Fungus of the scalp, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Very often the cause of itching of the scalp, peeling and inflammation, and often, against this background, and hair loss is the scalp fungus. To understand that you have "acquired" a fungal infection is impossible at once, however, on a primary examination, when addressing a specialist, a doctor easily identifies the cause of your anxiety. Fungal diseases of the scalp are successfully treated today, although some require a longer time and patience.



Fungus (mycosis), which affects the scalp, has many varieties. Symptoms of each type of fungus are different, so the therapy in different cases is individual. Often illnesses are observed of an infectious nature, so they are easily transmitted by personal contact with the patient or by using common things and hygiene items. The only prevention of fungal infections is scrupulous observance of personal hygiene.

Symptoms of fungus on the scalp.
Symptomatic manifestations of fungal disease and methods of therapy are determined by a variety of fungus, which affected the patient. Meanwhile, one can name common symptoms of a fungal infection, inherent to varying degrees of each species, and indicating the presence of the disease. Among them:

• The general condition of hair has worsened, dryness, dullness, loss of shine, loss is noted.
• Scaling of the scalp, the appearance of individual peeling areas with indistinct contours and rounded shape.
• In the affected areas, hair falls out strongly, thinning, and there are bald patches.
• There are pink plaques on the scalp that stand out above the surface of the skin. On the patches may appear small bubbles, gradually becoming covered with grayish or yellowish crusts.
• There is a breakdown of hair at the base of the follicle, resulting in black dots appearing on the skin.
• With a superficial form of ringworm, foci of purulent lesions appear on the scalp.

Often in cases of fungal lesions of the scalp, doctors reveal a superficial or deep trichophytosis (in the people of ringworm) and microspore (microsporia). There is also another dangerous fungal disease called favus (scab), but it does not occur in our country, it is widespread mainly in the Middle East and Central Asia. In rare cases, it can be brought by tourists.

Fungal diseases can occur (more often than not) in a latent form, so in the early stages of development the disease is difficult to identify. Signal to the fact that you need to sound the alarm is the appearance of severe dandruff in a person to whom it is not characteristic.

Trichophytosis (ringworm).
Trichophytosis, or, as people say, ringworm is perhaps the most severe fungal disease of the scalp. In consequence of this disease there is an intense loss of hair, the formation of bald patches. Most often, the disease is overtaken by children between the ages of three and twelve. The disease is very contagious, transmitted by direct contact with a sick person and the direct use of his personal belongings. You can also get infected from a sick animal, fortunately, this happens much less often. Distinguish between the superficial form and the deep form of ringworm.

When infected with a fungus that causes a superficial form of the disease, a person has its first signs after five to seven days after infection. The main features include the appearance of areas of peeling on the scalp, fragility of hair at the base of the follicles (from 2 mm to 2 cm), which creates a kind of black dots on the head. And on the surface of the hair, which after the breakage was left on his head, there is a gray coating, which is the product of the fungus. The lesions of the superficial form of trichophytosis can reach two to three centimeters. In addition to peeling, lesions can blush, itch, and they may become swollen.

When infecting with ringworm of deep form (infiltrative-purulent form), the incubation period is two months. At the outset, the disease does not betray itself. Two months after infection, there are symptoms of general malaise, weakness and intoxication of the body, there is also some swelling and tenderness in palpation of the lymph nodes, a slight increase in body temperature, an allergic rash. Deep form of trichophytosis is characterized by the appearance on the skin of the head of rounded tumor-like spots with clear contours of red color. The contours of each spot are scaly more intensively, they can be observed crusts and vesicles (vesicles), on which during purification the purulent contents are separated outward. Simultaneously with these signs, deformation of the nails, change in their color can be observed. Such a symptomatology requires urgent treatment, since lesions will intensively spread to other areas, which threatens the development of an abscess and extensive inflammation.

