After using H&E, hematoxylin and eosin, to stain the samples, the researchers only found some inflammatory cells like neutrophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, and eosinophils. In four of the samples, immunofluorescence microscopy, where fluorescent antibodies bind to a protein of interest and the expression levels are observed through microscopy, was used but there were no signs of immunoglobulins such as IgG, IgM, IgA or C3 found. Since the first description of this condition, there were very few case reports after, indicating the infrequency of pruritic folliculitis. This was also shown by a prospective study that was conducted in 1994 by Roger et al. that concluded with one individual out of 3,192 pregnant mothers (0.03%) had symptoms which were consistent with the diagnosis of pruritic folliculitis. Pathophysiology
Folliculitis, by itself, is a common inflammation process of hair follicles in response to infection or damage to the hair follicles. This inflammatory response can be caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, or simply ingrown hair. However, pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy is different in that it only occurs in pregnant individuals and during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. There is no clear mechanism in how pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy develops. Because this is a rare condition, there is still currently not enough research to study the cause of it. Some research suggest that this condition may be due to hormone level imbalance during pregnancy .
The diagnosis was confirmed after laboratory tests showed that there was mainly neutrophils and damaged follicle structures. The symptoms were treated with a 5% topical benzoyl peroxide gel but the pruritic folliculitis completely went away after the first week after delivering the baby.In an effort to establish a possible pathophysiologic mechanism behind pruritic folliculitis of pregnancy, a 2005 case study found pityrosporum yeast in the hair follicles of a pregnant 24 year-old patient. Pityrosporum yeast is typically grouped in hair follicles, leading to an inflammation of the pore causing folliculitis and symptoms of itching. However, it is important to note that this patients pruritic folliculitis lesions did not improve after delivery of the baby. This finding may lead investigators to believe that this patients lesions may not be contributed from the pregnancy, but instead it can be speculated that the reason behind the presence of this patients lesions postpartum is due to hot and humid weather, making her lesions more difficult to heal after giving birth. See also
Prurigo gestationis
List of cutaneous conditions
Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) rash
Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy


== References ==