Scalp fungus, or tinea capitis, is a type of fungal infection that affects your skin and hair. It won't turn you into a zombie, but it can alter your appearance. Scalp fungus is often referred to as scalp ringworm.
The scalp can become infected if fungus or bacteria enter through the hair follicles or damaged skin. Causes include ringworm, folliculitis, and impetigo. Bacteria cause some common infections, such as folliculitis and impetigo.
In the scalp, fungal infections often form circular, scaly, inflamed patches. Frequently, there can be temporary hair loss (hair returns when infection clears but if treatment is delayed and scarring results, permanent hair loss can be seen).
A scalp yeast infection causes an itchy rash on your scalp. The rash may be red or purple and appear in patches of various shapes. The rash may crack and crusts may form. This crusting could cause hair loss.
If the infection is not treated and becomes severe, there is a chance that permanent scarring and bald areas will remain on the scalp even after therapy. The fungal infection can sometimes penetrate deep into the scalp, resulting in a kerion, a painful, thick, lumpy mass of fungal infection.
Ringworm won't go away on its own. Medicine and a special antifungal shampoo can cure it. Treatment should start early to prevent scarring or damage to the scalp. It may take many weeks to go away.
Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is naturally antifungal and antibacterial. Mix it with any carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil and dab over the infected area about three to four times a day. This is one of the most effective home remedies to treat fungal infections.
Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp hairs. Tinea capitis is also known as ringworm and herpes tonsurans infection. [1] It is caused primarily by the dermatophyte species Microsporum and Trichophyton. The fungi can penetrate the hair follicle outer root sheath and ultimately may invade the hair shaft.
Antifungal shampoo
A shampoo such as Nizoral or Head and Shoulders Intensive kills ringworm spores. Lather and leave it on your child's scalp for 10Â minutes before rinsing. Use the antifungal shampoo twice a week for 1 month. On other days, use a regular shampoo.
Minor damage to the scalp may lead to intracranial infection. The postoperative state of the scalp, skull and meninges is especially noteworthy with respect to invasion of pathogens into the skull. A detailed medical history should be obtained even from patients with minor scalp injuries.
Stress also increases the cortisol levels in our bodies, and cortisol levels have a direct correlation with the hair follicle. This causes stressors to trigger scalp issues that can lead to the growth of different fungi and bacteria or a flaky, itchy scalp.
Some common conditions of the scalp include adrogenetic alopecia, psoriasis, ringworm, and head lice. Scalp conditions are usually diagnosed through a simple physical examination and history. In most cases, a dermatologist can help you discover the cause of your scalp condition.
Scalp buildup occurs when natural oils, dead skin cells, and hair products accumulate on the scalp. Over time, this can create flakes very similar to those that form in other conditions, such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.
"An unhealthy scalp shows hair loss, hair breakage, dandruff, redness, pain, acne, cysts, and itching," says Ayesh. Penny James, a certified trichologist and founder of Penny James Salon, says there are a lot of factors that can contribute to an unhealthy scalp.
The fungus is very contagious and can be spread from person to person. Tinea infection can affect any part of the body. But it most often occurs on the feet, groin, nails, body, and scalp. Treatment depends on what part of the body is infected.
Topical antiseptics such as benzoyl peroxide or hypochlorite may be used to help slow the growth of bacteria or other organisms on the skin that are causing the infection. Topical antibiotics such as fusidic acid, clindamycin, or mupirocin may be needed to help with the overgrowth of bacteria.
The most common types of fungi that cause serious or life-threatening infections include: Aspergillus, which causes aspergillosis. It most often affects people with lung disease or a weakened immune system. Candida, which causes candidiasis, also called thrush.
Fungus: Fungus on your skin can lead to dandruff and a smelly scalp. Yeast: Too much yeast on your scalp can cause conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis along with a bad scent.
But, according to some medical experts, you do have something to worry going to bed with soaking wet hair. That's the risk of developing a fungal infection of the scalp, dandruff or hair breakage.
Hair loss is a common side effect of a scalp fungal infection. The lost hair usually grows back on its own within 6 to 12 months of treating the infection, but there are some things you can do to aid the process.
Dandruff is not a fungal infection. It is generally believed that dandruff represents nothing more than physiologic scaling of the scalp. Dandruff is non-contagious. However, the condition is most often associated with a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia, the most prevalent being M.
The fungus invades the skin on your scalp and may also get into your hair shafts. This causes hairs to break off. If the infection spreads, you get more and bigger bald spots.
Powerfully effective against severe dandruff, selenium sulphide is the active ingredient in the Head & Shoulders Clinically Proven Solutions range. Selenium sulphide is the antifungal active used in our strongest dandruff-fighting formulas, helping eliminate Malassezia globosa.