Folliculitis after massage: causes and treatment

1. Reasons for appearance
2. Symptoms
3. Prevention
4. Diagnostics
5. Treatment with medications
6. Folk remedies
7. Complications

Massage is one of the most pleasant healing procedures. The strong and dexterous hands of the massage therapist smoothly glide over the oiled body, relaxing the body and giving complete pleasure. However, this is not always a pleasure; in some cases, massage can provoke negative consequences. For example, the appearance of folliculitis (rashes, pustules) on the treated areas of the body after several sessions. It does not matter what type of massage was performed: on the face, body, individual limbs, restorative, cosmetic, anti-cellulite, etc.

Folliculitis is a superficial or deep lesion of the hair follicle, which leads to purulent inflammation. In the first case, a small blister with purulent contents forms, which easily opens and disappears after a day. If folliculitis is deep, then the inflammatory process occurs deep in the follicle and poses a danger to both the hair and general health.

Causes of folliculitis after massage

There may be several reasons for the rash:

1. An allergic reaction to massage cream/oil or individual intolerance to artificial or natural components in the product used during the session. Modern cosmetics for massage are made with the addition of synthetic components, to which some people have an allergic reaction. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to test the product used a day before the procedure. To do this, apply it to the skin of the wrist or the inside of the elbow and wait half an hour. If there is no redness, it can be used. This is rarely done in massage parlors. If you have a rash, there is a high probability that it will become larger after the procedure, since during the massage the skin warms up and the pores open. This causes the infection in the pimples to spread to neighboring areas.
2. If there are already any inflammations, rashes and pimples on the massaged surface, then there is a high probability that their number will increase after the procedure. Rubbing and kneading the body during massage increases the speed of blood circulation in heated tissues. This reaction can transfer the infection from its foci to other parts of the body. For example, if an inflammatory process develops somewhere in the body, an abscess matures or is already present (folliculitis, boil, abscess, etc.), then part of the purulent contents enters the bloodstream and infects the entire body. The same reason provokes the occurrence of folliculitis after massage in diseases of the oral cavity, nose and respiratory tract.
3. Incorrectly selected type of massage, unprofessional execution, insufficiently cleansed skin of the specialist’s hands. During the session, the pores open, into which the infection enters.
4. Poorly cleaned surface of the massaged skin before the procedure. In this case, dirt penetrates into the pores, and massage oil/cream additionally fixes it.

Read also about the reasons for the appearance of folliculitis after sugaring.

Symptoms of folliculitis after massage

Folliculitis on the back

As a rule, folliculitis appears the day after the massage. Its symptoms are pronounced: a red frame forms around the hair (follicle). In places of the inflammatory process, bubbles and nodules with purulent contents appear. After 2–4 days, they open on their own, and a crust remains in their place. Usually the disease is painless, but unpleasant sensations may occur - itching, burning, slight tingling. There is a high probability of infecting follicles located nearby when scratching the rash.

If the immune system is strong, the disease passes, but if the body’s defenses are weakened, secondary infection is possible. The rash becomes inflamed, deepens, and the infection penetrates deep into the epidermis of the skin.

1. See also symptoms of folliculitis after shaving

Prevention of folliculitis after massage

To avoid the appearance of folliculitis after a massage, you need to consider some tips:

1. Use the services of proven massage therapists with a positive reputation.
2. Test new cosmetics before use.
3. Keep your skin clean and, if possible, take a shower before the procedure.
4. Make sure that the specialist washes his hands with antibacterial soap before starting the session.
5. After each session, take a shower and wash off the applied oil with soap.
6. Do not massage if the skin is inflamed, scratched or pimpled.
7. Do not carry out the procedure during the period of respiratory diseases of the mouth, nose, and respiratory tract.
8. Avoid massage if you have problems with the digestive system or blood pressure.

