Folliculitis is an inflammation of the hair follicles which is caused due to bacterial or fungal infection. The diagnosis of this infection generally requires the examination of the skin by a doctor. In some cases skin biopsy may also be done by the doctor in order to confirm the infection. Other means of diagnosing folliculitis include a skin bacterial culture which is taken with the help of cotton tip applicator. This skin bacterial culture helps in detecting the infectious causes of the disease. There are many other medical conditions as well which may appear like Folliculitis like rosacea, eczema, impetigo and others, thus their close examination is required by an experienced dermatologist.

Usually common folliculitis does not need any specific laboratory tests to be done. In order to detect the presence of bacteria on the skin, bacterial culture may be performed. When the folliculitis is caused by fungus or yeasts then microscopic skin tests and fungal tests proves to be an effective way of diagnosis. In the cases of typical and widespread infection, skin biopsy may also be done where a small piece of skin and its tissues are examined under the microscope. This examination which is also known as Histopathology of Folliculitis helps in determining the possibility of bacteria in the follicles and clustering of WBC around the hair follicles.