Ringworm is a type of fungus that likes keratin — a protein that can be found in our hair, skin and nails. Because of this, these are the very areas that this fungus can invade and infect.
When it comes to the scalp, it can cause tinea capitis or scalp ringworm. The following guide will explain whether ringworm hair loss can occur and what you can do about it.
What Is A Ringworm Of The Scalp?
Ringworm of the scalp, or tinea capitis, is an infection of the scalp hair caused by keratinophilic fungus — a fungus that colonises keratin-rich materials like skin, hair and nails.
Children are most commonly affected, and, according to a study published in the BMJ, this is most commonly due to fungi found on animals, such as cats, dogs or cattle — in recent times, however, this has changed to “anthropophilic organisms,” which are found on humans and allow the infection to spread from one child to another at “home, school, or the hairdresser.”
myself, Teigne – Tinea capitis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Types Of Tinea Capitis
According to research, the following are some of the forms of tinea capitis:
- Ectothrix form: It results in hair breakage 2 to 3 mm above the scalp. Additionally, skin inflammation and scaliness occur. The Microsporum species (a type of fungus) is responsible for it.
- Endothrix form: In this form, the hair shaft breaks at the level of the scalp (not above it), the hair stubs are swollen, and there is a black dot pattern. It is caused by certain Trichophyton species, e.g. T. soudanense and T. tonsurans, among others.
- Favus: Trichophyton schoenleinii is the specific fungi responsible for causing this type of tinea capitis. Known as a “favus,” it results in yellow cup-shaped crusts at the base of the hair shafts, and it can eventually result in permanent scarring hair loss.
- Kerion: Another severe, inflammatory variant of tinea capitis which can also result in permanent hair loss. The condition can result in the formation of a tender plaque that has pustules and crusts; it can also cause discharge and pain.
Can Ringworm Cause Hair Loss?
Tinea capitis can result in bald circular patches on the scalp. Rarely, however, hair loss from tinea capitis can also be diffuse — the entire scalp is affected instead of particular areas — according to one study.
How To Tell If You Have Ringworm On Your Scalp?
Other than hair loss (alopecia), tinea capitis can cause other signs and symptoms, such as:
- Itchiness
- Flakiness (that looks like dandruff)
- Redness
- Dry and scaly areas
English: Air Force Maj. Ari Fisher, USMC-090616-M-1273D-009, marked as public domain, more details on Wikimedia Commons
Keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive. Depending on the type of tinea capitis you have, symptoms can vary. For instance, favus, which is a more severe form of tinea capitis, can result in yellow crusts as well as permanent scarring alopecia.
Paul La Porte, Favus, CC BY 2.5
Kerion, on the other hand, can form a boggy, pus-filled mass, swelling, oozing, and hair loss (which can be permanent), among other symptoms.
Grook Da Oger, Kérion 02, CC BY-SA 3.0
How To Treat Ringworm On Scalp?
According to a scientific review published in 2020, oral antifungals are considered the “gold standard” in the treatment of tinea capitis; these can include:
- Terbinafine
- Itraconazole
- Fluconazole
- Griseofulvin
Three Cases of Recalcitrant Pediatric Tinea Capitis Successfully Treated with Griseofulvin. Ann Dermatol. 2023 Nov;35(Suppl 2):S247-S251. doi: 10.5021/ad.21.254. PMID: 38061714; PMCID: PMC10727883/CC BY-NC 4.0
The duration of the treatment can be around 1-3 months, but only your doctor can best tell you.
Other than the oral therapy, you or your child may also be advised to use a medicated shampoo, such as one containing selenium sulfide or ketoconazole, to curb the spread of the infection.
Does Hair Loss From Ringworm Grow Back?
Hair lost due to tinea capitis usually grows back with proper treatment. However, unfortunately, this isn’t always the case — both favus and kerion variants of scalp ringworm can cause scarring and permanent hair loss.
Experiencing Hair Loss?
Longevita is a UK- and Turkey-based facilitator of surgical and non-surgical solutions for hair loss. We facilitate access to teams of highly experienced independent practitioners who can help with different types of hair loss. If you’re interested in a free consultation with our expert Case Managers, feel free to get in touch!
Frequently Asked Questions
With proper treatment, scalp ringworm infection can go away.
You must seek treatment for scalp ringworm from a professional doctor, as it will not go away on its own.
Yes, ringworm infection can spread from your body to the scalp.
If left untreated, the bald patches on your scalp will grow in size. You can also experience permanent hair loss with the development of kerion.
It is possible to get scalp ringworm at any age, though it is uncommon in adults.
Yes, ringworm infection of the scalp is contagious and can be passed on from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. Furthermore, it can be contracted by using contaminated objects (e.g. combs) of an infected person.
Dr Cagla
Dr Cagla earned her medical degree at Trakya University’s Faculty of Medicine in Bulgaria and has almost 6 years of hair transplantation experience. She is a specialist in FUE, DHI and Sapphire hair transplants of the scalp, eyebrows and beard and has performed over 6,000 surgeries. Dr Cagla is multilingual, with fluency in English, Bulgarian and Turkish.
