The key difference between keratosis pilaris and folliculitis is that keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps due to the building up of keratin in the skin, while folliculitis is a skin condition that causes small red bumps due to inflamed hair follicles in the skin by bacteria or a blockage.
Normally allergies, irritants, microorganisms, genetic makeup, certain diseases, and problems in the immune system can cause common skin conditions. Keratosis pilaris and folliculitis are two common skin conditions.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Keratosis Pilaris
3. What is Folliculitis
4. Similarities – Keratosis Pilaris and Folliculitis
5. Keratosis Pilaris vs Folliculitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Keratosis Pilaris vs Folliculitis
What is Keratosis Pilaris?
Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps due to the build-up of keratin in the skin. This condition usually occurs before the age of 30. It is very common in young children. Moreover, these tiny bumps in keratosis pilaris do not hurt or itch. The symptoms of this condition may include painless bumps on the upper arms, thighs, or buttocks, dry, rough skin with bumps that worsen with the changes in the seasons (increases with low humidity and dry weather), and sandpaper-like bumps similar to goose flesh. Keratosis pilaris is caused when keratin protein blocks the opening of hair follicles, leading to rough and bumpy skin. This condition might occur with a genetic disease or other skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.
Figure 01: Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is usually diagnosed through physical examination and skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for keratosis pilaris include creams to remove dead skin (creams that contain alpha hydroxyl acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, or urea), creams to prevent plugged follicles (topical retinoids), lifestyle and home remedies (use warm water and limit bath time, be gentle to the skin, try medicated cream, moisturize, use a humidifier, avoid the friction caused due to wearing tight clothes).
What is Folliculitis?
Folliculitis is a skin condition that causes small red bumps due to inflamed hair follicles in the skin by bacteria or a blockage. This condition can be itchy and sore. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include a cluster of pimples around the hair follicles, pus-filled blisters that break open, itchy, burning skin, painful and tender skin, and inflamed bumps. This condition is normally caused when hair follicles are inflamed with bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus. But it can also happen due to viruses, fungi, parasites, medications, physical injury, or unknown reasons.
Figure 02: Folliculitis
Moreover, folliculitis is diagnosed through physical signs, scraping the skin, observing it under a microscope, obtaining a swab for culture to determine the infection, and doing a skin biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for folliculitis include lotions, gels, or pills to control bacteria, creams, shampoos, or pills to fight fungi, creams or pills to reduce inflammation, minor surgery, and laser hair removal.
What are the Similarities Between Keratosis Pilaris and Folliculitis?
- Keratosis pilaris and folliculitis are two common skin conditions.
- Both skin conditions are due to plugged hair follicles.
- They can cause red bumps.
- These skin conditions are harmless.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examination and skin biopsy.
- They are treated through topical creams and lifestyle and home remedies.
What is the Difference Between Keratosis Pilaris and Folliculitis?
Keratosis pilaris is a skin condition that causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps due to the build-up of keratin in the skin, while folliculitis is a skin condition that causes small red bumps due to inflamed hair follicles in the skin by bacteria or a blockage. Thus, this is the key difference between keratosis pilaris and folliculitis. Furthermore, keratosis pilaris mainly affects young children, while folliculitis can affect men, women, children, or infants.
The below infographic presents the differences between keratosis pilaris and folliculitis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Keratosis Pilaris vs Folliculitis
Keratosis pilaris and folliculitis are two common harmless skin conditions that may have similar symptoms, such as small red bumps in the skin. Keratosis pilaris causes dry, rough patches and tiny bumps due to the build-up of keratin in the skin. Folliculitis causes small red bumps due to inflamed hair follicles in the skin by bacteria or a blockage. So, this is the key difference between keratosis pilaris and folliculitis.
Reference:
1. “Keratosis Pilaris.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. Roland, James. “Folliculitis: Treatment, Causes, and Symptoms.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Pityrosporum folliculitis 2” By Ran Yuping et al. – (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Keratosis Pilaris on Lower Extremity” By Dermanonymous – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia