Diagnosis of folliculitis They may take a swab of the infected skin to test for which bacteria or fungus is the cause of the folliculitis. In rare cases, a doctor may order a skin biopsy to exclude the possibility of other causes.
How do you know if folliculitis is fungal?
The best approach for diagnosis is to seek the care of a dermatologist. A dermatologist will get a skin sample by gently scraping your skin and then examine the sample with a microscope to determine if there is yeast present.
What does bacterial folliculitis look like?
In most cases, the main symptom of folliculitis is red bumps that look like pimples on your skin. These could also look like they're white-filled bumps or they could be filled with pus (pustules). Folliculitis can feel itchy and uncomfortable. Many people feel the need to scratch when they have folliculitis.
Will fungal folliculitis go away on its own?
This common skin condition is usually caused by a bacterial or fungal infection. Most cases of folliculitis are mild. It usually goes away on its own within a few days. In some cases, you might need medical treatment, such as antibiotics.