Ringworm Scalp Tinea Capitis

Ringworm Scalp Tinea Capitis

When dealing with skin infections such as ringworm scalp (tinea capitis) and feet (tinea pedis) are the more common areas affected by this type of infection.  Ringworm of the scalp is a very common fungal infection but it can be treated and kept from spreading to others. Fungal organisms known as dermatophytes can cause scalp ringworm by on the surface infecting certain kinds of tissue found in hair, skin, and nails. This forms the crusty, scaly patches related with scalp ringworm. Scalp ringworm (Tinea capitis) is a very widespread and extremely common fungal infection predominately seen in children the world round. Children from four to fourteen years are the most likely to develop tinea capitis symptoms, although it can occasionally appear in adults.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is also one of the more common causes of hair loss. On some occasions it may be quite easy to recognize the infection because of the scalp symptoms which can include a red circular lesion, hair loss, and a scaly border that may be itchy. Scalp ringworm signs and symptoms can often be more subtle though, with no apparent signs of scaling or itching, and broken hairs instead of hair loss which is called black dot tinea capitis. Some of the symptoms of tinea capitis or scalp ringworm to watch for are bald patched areas, where hair that has broken off from the scalp, itching of the scalp, pus-filled lesions or sores on the scalp, round, scaly lesions on the scalp that may be inflamed, and small black dots on the scalp.
Areas that are frequently moist from perspiration, skin folds that stay damp are ripe for a fungal infection attack. The fungi that cause ringworm tend to grow and thrive in warm moist areas of the body.  The feet, the groin and the scalp are good examples of the areas most affected.  You may experience bald patches where hair would normally grow on the scalp.  The fungus lives on the dead tissue of the skin and leaves a lesion.  Ringworm can only live on the dead layer of keratin protein on top of the skin. It has been found that in many cases as a person reaches puberty it goes away on its own.  Good hygiene is a key factor to generally prevent and treat tinea infection of the skin because it may be aggravatingly persistent, and come back again after treatment.