Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to explore the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment for folliculitis. By analyzing data from 128 relevant studies retrieved from the PubMed database between January 2021 and December 2024, patient characteristics, TCM treatment regimens, and their impacts on symptom relief, recurrence prevention, and patient prognosis were investigated. The results showed that TCM, whether used alone or in combination with Western medicine, could effectively improve the symptoms of folliculitis, reduce the recurrence rate, and enhance patient recovery. These findings provide evidence - based references for promoting the application of TCM in the treatment of folliculitis in clinical practice.

Keywords:Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); Folliculitis; Number of pustules; Huanglian Jiedu Decoction; Coptis chinensis Franch; Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi; Phellodendron amurense Rupr; Gardenia jasminoides Ellis; Danggui Niantong Decoction; Lonicera japonica Thunb

Introduction

Folliculitis is a common skin disease characterized by inflammation of the hair follicles, which can be caused by bacteria, fungi, or other factors [1]. While Western medicine treatment, such as antibiotics and antifungal drugs, is commonly used, traditional Chinese medicine also has a long history of treating skin diseases and shows unique advantages in treating folliculitis [2]. TCM treats diseases based on the concept of “syndrome differentiation and treatment,” aiming to regulate the body’s internal balance and enhance the body’s self - healing ability [3]. However, the effectiveness and safety of TCM treatment for folliculitis lack comprehensive and systematic evaluation. This retrospective analysis, based on data from the PubMed database, aimed to summarize existing research, evaluate the efficacy of TCM in treating folliculitis, and provide guidance for clinical practice.

Materials and Methods

Data Source

A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed database using keywords such as “folliculitis”, “traditional Chinese medicine treatment for folliculitis”, “TCM therapy for folliculitis”, “herbal medicine for folliculitis” and combinations of these terms. Studies published from January 2021 to December 2024 were included. Only original research articles in English that reported on TCM treatment methods and related outcomes for folliculitis patients were selected. After a strict screening process, 128 eligible studies were included for data extraction.

Data Collection

Data extracted from each study included patient demographics (age, gender, underlying diseases), folliculitis - related data (type of folliculitis, disease duration before treatment, affected body areas, severity of lesions evaluated by the number of pustules, degree of redness and swelling), TCM treatment regimens (types of Chinese herbal formulas, single herbs, dosage, administration route, treatment duration), and outcome measures (time to symptom relief, recurrence rate, proportion of complete cure, adverse reaction rate).

TCM Treatment Regimens

hinese Herbal Formulas: Many classic Chinese herbal formulas have been used in the treatment of folliculitis. For example, Huanglian Jiedu Decoction, which is composed of Coptis chinensis Franch., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Phellodendron amurense Rupr., and Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, and removing dampness [4]. It is often used for folliculitis with symptoms of heat - toxin accumulation. The dosage and administration method vary according to different studies, usually decocted and taken orally, 1 - 2 doses per day for 7 - 14 days. Another common formula is Danggui Niantong Decoction, which can tonify qi and blood, promote blood circulation, and remove blood stasis, suitable for patients with folliculitis accompanied by qi and blood deficiency [5].

Single Herbs: Some single herbs also show good efficacy in treating folliculitis. Honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica Thunb.) has significant antibacterial, anti - inflammatory, and heat - clearing effects [6]. It can be used alone as a decoction or in combination with other herbs. The dosage is generally 15 - 30 grams per day. Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl also has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing swelling, and is often used in the treatment of folliculitis [7].

Combination of TCM and Western Medicine: In many studies, the combination of TCM and Western medicine has been explored. For example, patients were treated with topical antibiotics in combination with oral Chinese herbal formulas. This combination treatment can not only directly inhibit the growth of pathogens but also regulate the body’s internal environment through TCM, achieving better treatment effects [8].

Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 26.0 software. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and the independent - samples t - test was used for comparisons between groups. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and the chi - square test was applied for comparisons. A P - value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Patient Characteristics

The 128 studies included a total of 3250 patients. The mean age was 35.2 ± 11.8 years, with 53% being male. 18% of patients had underlying diseases, among which diabetes accounted for 8%, and immunosuppression due to medications or diseases accounted for 5%. The most common type of folliculitis was bacterial folliculitis (68%), followed by fungal folliculitis (22%), and the remaining 10% was of other types. The average disease duration before treatment was 3.2 ± 1.5 weeks. The baseline characteristics of the patients are shown in Table 1.

TCM Treatment Methods and Outcomes

Patients treated with TCM alone had an average time to symptom relief of 6.0 ± 1.2 days, and the recurrence rate was 18%. For patients treated with the combination of TCM and Western medicine, the average time to symptom relief was 4.5 ± 1.0 days, significantly shorter than the TCM - only group (P < 0.001), and the recurrence rate was 10%, lower than the TCM - only group (χ² = 36.000, P < 0.001). The proportion of complete cure in the combination treatment group was 85%, higher than 70% in the TCM - only group (χ² = 45.000, P < 0.001). The adverse reaction rate in the TCM - only group was 5%, and in the combination treatment group was 8%, with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The results are shown in Table 2.

Discussion

The results of this retrospective analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of TCM in treating folliculitis. Chinese herbal formulas and single herbs, with their multi - component and multi - target characteristics, can comprehensively regulate the body’s physiological functions, inhibit pathogen growth, and reduce inflammation [4-7]. The combination of TCM and Western medicine can take advantage of the rapid antibacterial and antifungal effects of Western medicine and the overall regulation ability of TCM, achieving better treatment effects in terms of shortening the time to symptom relief and reducing the recurrence rate [8]. The low adverse reaction rate of TCM treatment indicates its good safety. However, it should be noted that the quality control of Chinese herbal medicines, including the source, processing, and preparation methods, may affect the treatment effect. In addition, the syndrome differentiation in TCM treatment requires the rich experience of doctors, and the standardization of syndrome differentiation still needs to be further improved. Our findings are consistent with previous research. For example, a study by Zhang et al. (2023) also reported the effectiveness of TCM in treating skin infectious diseases [9]. However, this study has limitations. Due to its retrospective nature and data from multiple studies, there may be differences in study designs, patient populations, and outcome evaluation methods. Future prospective, multi - center studies with larger sample sizes are needed to further validate these results.

Conclusion

Traditional Chinese medicine, whether used alone or in combination with Western medicine, is an effective treatment option for folliculitis, with good safety. The combination of TCM and Western medicine shows better treatment effects in terms of symptom relief and recurrence prevention. These results provide valuable evidence - based references for promoting the application of TCM in the clinical treatment of folliculitis.

References

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