An inflammation of the hair follicles, usually caused by bacterial infection, that can result in small pustules, redness, or irritation of the skin.
From 'follicul-' plus the medical suffix '-itis' (meaning inflammation of). This diagnostic term emerged in 19th-century medical terminology as doctors systematized disease classification.
Folliculitis is basically your hair follicles' immune system overreacting—the inflammation is your body fighting the infection, not the infection itself. That's why squeezing infected follicles makes it worse; you're spreading the bacteria and inflaming more follicles.
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