Folliculitis
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Natural Remedies for Folliculitis

| Modified on Mar 18, 2024
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Natural remedies for folliculitis include turmeric, apple cider vinegar, colloidal silver, healing underlying health conditions and changing body care routines. Folliculitis is an inflammation or infection of the hair follicles. It can be caused by a bacteria or fungus and may be aggravated by underlying health conditions or body care practices. Folliculitis can be irritating, painful and embarrassing, depending on the location of this condition.

What Causes Folliculitis?

When the hair follicle gets infected or irritated, folliculitis can result. Our bodies naturally have bacteria and fungus on them. When the hair follicle gets irritated by shaving or tight clothes, small breaks in the skin can allow bacteria to enter the follicle and infection results. If you are anemic, have a depressed immune system or are prone to acne, you may be more likely to have outbreaks of folliculitis.

Home Remedies for Folliculitis

There are many natural remedies that you can find at home or at your grocery store that are quite effective to heal folliculitis.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is an inexpensive and easy to use home treatment for folliculitis. This remedy can be used internally or externally. For more information about treating folliculitis with apple cider vinegar, see this page.

Turmeric

Turmeric root is a bright orange root vegetable commonly used in cooking. But this simple herb is a strong and effective natural antibiotic. It works against staph bacteria, a common cause of folliculitis, as well as many other bacteria.

Colloidal Silver

Colloidal silver is a gentle but powerful natural treatment for folliculitis. It can be purchased in health food stores or even made at home. Because it is effective against bacteria and fungus, it is a useful remedy for folliculitis.

Body Care Products and Routines for Folliculitis

Shaving can aggravate the hair follicles, resulting in folliculitis. At the same time, for some, clean shaven skin may be easier to keep clean, making shaving a solution for folliculitis instead of a cause. You will need to monitor the effects of shaving on your folliculitis to see what works best for you.

Many shampoos and body soaps can aggravate folliculitis. Shampoos and soaps with sodium laureth sulphate are linked to folliculitis and numerous other health problems. You may find that using natural shampoo alternatives eliminate your folliculitis breakouts. African black soap is also helpful to many with this condition.

Folliculitis and Underlying Health Problems

If you are anemic, you body will not fight disease as well. For some, healing anemia is the solution to folliculitis. Blackstrap molasses is a common natural remedy for anemia.

Sometimes folliculitis is caused by fungus. If you have a history of antibiotic use or a systemic candida infection, you may need to deal with an underlying fungal problem. Probiotics, milk kefir or the anti-candida diet may be the answer to your folliculitis, in this case.

Have you tried a natural remedy for folliculitis? We would love to hear about it!

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric

2 User Reviews
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Posted by Joe (Sydney) on 09/17/2016
 ★★★★★

H.i I was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago that I have Folliculitis Decalvans, the dermatologist gave me prescription for Rifampin 300mg twice a day and Clindamycin 300mg twice a day for 8 weeks. After purchasing the medication I did some research as I knew taking this much antibiotics for that period of time was not going to be good for my health, and reading that in some cases the bacteria came back more aggressive. I came across earth clinic site last week and I am at day 3 drinking turmeric 2 times a day and before I shower I have massaging apple cider vinegar on my scalp.

Day 3 - my scalp has almost no redness left and only 2 small pimples today. Before this my scalp was red and full of blisters and lumps, and now they are 95% gone.

My wife who has been really looking at it day in and day out is shocked with the results.

Not sure if this will last working so well or if I made the mistake and not getting on the antibiotic asap but so far so good.

The turmeric gives me a slight tummy pain but nothing really. My head is at 95% if I can keep it at this level I can live with it. Should I have jumped on the antibiotics?

Replied by Eileen
(Harrisonburg, Va)
10/06/2016

No, It will return as soon as the course is finished. Better to use natural ingredients. 😀

Replied by Karthikeyan
(San Francisco)
10/09/2016

Hi,

Thanks for sharing the information. Like to know, have your taken turmeric powder or used root in juices? Also how much qty have you taken.

