Avoid Tight Clothing
The friction from wearing tight clothing might irritate the skin, aggravating keratosis pilaris. Tights, skin-hugging jeans, and other apparel can all lead to folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles brought on by bacteria or fungi already present on the skin but pushed deeper by the irritation from the clothing. Sweating makes this process worse.
Infectious folliculitis can sometimes develop into boils, which are pimple-like sores deep in the skin that may need to be pricked to drain pus. Consult a doctor if your inflamed hair follicles are massive, sensitive, or accompanied by other symptoms like a fever or swollen glands.
You can treat folliculitis with benzoyl peroxide-based products or antibacterial soaps. But one of the best and simplest ways to prevent the problem is to wear looser clothing, or at least clothing designed to wick sweat away from the skin.