Microsporosis (microsporia).
Microsporosis is observed in the majority of children and, accordingly, members of their family. Sources of infection are sick people (infected with a rusty microsporium) and less often animals (fluffy microsporium), as well as objects of common use with the sick. This disease spreads in the first place among other fungal lesions of the scalp and hair. Microspores under favorable conditions spread so quickly that it can be compared with an epidemic. Symptoms of microsporia are similar to the symptoms of superficial trichophytosis, therefore, in order to accurately detect the form and type of the disease, in addition to visual inspection, a laboratory test is required. On the scalp appear areas of rounded shape with sharp outlines. These areas have peeling, also brittle hair, the remaining hairs are covered with a grayish coating. Inflammatory processes are poorly expressed, the affected areas are swollen and have purulent crusts. Nails with this disease are not affected.

Favus (scab).
Sources of infection are the same as in the above fungal diseases. The disease is expressed in the appearance in the scalp and other parts of the skin of the body of the crusts (scutes and scutula) of a yellowish hue with a so-called indentation in the center, in which hair often grows. In the absence of proper treatment, the formation grows and forms extensive areas of damage with crusts. Under these same crusts, skin atrophy develops and persistent baldness is observed. When the scalp is affected by this disease, the hair becomes dull, weakened, easily pulled out, and on the whole, resemble the old, worn-out wig.

Causes of fungal infection of the scalp.
The main cause of infection are bacteria, fungi and viruses that affect the scalp.

Diagnosis of the fungus of the scalp.
To accurately diagnose a variety of fungal lesions, in addition to visual examination of the scalp, a micro-examination of the broken hair is prescribed, and also samples of flaky skin are taken. Broken hairs are examined under a Wood lamp in order to identify the fungus. If the result is positive, the specialist assigns bacteriological cultures and culture tests to the patient.

Treatment of the fungus of the scalp.
When itching , unusual dandruff, especially if you do not have predisposing factors to its appearance (did not change the hair care product, you did not have stress, etc.), you should immediately contact a specialist. Only after revealing the source of the manifestation of the symptomatology, namely the variety of the fungus, one should talk about treatment.

Therapy of the fungus of the scalp is directed, first of all, to the use of antifungal agents of systemic action. In this case, it is important to know that such medicines of the current generation have high toxicity, despite the effectiveness. Therefore, they are contraindicated in renal failure, oncological diseases, blood diseases, impaired metabolism, vascular pathology of the extremities. Most often, for the treatment of the fungus of the scalp, such agents as Clotrimazole, Griseofulvin, Miconazole, keratolytic agents (ointments, tablets), local remedies (balms and shampoos of antifungal action) are prescribed. Treatment takes no month, in particularly severe cases, patients can be prescribed hormone-containing drugs, antibiotics, as well as preventive means for the development of dysbacteriosis.

Folk remedies for the treatment of the fungus of the scalp.
With light forms of fungal infections, it is effective to use eucalyptus oil, it soothes irritated and itchy skin. A few drops spread over the brush or comb and comb your hair without damaging the scalp.

But the prescription is another effective tool for relieving itching and redness of the scalp. Combine a teaspoon of garlic juice, olive oil (you can almond ), lemon juice. Dampen in a mixture of sponge and gently rubbing into the scalp. Top with a film and a towel, stand the hour. I must say that there is a slight tingling. After an hour, wash the head with shampoo, rinse with acetic water (liter of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar). Do this procedure every time you wash your hair. Relief comes already from the first time, and the condition of the hair noticeably improves after the fourth procedure. The only drawback of this treatment is the garlic smell. But it is felt only when the hair gets wet.

Dilute vinegar and distilled water in a 1: 1 ratio. Daily lubricate affected areas with this compound for one to two months. The real relief comes on the third day.

To get rid of dandruff, you can use this tool: a tablespoon of tansy ordinary pour 400 ml of boiling water, insist for two hours, drain. I try to wash my hair without shampoo for a month. Or rinse once a week with a decoction of lemon peels. Remove the crust from four lemons, pour a liter of water. Cook for fifteen minutes over low heat.