There's Something is in My Hair!

Now that the sun is out and shining bright, we can expect children to fill up the local parks with play and laughter. This means a lot of "hide and seek" and "tag" will be played amongst friends; old and new. This also means that some children will come in contact with other children's bacteria. What does this have to do with trichology, you ask? Well, two scalp conditions come to mind, Tinea Capitis (also known as ringworm of the scalp), and the infamous Head Lice. These infections are not limited to the Spring and Summer seasons, however, as outdoor sports are cranking up, and camp season approaches, be mindful that your child may be exposed to more children. 

  

Tinea Capitis, aka  ringworm of the scalp, is when mold-like fungi, called dermatophytes, enter the hair follicle (often the hair shaft also), and cause an infection of the scalp. This type of infection can also affect the eyebrows, and eyelashes as well. Tinea capitis is "Most common in hot, humid areas such as Central America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments like tropical places." In the United States, the most prevalent dermatophytes are microsporum or trichophyton. Ringworm of the scalp can be either inflammatory or non inflammatory. When ringworm is inflammatory, it produces a puss filled abscess that looks like a patch, known as Kerion (DermNet). The cause of Kerion is a reaction to fungus in the immune system, and can lead to scarring alopecia and permanent hair loss. Non-inflammatory TC does not cause permanent hair loss, but hair breakage at and above the scalp surface is very common. (Cleveland Clinic)

 

Tinea Capitis is very contagious if your child comes in contact with any infected people, animals, soils, or services. Risk factors include living in or visiting hot, humid, or tropical environments; playing contact sports; having minor scalp injuries; excessive sweating; not bathing often; sharing hats, hair brushes/combs, and/or sports equipment; and having a weakened immune system from pre-existing diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes. Adults can contract ringworm of the scalp, however, it mostly affects toddlers and teensagers 3 - 14 years old. (Cleveland Clinic).

Treatments for tinea capitis include an oral antifungal medication and selenium sulfide shampoo over the course of a few weeks to kill the infection completely. 

*Phobia Alert: The following images include live insects

Whether you were in school, or in summer camp, we all know what is was like for our teachers and counselors to check for those "tiny, wingless insects that feed on human blood" known as Lice. When they are found on the scalp, they are known as head lice. A person can get lice when they come into contact with lice or lice eggs. "After mating, the female louse attaches her eggs to the hair shaft close to the scalp in cool climates, and further down the shaft on warmer climates. The female louse can lay 50 - 100 eggs at a rate of 3-6 per day" (DermNet). Eggs hatch after approximately 9 days. JEEPERS CREEPERS!!! 

Lice can jump and fly, spreading through head-to-head or body-to-body contact; closely stored belongings; items shared amongst family members and friends; contact with infested furniture; and sexual contact - pubic lice aka "crabs", that's a different article (Mayo Clinic). It is very hard to prevent lice, due to children often having other contact with children. However, still talk with your child about not having head-to-head contact with other kids, not sharing personal items like hats or combs, and avoid shared spaces like lockers, cubbies, and coat hooks. Mayo Clinic.

Treatments for removing lice include chemical insecticides, suffocating, and physical removal of the nits and lice using a comb. Multiple treatment methods and applications are required 7-10 days apart to ensure that surviving eggs from the first treatment die during the second or third. Shaving the head is an extreme measure, and rarely necessary, yet very effective if needed. 

If your child(ren) are affected by any of these disorders, please see your local dermatologist to get the best prescribed treatments. 

Works Cited:

“Tinea Capitis.” Cleveland Clinic,

---. “Kerion.” DermNet®

“Lice - Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic

DermNet. “Head Lice.”