folliculitis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Medical/Technical
Quick answer
What does “folliculitis” mean?
Inflammation of one or more hair follicles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Inflammation of one or more hair follicles.
A common skin condition, often caused by bacterial or fungal infection, irritation, or blockage of hair follicles, presenting as small red bumps, white-headed pimples, or pustules around hair follicles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Neutral medical term in both variants.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in general discourse but standard in medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “folliculitis” in a Sentence
Patient + has/developed + folliculitisFolliculitis + is caused by + agentTreatment + for + folliculitisVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “folliculitis” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The folliculitis lesion was examined.
- She has a folliculitis rash.
American English
- The folliculitis breakout was itchy.
- He was diagnosed with a folliculitis infection.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in dermatology, medical, and nursing literature to describe a specific pathology.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation unless discussing a personal skin condition with a doctor or pharmacist.
Technical
Core term in dermatology and general medicine; specific types are precisely defined (e.g., Malassezia folliculitis).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “folliculitis”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “folliculitis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “folliculitis”
- Misspelling as 'folliculitus' or 'follicilitis'.
- Confusing it with general acne (acne vulgaris).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the cause. Bacterial or fungal folliculitis can be contagious through skin-to-skin contact or shared items like towels. Irritation-induced folliculitis is not contagious.
Folliculitis is an inflammation or infection of the entire hair follicle, often caused by external factors like bacteria, fungi, or friction. Acne vulgaris involves the oil (sebaceous) gland associated with the follicle and is driven by hormones, oil production, and specific bacteria (C. acnes).
Mild cases of folliculitis often resolve on their own with good hygiene. Deeper or recurrent infections typically require medical treatment such as antibiotics or antifungals.
Most cases are minor and superficial. However, deep folliculitis (e.g., boils or carbuncles) or infections that spread can be serious and require prompt medical attention.
Inflammation of one or more hair follicles.
Folliculitis is usually medical/technical in register.
Folliculitis: in British English it is pronounced /fəˌlɪkjʊˈlaɪtɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /fəˌlɪkjəˈlaɪt̬əs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FOLLICLE (hair root) and -ITIS (inflammation). Folliculitis = inflamed follicle.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFLAMMATION IS AN INVASION (e.g., 'bacteria invade the follicle').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary cause of 'hot tub folliculitis'?