Tinea capitis, also referred to as “ringworm of the scalp”, is a fungal infection that affects areas of the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes. Scalp fungal infections primarily affect children and are commonly spread through direct physical contact.
The infection typically invades the hair follicles, causing the hair to break off at the shaft, resulting in bald patches. The bald patches are typically round and scaly in appearance, and can slowly enlarge over time unless treated. Often times, inflammation and redness will be present at the site of the infection. Tinea faciei is a less common fungal infection that affects the face, causing red flaky patches to appear on the surface of the skin. In some cases, inflamed red lesions will develop.
Factors such as sun exposure can greatly aggravate this condition. This condition is also contagious and can easily be spread by direct person-to-person contact. Adults are most commonly affected. For men, a similar infection can appear in the beard and moustache area, It is referred to as tinea barbae. Keeping the skin clean and dry is best way to prevent fungal infections from occurring. Treatment for fungal infections usually involves over-the-counter anti-fungal creams or medications prescribed by a doctor.