Long or short haircut for when dealing with hair folliculitis?

[johnnyboi420]

Hi guys, first time here, so hi everyone. I have been dealing with hair folliculitis for about 7 years now. Whenever I take antibiotics it goes away for a few weeks but comes back again (can't be taking them all the time for something that's just going to inevitably return). I think it is due to hairs growing inwards, because that also explains why I have a pilonidal sinus too which sometimes swells up and leaks so there's two signs of ingrown hairs causing two separate problems. My hair does grow quite curly, my fringe curls to the left side and my leg hairs are curly too. The reason it goes when I take antibiotics is probably because when the hairs grow back inwards it's letting bacteria in too leading to an infection..

I haven't taken antibiotics in a long time and don't really want to for this. But I'm pretty tempted now as it is very annoying.

This is on my scalp and nowhere else. Unless I grow some facial hair it starts appearing there too. I have really thick hair which doesn't help I imagine, and it grows really fast. I'm wondering that if I had shorter hair, will it be better overall to deal with/manage because then I'll be able to use topical antibiotic cream and other topical stuff. I can't really apply anything on my scalp because my hair is so thick it just can't get down there and doesn't end up consistently on my scalp unless I was to use lots in one go. I imagine more air to my scalp can't be a bad thing either. Also more dead skin should fall out rather than build up I imagine.

Or could it just make it more prone for hairs to grow inwards even more?

Any answers will be much appreciated. Drives me mad this lol.

[Hidden]

Have you ever seen a dermatologist? That might be a sensible next step.

[johnnyboi420 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, thanks for reply. Yes that is when I I first got a pilonidal cyst. The itchy sinus came and swelled up into a cyst. My GP referred me to the specialist/dermatologist once that appeared. He said keep the area shaved and clean, it went away after about a month, but has came back since and then gone away a few times. It usually goes when I've popped the thing though when it's leaked. When it leaks I just squeeze it to try get as much out as possible and then it goes. The sinus won't go away though and that's how stuff gets in to form a cyst.

Next time I see my GP I will see what he says about how I could go with my hair to make things more manageable.

I have read that people who get it on facial areas don't clean shave and leave at least a stubble. Seems clean shaven is something I should avoid. My father can't get a clean shave and women get bumps on their legs and usually down to ingrown hairs apparently. I can't seem to find anything on internet about the head/scalp. All I've read is people with thick and coarse hair are more prone to it and that's what I have.

I will just give it a go. I won't know until I try I suppose. I don't think the barbers help either. I'm not blaming any barber though they're just doing their job. I think with my hair and scalp being the way it is, it could do with a very knowledgeable and experienced hairdresser so they don't shave against the grain and takes their time.

[Hidden]

You can have surgery to remove the sinus track - healthline.com/health/pilon...

[johnnyboi420 in reply to Hidden]

That's what the specialist said, but they normally always come back, apparently. They don't really get removed/surgery unless they become too much bother. That's just what he said though.

[johnnyboi420]

Got the clippers and buzzed all over on no.4 for now. I think 3 may be too short. Really neat job too it's my first time. My mother is doing the fading and back and sides though. It feels so much better and can get topicals to it miles better.

I don't think trying to comb my hair flat and forward helped either, may have encouraged ingrown hairs over time and not noticed it was that playing a part too.

It seems that with coarse hair like mine you don't really try do it the way I have been for years. If I grow it again I need to have it up or on the side, rather than flat.