Folliculitis:
A parent's guide to condition and treatment information

The most common locations for folliculitis in children include:

• Scalp
• Face 
• Buttocks
• Arms and legs 

Individual lesions of folliculitis are pus-filled bumps (pustules) centered on hair follicles. These pustules may be pierced by an ingrown hair, can vary in size from 2–5 mm, and are often surrounded by a rim of pink-to-red, inflamed skin. Occasionally, a folliculitis lesion can break open (rupture) to form a scab on the surface of the skin.

Both mild and moderate folliculitis are often tender or itchy. More severe folliculitis, which may be deeper and may affect the entire hair follicle, may be painful.

Mild and moderate folliculitis usually go away quickly with treatment and leave no scars. However, more severe folliculitis may lead to more serious complications, such as an infection of the deeper skin tissue (called cellulitis), scarring, or permanent hair loss.