Folliculitis is a surprisingly common condition that affects the hair follicles and surrounding skin. It’s characterized by inflamed follicles, which may be due to a fungal or bacterial infection. It’s more common for people with acne to develop the condition than people without acne. While inflamed or infected hair follicles frequently occur after shaving, they can also occur on body parts you do not shave. Many people experience folliculitis on the scalp. The condition isn’t contagious, but if it is caused by a fungal infection, it can potentially spread to other parts of your body. If you have inflamed hair follicles, you may be able to soothe your scalp with antifungal shampoo for folliculitis.