WARNING: The Embarrassing Bodies website contains images of an explicit medical nature and nudity in a medical context.

Embarrassing Bodies , 9:00pm Friday 19th March 2010 on Channel 4. Catch up for free »

Video

Consultation: Folliculitis

A patient who has been suffering since he was a teenager with ingrowing hair on his face is at his wits end and asks Dr Christian Jessen for advice. In this consultation from series one of Embarrassing Illnesses, Dr Jessen recommends a course of laser treatment to remove the afflicting hairs and provide some relief…

If you’re suffering from any of the conditions featured on this site and want to apply for an onscreen consultation with one of the EB team then you can find more details here >>

Remember that you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.

Did you find this useful? YesYes NoNo

480 of 877 people said they found this useful

Comments and Questions

Older comments

You can share your experiences and thoughts with other Embarrassing Bodies site-users below. Comments & Questions are reviewed by moderators, but if you see anything on the site that worries you, please report it and one of our moderators will look at it as soon as possible.
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.

I am an afrocaribbean female,I have a problem with ingrowing hair on my neck and now scarring (dark marks) One doctor said it is follicilitus. Is there a treatment to remove the scars

Posted on 11 Mar 2010 01:54 by Kate
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i am a 24 year old male and have spots on my legs,,i have tried creams and antibiotics and been adviced its an infection of the hair folicals. i have tried lots of creams and lotions and dont know what else to do? what is it? and how do i treat it?

Asked on 8 Mar 2010 12:56 by kevin
replies - can you help?
Answer now Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.


Please don't swear or be rude in your answers, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting answers. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I have been diagnosed with this folliculitus on the top of my head have had it for about 15 years now and only went to the doctor recently was transferred to a skin specialist and she diagnosed it as folliculitus she put me on shampoo twice a week and a cream steroid to stop the itching and has now put me on a course of antibiotics thenk God have no problems now.

Posted on 5 Mar 2010 23:14 by Fran
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

I was diagnosed with Folliculitis of the underarm earlier this year. After a course of antibiotics the infection went away leaving some scaring. After a month I can feel the condition coming back, it's itchy and sore and can make wearing a bra or certain tops uncomfortable and painful. I'm not entirely sure what to do? If I go back to my GP will they just give me antibiotics again?

Posted on 16 Feb 2010 00:32 by Sinead
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i am 24 and have had this for ten years now. i have been back and forth to my gp and other doctors in the surgery and not one has even given it a name. it is large sore multiple boils in my armpits and bikini line. i have had anti biotics for it each time and it reoccurrs. i am scarred and in constant pain with it. sometimes i cannot bare to put deoderant on it. it wasnt until i saw the advert for this wednesdays show i knew what it was. thank you all for your comments i will insist my doctors look this up and that i will be trying all of the suggestions you have made. should they be successful i will post another comment immediately. xxx

Posted on 3 Feb 2010 00:00 by leanne
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Hi, I have had a problem that sounds very much like this but I have never been diagnosed with anything because I have always avoided the doctors with it until recently. Even then they didnt know. I have had it since I was 12, im now 25. Basically its just on my legs.Tried cream inc steroidcream,antibiotics,moisturisers, even not shaving. It just comes back all the time.Nothing works :(

Posted on 30 Jan 2010 18:25 by Rach
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

hi my doctor told me that i have this condition but i do not have it on my face but my bottom and i only have light fine hair, so i do not think its that folliculitis

Posted on 20 Oct 2009 17:18 by tracy
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

my doctor says i have foliculitis but mine does not look like this, plus it isnt in the areas where i shave. What is this caused by and are there any treatments?

Posted on 4 Sep 2009 19:23 by kirsty
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i also have this on my bikni line quite badly waxing and shaving make it worse i had one massive ingrown and the doctor gave me antibiotics and although its gone down its not gone and the hair not come out what do i do? its been a couple of months and i see more forming. i also get pigmentation when i shave or wax which has resulted in me no longer swimming. would laser help even if i had senistive skin and do the nhs do laser for free????

Posted on 19 Aug 2009 05:06 by sarah
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

i have a mager problem with skin rash on my bikini line and tops of my legs especialy when i have just shaved i have been through so many different shavers and creams to see if that helps but nothing does they are extremely sore at times and i can quite often get white much out PLEASE PLEASE HELP!!!!

Posted on 5 Aug 2009 20:15 by tania
Reply to this comment Report this as offensive





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.


Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

Older comments





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your comment.



Please don’t swear or be rude in your comments, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting comments. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines

It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





This will be published. Surnames, nicknames or usernames are not allowed


Your email address will be kept confidential and will NOT be published – it is only being collected here in case Channel 4 need to contact you in relation to your answer.



Please don't swear or be rude in your questions, as they will not be added to the site. Please do not use your full name when posting questions. If in doubt, refer to the community guidelines

By posting on this website you are agreeing to abide by our community guidelines


More Information

  1. Folliculitis

    In Conditions - An infection of the hair follicles.

  2. Dr Christian Jessen

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Christian

  3. Dr James Russell

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr James Russell.

  4. Dr Priya Manickavasagar

    Doctor Info - Find out more about Dr Priya.

  5. Quick Health Advice: Acne

    In Videos - Dr Pixie McKenna provides some information on the causes of acne, z…

  6. Dr Christian Jessen

    In Videos - Find out more about Dr Christian Jessen

  7. Quick Health Advice: Penis Spots

    In Videos - Dr Christian discusses how to check for penile spots and what warni…

  8. Quick Health Advice: Piles

    In Videos - Dr Jessen passes on some advice about the causes of piles and the p…

  9. Body Check: Urine

    In Videos - Dr Christian talks about potential health problems that can be spot…

  10. Body Check: Moles

    In Videos - Dr Christian talks about how to check your moles for potentially da…

  11. Body Check: Semen

    In Videos - Dr Christian discusses the importance of semen and what it can tell…

  12. Body Check: Stools

    In Videos - Dr Christian describes what different shapes and colours of poo can…

  13. Body Check: Sweat

    In Videos - Dr Christian explains the importance of knowing your sweat levels a…

  14. Episode 8

    In Episodes - The final episode of the series included a patient with the embaras…

  15. Body Check: Feet

    In Videos - Dr Christian talks about common foot conditions and the importance…


Be on the Show

Have you been inspired by the patients in the current series to seek help for your problem? Apply to be on the show here >

Important Notice

The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.


If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here