Folliculitis, canker sores, alopecia... hmm!

[Blu217]

Yesterday I realized the folliculitis is back. My scalp has been sore for about a week, but because I've got scarring alopecia I thought it was just another flare up, since those precede more loss (I made this same mistake the first time I developed folliculitis, since until then I had no idea what it was). But as the days passed the pain became more intense and I realized it was isolated--I felt around and realized I've got my 2nd bout of folliculitis. Out came the tea tree oil and T-Gel shampoo tonite.

Afterward I was brushing my teeth and realized I've got a few canker sores. I haven't felt all that well today, just a mild feverish thing I'd normally ignore altogether. Nodes are a wee bit swollen. Nothing major.

Then I got to thinking about this. I've been trying to place how I might have developed cicatrical alopecia when I never did anything I could diagnose as wrong, other than the regular professional relaxers so many of us get. Suddenly it occured to me that I've got another bacterial infection--the nodes are signals tying in the folliculitis and the canker sores. And folliculitis causes scarring alopecia. I'm wondering if that's the ticket--if I have in the past had folliculitis but didn't know, and this--not relaxers--could be at the root of this.

Never in my life have I EVER had any sort of scalp irritations or issues. Suddenly, within the last 2 years, I've lost scads of hair to alopecia I can't figure why I developed, and more recently developed folliculitis and an apparent staph infection out of nowhere I cannot get rid of. I've gotten canker sores all my life, which makes me wonder if staph has been plaguing me all this time as well--also contributing to the alopecia. I've always been healthy and rarely get sick--tho I've always gotten brutal and very creative cankers a few times a year.

I'm doing the antibiotics this time around; I'm very concerned about what's going on with my body. I see my primary physician in mid-August; I don't have confidence in my dermatologist. I'm curious to get some answers. And if frequent rounds of antibiotics can stop this cycle, it would be a blessing--even if I never grow back a single hair.

 

[song_of_serenity]

Very interesting connection! I hope you get the answers you are looking for and relief! It sounds like a terrible, terrible thing to be going through, but God is able. *hugs*
~*Janelle~*

 

[FlowerHair]

I hope you get better soon Blu, it sounds very bad
Take care

 

[sunshinelady]

Hey Blu,

You may want to check out a naturopath. It sounds like you need to do a really good cleanse and antibiotics won't help with that. Something is up with your immune system. Grab some olive leaf extract and some colloidal silver for those canker sores.

 

[Nonie]

Sunshinelady, you speak naturopathy too? Then we're here ><

Blu, kudos on your observations. That does make so much sense. I hate fungus with a passion that I had no clue bacteria could also cause so much havoc. (I tend to think of our good/flora bacteria often so often forget the bad sort)

I found an article that seems to be right up your alley:

Folliculitis can be of various intensity and it can involve superficial or deep inflammation. Folliculitis can be caused by different types of micro-organisms like bacteria, fungi viruses or even parasites. Bacterial induced folliculitis is the most common infection on the scalp. In contrast fungal folliculitis and parasitic folliculitis are relatively rare, though when they do occur the folliculitis can be quite severe.

Deep folliculitis generally doesn't affect the scalp though it can affect other hair growing areas of the body.

General treatments for superficial bacterial folliculitis include antibiotics such as mupirocin or fusidic acid ointment. In severe cases, topical steroids may be used to reduce the inflammation. Also, physical treatments like gentle removal of the crusts from the location of infection ensure that the hair loss treatment product enters directly onto the skin. Medications that are applied directly on the affected skin will be more effective rather than being applied on top of the crust.

To eliminate skin colonization caused by a staphylococcal infection, a daily 5- minute bath with Oilatum is recommended by some dermatologists. Oilatum is a liquid paraffin compound with moisturizing and antiseptic properties. It is effective in treating various superficial and deep bacterial infections.

Also, to eliminate all types of contaminated carriers of the infectious agents, clothing, bed and bath linen should be washed in hot water.

There are an increasing number of medicines and other effective hair loss treatment products in the market that are very helpful to combat with any type of infectious hair disease and hair loss caused by infection. But sometimes these helpful tools may become harmful agents for the patients. Medications or other hair loss treatment products can lead to damaging effects largely due to improper labeling, packaging, or use by the patient. Improper packaging leads to the destruction of the useful properties especially when they come in contact with sunlight as sunlight can chemically alter and break down some types of medications used to treat infectious hair diseases. Labeling is important to instruct the patient the correct use of the medication and of course it is important for the patient to follow the instructions closely.

So it is very necessary that before using any medicines or other hair loss treatment products carefully examine the manufacturing date and other safety guidelines. When in doubt, contact your doctor for instructions.

References:
Aditya K. Gupta, Robyn Bluhm, Elizabeth A. Cooper, Richard C. Summerbell, Roma Batra, “Seborrheic Dermatitis”, 2003, Dermatol Clin 21 401–412.
Shannon Harrison and Rodney Sinclair, “Optimal Management of Hair Loss (Alopecia) in Children”, 2003; Am J Clin Dermatol 4 (11)

Source: http://www.hairdiseases.com/scalp-infection/hair-loss-treatment-product.shtml

A lot of symptoms we experience are usually systemic - no matter what they are - so finding the root cause is usually the way to deal with it. I pray that you've pinpointed the culprit and that this proves to be the solution.

