Scalp Fungus and Hair Loss

12 October, 2021 | Hair Loss

Hair is one of the most important aspects of one's overall look. In general, a good hair day can either make or break a person's appearance. Long, lustrous hair are perceived as a sign of excellent health. A full head of hair is frequently linked with youth and attractiveness too. However, hair loss is a very common issue that both men and women encounter. An average person loses around 100 strands of hair every day while performing routine tasks such as hair brushing or bathing. However, some circumstances, such as fungal infections or a hereditary predisposition, might exacerbate hair loss.

A scalp fungus infection is one such cause that contributes to hair loss. A fungal infection on the scalp can cause dryness, itchy scalp with hair loss and can be extremely difficult to deal with. But there are various medications and treatments available.

Read below to learn everything there is to know about the scalp fungal infection that causes hair loss and how to cure it.

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:

Takeaway

1. What is Scalp Fungal Infection?

A fungal infection of the scalp is a frequently caused hair infection. Fungi are minuscule organisms that feed on the dead and rotting matter and thrive in damp and warm environments. The scalp's epidermis contains hair follicles from which hair develops, and the fungus on the head scalp infects those hair follicles and penetrates them. This infection can cause a variety of skin problems, including rashes on the scalp, itchy scalp with hair loss.

What does scalp fungus look like?

Inflammation and discomfort are the most typical symptoms of scalp fungus. There may be rashes, lumps, and swelling, as well as fever and swollen glands in severe instances. Hair loss happens in patches, and when there is a fungal infection, the hair in that region is lost, resulting in baldness in patches.

How does one get scalp fungus infection?

The likelihood of a scalp fungus infection increases under wet and humid circumstances
This may spread from person to person
It can also be spread by touch sharing items such as towels and napkins.
Animals can also spread a fungal infection.

2. Different Types of Scalp Fungal Infection

Several fungal species can cause scalp infection. Some of the most frequent forms of scalp infections and the fungi that cause them are as follows:

Yeast is a kind of fungus that is ubiquitous, and two species known as Candida and Malassezia are known to cause scalp fungal infections. It features typical symptoms such as purple or red spots on the skin, flaky and white skin, itching, swelling, and pustules. Malassezia can cause diseases such as folliculitis, dermatitis, and pityriasis Versicolor.
Dermatophyte fungal infection: this is caused by the fungus called Microsporum spp that causes cutaneous disease of the hair, skin and nails.
Tinea capitis is a fungal species that is known to produce ringworm and its infection, which can affect the skin of the body as well as the scalp. There is a red coloured ring formation that is round and irritating. If this occurs on the scalp, it might cause a circular bald patch. This can be caused by fungal species like Microsporum spp and trichophyton. This infection is also known as ringworm hair loss.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a fungal infection caused by the fungus Malassezia. Inflammatory reactions in the body can cause dry flaky patches on the scalp, itchy and red skin, and severe hair damage.
Piedra is another frequent fungal infection. The fungus infects the strands of hair during this disease. In the event of a severe infection, the hair strand becomes weaker and easily broken.

3.Can a scalp Fungal Infection cause Hair Loss?

When a scalp fungal infection occurs, the fungus infiltrates the hair follicle as well as the hair shaft, from which the hair grows. The major cause of hair loss following a fungal infection is an inflammatory reaction, which is the body's normal response to any illness. During a fungal infection of the scalp or skin, immune cells are activated and attempt to eliminate the fungus. This also produces inflammation that aids in the destruction of the fungus, but if the infection is prolonged, the inflammation can persist.

This inflammation manifests as swelling and redness, and it can lead to several forms of hair loss, including androgenic alopecia, scarring alopecia.
Inflammation of the hair follicles causes significant tissue damage. This is because inflammatory chemicals include a high quantity of free radicals, resulting in the cellular death of tissues. As the hair follicles die, the risk of irreversible hair damage increases.
Scar tissue can grow as a result of tissue injury, resulting in scarring on the scalp

4. Treatment of Scalp Fungal Infection

The treatment of fungus or fungal infection in the scalp is typically done to eliminate the infection and prevent it from manifesting itself. Early diagnosis of the infection is essential since it might assist to avoid serious complications. There are numerous topical ointments and medicines that are commonly given to eliminate and treat fungal infections, the most frequent of which are:

Selenium sulphide is a popular antifungal medicine that is available as a shampoo. The typical content of selenium sulphide is about 1%. This aids in the treatment of fungus-induced dandruff and scalp yeast infection.
Ketoconazole is another antifungal scalp treatment that helps with fungal infections. It may stay in the hair for up to 72 hours, allowing it to treat the fungal infection for a longer period.
Povidone-iodine is an antiseptic solution that doctors often use to treat fungal infections of the scalp. It may be used topically to provide relief.
Another antifungal drug that is given over the counter is zinc pyrithione, which is found in anti-dandruff shampoos and can help relieve fungus on the head scalp.
Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil, both of which have antifungal properties, are two traditional at-home treatments. However, you should only use tea tree oil and apple cider vinegar after consulting with your doctor.

5. Will the lost hair grow back?

As fungal hair loss is caused by the cellular death of hair follicles. Thus, any hair loss or hair damage caused by a fungal infection is irreversible because the follicles themselves are damaged. Fungal infections can also cause significant levels of inflammation and the formation of severe fibrosis around the hair follicles, impairing growth.

So, while hair loss is not usually reversible, there are other treatment options for restoring new hair growth. Hair transplant surgery is one of the most frequent methods of regaining your hair. During the hair transplant process, follicles are removed from the healthy section of the hair and then transplanted either individually or in small groups to areas with persisting baldness. There are two types of hair transplant procedures: follicular unit extraction and follicular unit transplantation.

Follicular unit transplantation is a method that involves cutting a small strip of hair follicle along with the scalp skin and then placing the follicles separately on other regions.
Hair follicles are individually punched from the location and then transplanted to other places in the follicular unit extraction procedure, which is an advanced technique.

After a fungal infection, it is important to treat the entire illness and allow the scalp to recover. All bald spots can be repaired with hair transplant treatments when the scalp has healed properly. Hair transplant in India has a high success rate and will result in healthy hair growth.

Take Away

Medlinks uses cutting-edge technology to deliver the best quality of service and treatment. Thanks to the top physicians and highly skilled personnel, you will discover the best treatment for your problem here. MedLinks is one of the best hair transplant clinics in Delhi.