Ringworm and Hair Loss

Hearing you or someone you know has ringworm of the scalp may conger up a lot of fearful images. One fearful image if you’re female or male, is losing your hair and going bald. Another fearful image, little circular worms crawling on your scalp. Let’s dispel the crawling worms image first. Ringworm is actually a group of fungi called dermatophytes. The name comes from the red spots that form on the body or scalp, which have a worm-like look to them. Highly contagious, and most commonly found in toddlers and school-age children, ringworm can infect anyone (including moms and dads), and just about any part of your body including your scalp. As for the image of being bald, in most cases your hair will grow back.

Ringworm of the scalp, also known as tineacapitis, is a fungal infection of the scalp and hair. The infection usually begins as a small pimple that grows in size until it leaves scaly patches of temporary baldness.

When ringworm is found on the scalp it does not always produce the signature rosy-red spot. In fact, symptoms may resemble dandruff, i.e., scaly, itchy, and flaky. Once the fungus gets into the hair fibers, the fibers become brittle and easily break creating patches of bald skin. Often these red, itchy areas become inflamed, blister, and may even ooze. Seek medical treatment immediately if you suspect you have scalp ringworm or notice you are losing hair. Your doctor may send a hair sample to a lab for testing to confirm that fungal infection is the cause.

Scalp ringworm is usually transmitted via person-to-person touching, sharing towels and gym equipment, etc. Animals can also spread the infection, usually to children. Rarely, but it can happen, fungal spores get into the air–and land on the scalp of another person. Ringworm of the scalp is highly contagious. It can be spread easily through direct contact, which is why it is important to check family members or anyone else you have spent time with after the fungal infection is discovered. We recommend that you disinfect objects that might have come into contact with fungal spores. Hair loss treatment for men and women with ringworm is typically an oral medication in conjunction with a medicated shampoo. Be aware it may take several weeks for your scalp to fully heal. Usually, once the scalp ringworm has subsided, hair begins to grow back as normal. Unfortunately, severe cases of ringworm of the scalp can result in serious inflammation, scarring, and even permanent hair loss. There are many ways to treat hair loss; some are temporary, while others are permanent. If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair and are considering surgical treatment options, or if you are interested in learning more about hair loss, regrowth treatment, and product options, or would like to consult with a Capillus specialist in your area click here or call Capillus for more information at (786) 888 6249 or Toll-Free at 1 (888) 272-9599.