Hair follicles are tiny tubular cavities through which hair arises. Infection and inflammation of hair follicles is known as folliculitis. Folliculitis is painful and often indicated as small red bumps. There are many types of folliculitis depending upon its causes:

• Bacterial Folliculitis
  
• Fungal Folliculitis
  
• Viral Folliculitis

Bacterial folliculitis
Bacterial infection is the foremost cause of folliculitis, it is often caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. When the bacteria enter hair follicles, it cause infection and inflammation. The infection rapidly spread and thousands of hair follicles get inflamed and infected. As acne is also referred to as inflammation of hair follicles, the folliculitis also leads to red bumps similar to acne.

Fungal folliculitis
Among fungi, zoophilic species is the most common specie to cause folliculitis. The infection spreads up to deep skin layers, it is ignored and neglected. Fungal folliculitis in some cases happens to be more severe than bacterial folliculitis. Blood capillaries around hair follicles also get inflamed and infected. Whatever the cause of inflammation may be, folliculitis is a condition similar to acne.

Viral folliculitis
Viral folliculitis is perhaps the most severe form of folliculitis. It is usually caused by Herpes Simplex virus. It is indicated as small bumps causing acute pain and burning sensation. Treating viral folliculitis is not so easy as compare to bacterial and fungal folliculitis. Viral folliculitis takes months to heal.

How folliculitis causes acne?
Both folliculitis and Acne are the disorders of inflammation of hair follicles. The only difference is that in acne, sebaceous glands are also inflamed and produce excessive sebum. On the other hands, folliculitis in its initial stages does not cause to produce excessive sebum. However, if folliculitis is neglected, it may lead to inflammation of sebaceous glands and stimulate them to produce more sebum. When excessive sebum is produced, it clogs hair follicles. Walls of clogged hair follicles are ruptured and small bumps appear. These bumps are called blackheads and whiteheads.

Folliculitis can be treated in several ways depending upon its causes. Usually antibiotics are used for treating bacterial and fungal folliculitis. For treating viral folliculitis caused by herpes simplex, a special type of antibiotic is used. If you have any symptom of folliculitis, do not wait, do visit your doctor for proper diagnosis otherwise it will take longer to heal.

Conclusion
Folliculitis is a disorder of severe inflammation and infection of hair follicles. On the other hand, acne is also a disorder of inflammation of hair follicles and sebaceous glands and excessive sebum is produced. If folliculitis is neglected and not treated initially, it leads to inflammation of sebaceous glands and stimulates them to produce excessive sebum. Folliculitis is caused by bacterial infection, viral infection and fungal infection. It is usually treated with antibiotics.

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