Which treatment may the physician prescribe for folliculitis?

• A. Chemotherapy
• B. Oral antibiotics
• C. Antifungal pills
• D. Insulin therapy

Answer: (B)

Folliculitis is typically a bacterial infection of the hair follicles. When the infection is spreading beyond a small area or needs stronger action to reach the hair follicles, an physician may prescribe antibiotics taken by mouth to treat the infection systemically and help clear inflammation. The other options don’t target a bacterial skin infection: chemotherapy is used for cancer, insulin therapy for diabetes, and antifungal pills would be used if a fungal cause were identified. In most cases of bacterial folliculitis, oral antibiotics are an appropriate choice to eradicate the infection.