For many mothers and other women who also work hard in offices all day, when it's time to take a shower and wash their hair, they are too exhausted to dry their hair properly before they rush into bed. Even though this may feel refreshing, it is actually one of the causes of the kind of scalp fungus that can sap your personal confidence. So let’s look at how to avoid or fix this problem.

Four causes of scalp fungus

There are several types of scalp fungus. Each type is caused by different spores. However, most scalp fungus has the following four causes:

1.       Tinea capitis

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp which can occur at any age but is most often found in children aged 6-12 years. The infection can be transmitted from person to person by close contact or sharing personal items such as combs, towels, pillows, and so on. It can also be transmitted to people from animals such as dogs, cats and others.

A type of fungus called dermatophytes, tinea capitis is caused by the same fungus as ringworm. It lives in the tissues of human hair, nails and epidermis and grows well in hot and humid areas. It can occur in many places but is more common in areas that produce oil such as the head, eyelids, eyelashes, bridge of the nose, lips, ears and behind the ears.

Symptoms of tinea capitis include patchy hair loss, fragile and broken hair, black dots in infected areas, and round scaly scalp spots. Some sufferers may have dermatitis, redness, flakiness and swelling. Pustules occur that feel painful when pressed. This results in the sufferer having a very itchy head. Scratching the wound can lead to infection and scarring. The patient may also have a low-grade fever and/or swollen lymph nodes in the neck.

Infants and young children are most likely to be at risk of tinea capitis due to their close contact with others in schools and nurseries. Those living close to cats or dogs are also at risk as they may be infected with this type of fungus but show no symptoms. Playing with or touching an infected cat or dog puts them at risk of infection. Other risk groups include those who have injured their scalp, those who don’t shower or wash their hair regularly, those who have wet skin from sweating for a long time, and immunocompromised patients, including those who have side effects from cancer treatment and those suffering from malnutrition.

2.       Scalp fungus from fungal infection

This case is quite rare. Fungal pathogens found in the environment such as mucormycosis, also known as black mold, enter the body only through breathing and open wounds. This kind of fungus is found in soil, compost, leaves, rotted wood, and expired vegetables, fruit or bread. The body's immune system is normally able to get rid of this fungus, so healthy people don’t get sick even if exposed to it.

However, those with a weakened immune system are more prone to infection with this fungus. The black mold that occurs on the skin, including the scalp, causes the pain. The sufferer feels warmth around the wound which will manifest a severe redness. After that, the infected area will turn black or there will be swelling around the wound. People who are at risk of infection include those who are weak from diabetes, cancer, HIV or metabolic acidosis, and those who use certain medications or steroids for a long time, including those recovering from surgery or organ transplants or burns.

3.       Scalp fungus from seborrheic dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a disease caused by inflammatory skin conditions from the sebaceous glands in the skin. This is classified as a chronic disease that affects daily life. The most commonly afflicted area is the face where the fungus will appear on the eyebrows, sides of the nose, behind the ears, and others, leading those with this type of skin disease to lose confidence. It can also be caused by an inflammatory reaction to an excess of Malassezia yeasts, which are organisms that live on the skin normally. The risk group includes those with weakened immune systems or neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, depression, stress, and hormonal changes, skin irritation caused by exposure to harsh detergents and lotions that contain alcohol, rapid changes in the weather, and others.

Those with seborrheic dermatitis have plaques of oily skin covered with white or yellowish flakes. This is characterized by hard flakes on the scalp, ears, face, chest, armpits or other parts of the body. If it occurs on the head, it can cause skin flakes on the scalp. It can also occur in areas with hair, eyebrows or beard. There may also be itchy, red, flaky skin, inflamed, red or crusty eyelids and pain or hair loss. In infants, there are often yellow or brown scales on the head, but these will disappear before the age of one year.

Seborrheic dermatitis is not contagious and is not caused by infection but by inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Sometimes the symptoms are similar to other skin diseases such as acne. Those at risk of seborrheic dermatitis include children entering adolescence because their body begins to create sebaceous glands as well as children under three months old.

4.       Scalp fungus from psoriasis

Psoriasis is caused by an immune system abnormality, as a result of which skin cells divide or grow faster than normal until they accumulate and thicken in patches, especially at the edges of the scalp or hairline. This causes thick white flakes with clear edges that differ from the flaky edges of normal dandruff, along with mild symptoms of psoriasis. However, if left untreated, itching and scratching may lead to infection.

Diagnosis

All causes of scalp fungus can be diagnosed in a similar way. The doctor will examine the scalp fungus and might take a skin sample for examination to diagnose and identify the main cause.

Risk factors that cause scalp fungus

·      Those whose immune system has been weakened such as organ transplant recipients, those with HIV/AIDS and some cancer patients

·      Autoimmune diseases

·      Touching infected skin, objects or animals

·      Stress and recovery from health conditions such as heart attack

·      The use of certain medications such as corticosteroids, and medications for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and malaria

·      Neurological and psychiatric conditions such as depression and Parkinson's disease

·      Skin conditions caused by cosmetics or ingrowing hairs

·      Irritation from hair removal with a razor or plucking etc.

·      Poor hygiene

·      Hot and humid weather that makes the scalp damp

·      Pregnant women, diabetics, those who sweat a lot, and those who are overweight or obese may have increased risk of developing scalp fungus.

Behavior modification to prevent scalp fungus

·      Avoid direct contact with people or pets with skin disease and keep cleaning personal things. Don’t share personal belongings.

·      Take a shower and wash your hair thoroughly. Dry your skin and blow dry your hair.

·      Shave your beard regularly.

·      Wash hands before eating and before and after using the bathroom every time.

·      Apply olive oil on your hair and leave for about an hour as this will remove flakes from your scalp and make your hair soft and smooth.

·      If taking medication, strictly follow the doctor's orders.

·      Avoid stress and get enough rest.

Although scalp fungus isn’t usually a serious condition, it can undermine your confidence. Always take care of your body and keep it clean on a regular basis for a good personality and vitality.

Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers can consult a doctor online with the Krungthai-AXA Telehealth service. Just download Emma by AXA application and press the “TeleHealth” button to confirm your policy number the first time you use it. For more details, please click https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/telehealth.

References

·      Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
https://www.rama.mahidol.ac.th/rama_hospital/th/services/knowledge/06232020-1449

·      Hellokhunmor website
https://bit.ly/3iim2jg

·      Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3im453j
https://www.pobpad.com/mucormycosis

·      Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital
https://www.siphhospital.com/th/news/article/share/skin-diseases

·      Bumrungrad Hospital
https://www.bumrungrad.com/th/conditions/hair-loss

·      Corporate Communication, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital
https://bit.ly/3ucvLdQ

·      Samitivej Hospital
https://www.samitivejhospitals.com/th/article/detail/sebderm

·      Thonburi 2 Hospital
https://bit.ly/3H1h451