If folliculitis has already been diagnosed, until it completely disappears, the patient must follow the following rules:

1. Change clothes and bedding in a timely manner.
2. Observe personal hygiene rules.
3. Carry out hygienic procedures in affected areas with antibacterial soap.
4. For better skin disinfection, use antiseptic solutions (for example, Chlorhexidine).
5. Do not take hot baths.
6. Do not visit saunas, do not swim in pools and open water.
7. Reduce the amount of junk food, exclude sweet, rich, fried, salty, smoked, canned, pickled foods. They have a negative effect on the skin.
8. Introduce cottage cheese, lean meats and sea fish into your diet.

Read also about the prevention of folliculitis, which is transmitted from person to person.

Diagnosis of folliculitis after massage

Diagnosing folliculitis after a massage is easy. To do this, the dermatologist needs:

1. Examine the source of inflammation.
2. Identify the pathogen.
3. Examine the hair follicle.
4. Identify concomitant diseases that may complicate the recovery process.
5. Perform dermatoscopy to find out the depth of the lesion.
6. Take a sample of the contents of the pustules and scrape the epithelial tissue.
7. Prescribe a serological, virological and immunological study.
8. To avoid confusing the follicles with syphilis and gonorrhea, prescribe an RPR and PRC test.

Read also about diagnosing bacterial folliculitis.

Treatment of folliculitis after massage with medications

It is better to avoid the problem and prevent the occurrence of irritation. To do this, you need to carefully monitor the hygiene of your own skin, the cleanliness of the master’s hands, visit proven massage rooms and do not massage during skin inflammation or irritation. However, when the first rash appears on the body, you should not immediately panic. Sometimes acne after a massage is considered normal. This is a kind of reaction to the procedure, which goes away on its own after several sessions.

If the situation does not improve, the problem can be solved with the help of medications. The main focus of therapy is external treatment of the affected surface. First, you need to thoroughly wash your body with antibacterial soap. After this, to dry and disinfect the rash, wipe the skin with a cotton swab dipped in 2% camphor or salicylic alcohol, and to prevent the spread of infection - in boric alcohol. Then apply bandages with antibacterial ointments to the affected areas: Baziron, Zinerit, Skinoren. Compresses with Ichthyol ointment help well with folliculitis.

If the situation worsens after a couple of days, you should refuse the services of a massage therapist and seek advice from a dermatologist. In addition to the above drugs, the doctor may prescribe tablets for internal use (Doxycycline, Erythromycin, Cephalosporin). If folliculitis has become deep and chronic, the specialist will prescribe antibiotics of the tetracycline group (Oxycort). They have a bacteriostatic effect.

Also during the treatment period, it is important to provide support to the body and take multivitamin complexes to increase and strengthen the immune system: Immunal, Vitaferon, Timalin.

1. See also treatment of folliculitis after depilation with medications

Treatment of folliculitis after massage with folk remedies

Traditional methods will help you cope with folliculitis after a massage. The most effective are:

1. Tar soap. It is used while bathing in the shower for large affected areas.
2. Potassium permanganate or sea salt. They should be added to baths.
3. Calendula flowers. A decoction is made from the petals, which is used to treat the affected areas after water procedures.
4. sweet woodruff. Dry or fresh leaves of the plant are crushed, mixed with sour cream to form a paste and applied to inflamed areas of the skin.
5. Dandelion leaves. A strong decoction is made from the plant and taken orally to strengthen the immune system.
6. Aloe vera. The plant has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, relieves burning and itching, moisturizes the skin and promotes rapid healing of wounds. The juice of the plant is used to wipe the affected areas.

Read also about the treatment of gonorrheal folliculitis using traditional methods.

Complications of folliculitis after massage

Proper treatment of folliculitis after a massage is the key to a full recovery. If the disease is left unattended, complications may develop in the form of furunculosis and the formation of abscesses. As the pathology progresses, the immune system is greatly weakened, and pneumonia and kidney disease may develop.

1. See also complications of Hoffmann's undermining folliculitis

Considering the causes and prevention of folliculitis after a massage, it is necessary to consult a doctor before booking a session to find out your health status and possible consequences, taking into account your medical history. Then the massage will become a pleasant procedure and will charge you with vivacity and energy.

1. Related article: What is chronic folliculitis and how to cure it