sprinkled on two tablespoons of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

INFLUENZA: A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient, which kills the influenza germs and saves the patient from flu.

LONGEVITY: Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arrests the ravages of old age. Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea. Drink 1/4 cup, 3 to 4 times a day. It keeps the skin fresh and soft and arrests old age.

Life spans also increases and even a 100 year old, starts performing the chores of a 20-year-old.

PIMPLES: Three tablespoons of Honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

SKIN INFECTIONS: Applying honey and cinnamon powder in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

CANCER: Recent research in Japan and Australia has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones have been cured successfully. Patients suffering from these kinds of cancer should daily take one tablespoon of honey with one teaspoon of cinnamon powder for one month 3 times a day.

FATIGUE: Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body. Senior citizens, who take honey and cinnamon power in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Dr. Milton who has done research says that a half tablespoon honey taken in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon powder, taken daily after brushing and in the afternoon at about 3.00 p.m. when the