Tinea Capitis

While other types of hair loss result from underlying medical conditions and external factors, it can consequently be a result of parasitic infection of the scalp's skin.

Tinea capitis is classified as a disease brought about by fungal infection of the skin more commonly of the scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows, with a tendency to invade hair follicles and shafts. In the medical realm, it is described as a form of superficial dermatophytosis or mycosis.

Tinea capitis is a contagious and persistent skin disorder caused by the fungus called dermatophytes, typically affecting children between the ages 3 and 9, but also occurs in adults. It often goes away spontaneously at puberty, but sometimes may recur. This fungal infection is transmitted through direct contact with a person who or pets (particularly cats) that has it, and also when you touch infected items such as clothing, combs, hats, and other surfaces.

Ringworm of the scalp often presents itself as scaly, non-inflamed or inflamed round lesions that result in hair loss or alopecia on the areas of infection. Sometimes, it progresses to a more severe deep inflammation or abscesses called kerion, which can lead to scarring and permanent alopecia or hair loss.

The fungus that instigates tinea capitis thrives in moist and wet environments, and your risk increases if you have poor hygience, prolonged skin wetness (such as that caused by sweating), and minor scalp injuries. An infected scalp may itch slightly or not itch at all. Lesions normally begin as red papules (elevated lesions on the skin with no pus) and progresses into grayish ring-shaped patches.

Medical professionals come up with a diagnosis after examining the scalp based on how the skin disorder appears. Sometimes, a skin lesion biopsy showing results from microscopic examination may show the fungus dermatophytes. However, this test often is no longer necessary to diagnose whether it is tinea capitis or not. Dermatologists usually perform a Wood's lamp test to confirm any presence of fungal infection.

When the skin of the scalp is infected, the fungus also invades hair follicles. There are three kinds of hair invasion in tinea capitis:

In ectothrix invasion, fungal spores develop on the outer part of the hair shaft that destroys the cuticle of the hair, while affected strands of hair normally show a distinct greenish-yellow hue when lit with a Wood lamp ultraviolet light.

The endothrix hair invasion is observed with the growth of fungal spores only within the shafts but hair stays unharmed. The infected hairs, meanwhile, will not fluoresce when shone under the ultraviolet light of a Wood lamp. The third kind of hair invasion is called Favus, that produces yellowish outer layer and subsequent hair loss.
Alopecia is quite common in the infected areas, but unless it is the severe type, may resolve after its treatment.

Tinea Capitis Treatment

Tinea capitis can be treated with anti-fungal oral medications. The infected area must be kept clean during and subsequently after the treatment. Tinea capitis treatment can also be in form of medicated shampoos, such as those that contain selenium sulfide, may help reduce the infection's spread. If necessary, other family members who might be infected, as well as pets should also be examined and treated.

As mentioned, tinea capitis cure at puberty but to prevent recurrence, proper hygiene must be maintained. There is a significant reduction in cases of tinea capitis in Southeast Asia, for instance, in which the number of incidents went down from 14% to 1.2% after improvement in health and sanitation.

Fungal infections are mostly very persistent and require equally persistent and continuous treatment to effectively wipe out the infection and save your hair strands.