Thanks, Karthik

Replied by Ziga
(Indonesia)
09/07/2022
★★★★★

Two years ago in 2020, I was diagnosed with folliculitis by the dermatologist. Initially, the infection only affected my chest hair with red bumps and were so itchy. After a few months, it spread to my pubic hair and also beard hair. It became so bad to the point that one of my beard area and hair area stopped growing due to the inflammation.

To be honest with you guys, I still have this condition today. I tried various antibiotics including doxycycline, cefixime, azithromycin, meiact and many more. Some of them helped to treat the condition, but it reoccurred again after it finished. Topical cream antibiotics helped to cool the skin temporarily, but it would get red and itchy again once I stop applying the cream.

After that experience, my hope almost became 0 as no skin doctor out there could actually cure me. I came across this website today and really enjoyed reading people's reviews. I am leaving this comment to keep you guys updated as I will try the 'ACV' and 'turmeric' remedy to update you guys on whether it worked for me. Hopefully we will be cured from this infection. Stay strong my friends, God will help us all. Amin.

Mary
(NY, NY)
09/08/2022

You could also try a teaspoon of coconut oil in the AM and PM. It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Raw garlic is also anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. My husband's eczema cleared up when we started eating more fruits and vegetables and quality protein like canned wild alaskan salmon, free range chicken and grass fed beef. A good multi vitamin is beneficial. I focus on broccoli, sweet potatoes, almonds, bananas, avocados, ground flax seeds and good oils like grapeseed oil and olive oil.

Baking Soda + Tea Tree Oil Bath

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Posted by Kaylee (Wash) on 06/27/2022
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I was having a reoccurring yeast infection so I began taking bath every evening I would add the following to my bath water 1 Cup of baking soda, a few drops of essential oil, I used tea tree oil (started with five drops because tea tree oil is very strong) I also add 2 or 3 drops of pine needle oil. I noticed that my folliculitis began to be going away, by the first week and by the second week it was all gone and my skin became super soft and smooth.

Dietary Changes, Raw Garlic

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Posted by Ella (London) on 04/13/2023
 ★★★★★

What works for my folliculitis, which seems to be mild but chronic, and all over my scalp and eyebrows (no spots, just mild itching) is abstaining from all dairy products, reducing sugar and refined carbs and consuming two or three cloves of raw garlic chopped into tablet-sized pieces and drunk down with water before meals. All of these things combined gets rid of the itching within a week.

I suspect in my case, I have pre-diabetes and a high sugar diet is feeding yeast within the hair follicles. When I stick to the above mentioned regime I'm fine. When I fall off the wagon the itching comes back.

Getting into direct sunshine without sunscreen is useful too. UV kills bacteria/yeasts, etc.

Epsom Salt Poultices

Posted by David Simons, M.D. (Boulder, Co 80302) on 04/29/2017 2 posts

Editor's Choice

Recurrent Staphylococcal Folliculitis and early superficial wound infections (presumably staphylococcal)

The probability is that any person such as myself who gets occasional occurrences of of these conditions is probably a so-called carrier of staphylococcus aureus which means that these bacteria tend to colonize some part of their body surface. The most commonly studied area for this condition has been the mucosa of the anterior nose and it has been well shown that a full course of oral antibiotics for such organisms can be transiently successful but is followed by recurrent colonization in the anterior nose within 1 to 3 months of treatment. This is the so-called carrier state. Inasmuch it is not permanently curable some interest has been shown in the management of people who are staph carriers. The problem in medical research is that most interest for study is often directed at prescription medications.

Treatments which are nonprescription are rarely studied. Such is the case with magnesium sulfate which is otherwise known as Epsom salt.

