| Hair Diseases: Contagious |
| Karen Marie Shelton |
| Revised Date: 01/17/07 - Original Publication Date: 6/23/00 |
Introduction
There are several recognized diseases of the
Hair and the scalp.
Experts also recognize the following commonly
occurring contagious hair diseases:
- Tinea Capitis
- Pediculosis capitis
Tinea Capitis - Ringworm
Ringworm also know as Tinea is not actually a worm.
It is a fungus organism present just about everywhere.
When provided with the proper environmental
conditions such as warm, moisture and food this fungus
can develop in a number of places.
Some of the most common locations for the development
of Ringworm include:
- Scalp
- Arms
- Armpits
- Feet
- Groin
Ringworm received its name from the fact that it
forms a type of red itchy lesion that looks like a worm
coiled into a ring formation. The ring can range
in size from small to very large and up to 6" in
diameter. Most ringworm infections are generally
average in size and it is more rare to have an infection
that is very small or very large.
When ringworm occurs on the scalp it is known as
Tinea Capitis.
The outer part of the ring is most often scaly but
the skin within the circle appears to be normal.
As the fungus moves along in its course it breaks off
the hair and thus can cause bald patches to develop.
Ringworm is best treated by a doctor with a
prescription formulation. Some hairdressers may
refuse to treat clients with an obvious case of ringworm
of the scalp.
This is due to the fact that it can be contagious.
Excessive hair growth most often develops on the
face, on the upper lip, under the chin. Hair
growth on the face is often linked to an imbalance in
female some hormones such as estrogen. Excessive
face hair has also been linked in some cases to birth
control solutions and injected hormones.
Excessive hair growth is also linked to certain
ethnic groups and is often inherited.
Pediculosis Capitis - Head Lice
This is a very common disease that can be quite
difficult to deal with for a number of reasons.
This is a disease caused by a tiny bug known as a
louse that lays eggs or nits along the hair shaft
close to the scalp. The lice attach their eggs to
the hair of their hosts with a form of very specialized
saliva which create an iron clad type of bone.
You may never be able to see the louse itself because
it may to on to another victim after laying its eggs.
The eggs or nits adhere tightly to the hair shaft and
can not be easily removed. It may appear to be
similar to dandruff due to its white color.
Lice eggs generally hate in two or three days and if
conditions remain favorable the newly hatched lice will
continue to multiply. This condition is
contagious.
Removal of lice is a controversial topic because lice
over time have become exceedingly resistant to lice
removal formulas.
A nit comb is a comb with very fine
close teeth that is used to scrape nits off the hair.
|