Q. I have itchy scalp. Is it folliculitis?

Hello doctor,

I hope you will read it thoroughly and answer every query. I am a 30-year-old male. It all started with an itchy scalp ten months back this summer. But, I was not concerned much, since it was just itchy and some bumps like mosquito bites (not more than two to three) and some swelling as well. Since it was summer, I was sweating. Sometimes, the whole scalp would itch and sometimes only the bumps. It continued for some months. Later, the itching of the scalp subsided and the size of the bump decreased. But for three to four months, I can feel pimple-like things on my scalp and they ache sometimes. When they started, they would disappear on their own in less than a week. But now, even after so many months, I can feel some more (not more than two at a time) pimples. I doubt whether it could be folliculitis. I have not had a haircut for ten months, just because I thought the itching could be contagious. So, I better not go for a haircut and spread it to others. There are two to three bumps on my face as well. One was hurting earlier, but it is all itchy and the other two are only itchy. I would like to state it again that they do not itch all the time and one that ache do not hurt at all the time.

Also, I felt a pimple-like thing on my butt. It disappeared in a week. It was not very painful. I have had folliculitis till I was 25. So, I know how much it pains and itches. I thought it could be folliculitis. My father had a boil and got better in two weeks and everything was fine. So, I thought maybe the spread of the same bacteria. Getting pimples on my butt have become regular. They come and go and they appeared on my face only after that. We are a family of four. I have OCD as well and cannot tolerate these skin diseases. I wash my hands and taps touched by him every time he touches them. The only thing that I share is the bathroom tap and latrine tap and also the latrine bucket. Apart from them, I do not touch anything from him.

When I try to touch the pimple-like things on my butt, I cannot feel them. They do not appear to be there. Also, before the pimple-like things started to appear, I had some scratchy and cracked elbows (pictures included) and it was painful. I was scared and thought it is somehow related to that boil. It healed in two weeks. This happened four months back. From then on only all pimple-like things started appearing in the same month. Unfortunately, I do not have the picture. And the ones on the face and scalp are covered with hair, so there is no way I can click it.

Now, my question is whether I can go for a haircut and beard trimming. I have not trimmed my hair since five months, all because of these reasons to not spread it to others and myself. I will use an electric shaver to trim my beard. How can I have my haircut without spreading it to others? My hair are now getting twisted and unmanageable since I have not covered them either. My social life has suffered a lot because of it. And, what is it (disease) that has taken away my freedom, social life and confidence? Also, what can I use to disinfect my electric shaver, the blades, nail cutter and other such things? What I do is soak in boiling water for 30 minutes and then wash it with dish gel and Dettol. I am waiting for your answer. Thank you.