Personal experience with spraying the skin surface with Listerine mouthwash solution and then applying a dusting of powdered Epsom salts followed by massaging this into the area of where Listerine has been applied on a once daily basis usually results in resolution of folliculitis within 3 to 7 days.

For what it is worth, I have personally had numerous small skin injuries which have resulted in redness and swelling around such injuries within 1 to 3 days. Traditional prescription treatment of this situation is with oral antibiotics. As a nonprescription alternative I have found that a poultice comprised of a gauze pad covered with aquaphor ointment and then dusted with powdered Epsom salts applied to the wound area on a daily basis as a dressing usually results in decreased redness and swelling around the area of the wound within 3-5 days and if continued usually results in total resolution and wound healing. It is well-known that ointment such as Vaseline or Aquaphor are agents which can successfully transfer into the skin, almost any substance which is mixed with these agents. This makes the use of these agents on gauze or non-adherents wound dressings a reasonable medium with which to apply the Epsom salts to an infected wound area.

I have been unable to find any scientific studies of the use of Epsom salts in the early management of wound infection but based on personal experience feel that it is a subject worthy of study.

Inasmuch as it is nonprescription, it will probably never receive financial backing for formal study.

Replied by Dave
(Fountan Inn, Sc)
04/30/2017

Hello Dr. Simons;

This was a very helpful article as I use poultice solution applications and recommend the same often. First, your article helped in again affirming my high opinion of magnesium sulfate and in application as a "dusting" on top of the target area. Second, your suggestion of Vaseline or aquaphor ointment which would act as a carrier...I have only used DMSO cream/liquid as a carrier (usually of colloidal silver). So, thank you for your non prescription recommendations.

Replied by David Simons
(Boulder Colorado)
04/30/2017
2 posts

As an additional note, Epsom salts/Magnesium sulfate is sold in a granular form that interferes with its use in poultices in that the granules are too large. The best way I have found to process Epsom salts granules is to use a rotating blade single speed Krups coffee grinder to convert the granules into a fine powder. It is easiest to spread this on gauze or nonadherent pads covered in Aquaphor or Vaseline by putting a small amount of the Epsom salts powder in a small strainer and gently shake it over the Vaseline to dust it with the powder. The dry backside of this dressing can then be placed on the sticky midsection of a wide piece of paper tape for bandaging, leaving the sticky tape exposed beyond the borders of the dressing. This bandage/poultice can then be pressed in place over the infected small wound, pressing the sticky paper tape borders on to normal skin for attachment.

This type of dressing should be replaced at least once daily.

Replied by James R
(Sydney)
11/04/2020

I tried literally everything. The only thing that worked and has continued to keep my butt, thighs and lower abdomen clear of bumps and boils is a daily product that contain 12% lactic acid.

Replied by Julie
(Seattle)
05/28/2022

This is very interesting. I'm losing my hair and my scalp is sometimes so itchy that I can't sleep. I wonder if it's magnesium-related. I've been taking the diuretic furosemide (which depletes magnesium) and suffering from muscle cramps as well. Will be adding magnesium and see if it (and the ACV/turmeric) clear it up. Thank you!

Ivermectin

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Posted by Neil (Devon, England) on 07/07/2022
 ★★★★★

Ivermectin for folliculitis

Had a rash on my abdomen and chest for many weeks. Diagnosed as folliculitis by GP. Prescribed fucibet cream but that made it worse. GP then prescribed doxycycline which I never took as you can't even go in the sunshine when on that. Tried loads of soaps, acv, eurax etc. Nothing worked. Naturopath friend advised a single dose of Ivermectin 0.2mg per kg of your weight. Gone in 3 days.

Manuka Honey

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Posted by A. (ottawa) on 10/12/2019
 ★★★★★

Manuka Honey for Folliculitis

Manuka Honey(16 factor) works well to eliminate folliculitis. It can be applied to pus filled and broken skin when apple cider would be too painful. Apply twice a day and cover with gauze/cotton and surgical tape.


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