Just keep in mind that antibiotics also destroy the good flora bacteria, not just the bad so ask your doctor what you can do to fix that. I'd suggest taking acidophilus or yoghurt but I don't know if you'd be flogging a dead horse if you did that while you're still on antibiotics. I hope you won't have to be on them for too long.

Wishing the best for you...

 

[Iluvsmuhgrass]

My heart is with you. Please keep us updated. *big hugs*

 

[beana]

Im sorry this is happening to you, but it sounds like you've done your homework and will overcome this soon.

 

[Twisties]

I just recently went through a bad round of what the derm said was folliculitis on my back and I would get blisters occasionally in my mouth too. I went throught 4 rounds of antibiotic and several different creams to attempt to clear it up to no avail. On the last round of anitbiotics, I broke out in hives because I was allergic to the sulphur in it. It was a mess. I started thinking that it was NOT an infecton but another allergic reactions to something I was eating. So I went on an elimination type diet and narrowed the outbreaks down to eating CHOCOLATE and anything with CITRIC ACID (orange juice, sodas and certain fruit) in it. I stopped those from my diet and it is clearing up now!!! My back was covered in this big huge red bumps with a white center...so the doctor said infection....but NOTHING he gave me worked and I knew hit had to be caused by something else. If you have eczema or hayfever then it could really be something you're eating.

If your condition is not clearing up with antibiotics at all, please try to think about your diet. It could be something you are eating that is triggering this reaction in you that appears to be an infection, but really is an allergy.

Hugs and hope this helps in some way.

 

[Radianthealth]

I think that alopecia is a sign of internal health. I have been researching this and this is another reason for me to clean up what I eat.

I am trying out an anti-inflammatory diet and using Aloe, Ginger EO, Lemongrass EO, and Emu oil to help with inflammation.

I think I may be at the beginning stages of Central Centrifugal Scarring Alopecia. I am convinced that the symptoms can be reversed by making lifestyle changes

 

[Blu217]

Ladies, thank you so much for your help and advice. Trimbride--catch it early! Definitely take the preventative measures now.

I have long been wondering aobut the healthy diet thing. I LOVE chocolate, which I know can be at the root of so many problems. I am not generally allergy-prone, but I have been thinking about doing an allergy screen (thanks Nonie). The idea of major dietary changes doesn't appeal, which is why I've avoided it. But I agree that obviously something within is askew and that's probably going to help in a major way.

Ya'll, I'm tired. I'm just over dealing with my hair. I look like a H.A.M. most days now because I haven't had a relaxer in months and I have to style in certain ways to hide the lean spots, like a man doing combovers. And everytime I turn around it's something else. I've been thinking a LOT about shaving it bald and leaving it like that for a while, just to give my scalp a break. I like the idea of being able to rub a treatment right onto the skin, and being able to wash my scalp clean and clear every day. I just don't like the idea of looking like a eunuch, sigh. As a performing musician, I don't think bald would be hot. But my hair's not pretty anymore. Most days at work I'm pretty ashamed of how I look unless I've got a fresh rollerset, but it's the best I can do right now--you want to tell everyone you pass that you know your hair looks like it needs doing, but you can't just do what other ladies are doing to make their hair look nice every day right now. I'm just tired of dealing cause it's all day, every day. And as I type this, the scalp throbs. Off for some tea tree and Advil. Thanks again, everyone. I will, as always, keep you posted.

 

[guesswho]

You are so strong its admirable, I love your strength, but don't worry and put your trust in the higher power, life throws crazy stuff at us, so deal with it with the best of your ability, I wish you the best and always remember hair dosent equal beauty its what's inside, hair is just an accessory, hugs stay strong

 

[ayoung]

wow--i never thought of that connection. U really may be on to something.
i know u prob don't want to cut ur hair--but if that will destress you and allow u to really focus on the health of ur scalp---u could, as u know, wear a wig or lacefront until u get it under control.

ur posts about ur hair trials do always read with strength! I hope u have a breakthrough soon with ur hair!!!

 

[pattycake0701]

I think you're on to something. Usually, my signal to let me know my folliculitis was flaring up was the swollen nodes in the back of my neck. Then comes the shedding that leads to thin, bald spots, as well as the itching and pain.

I just had a flare up about 2-3 months ago. I refused to go back to the dermatologist so I treated it myself. I took two doses of grapefruit seed extract daily, took a garlic capsul when I remembered, rinsed my scalp with a mixture of basil, peppermint and rosemary essential oils in warm water and applied a pimple cream on the affected areas.

Like you, I also considered just shaving myself bald and just treating my scalp. But don't give up...my first flare up, I lost about one quarter of my hair from the scalp. Now you can barely tell that I lost anything, it eventually filled in.