When the seasons change, the scalp is prone to redness and itching. Many people think that it is an outbreak of eczema, but in fact, they may also suffer from scalp ringworm. In spring, the humid and hot weather is the most suitable for the growth of fungus. If the fungus is accidentally brought to the head, it may form scalp ringworm. The patient will not only have scalp itching, scaling, pustules, and even permanent scar-type hair loss, which will seriously damage the scalp. Exterior. People often confuse eczema with ringworm, but in fact, the causes, symptoms and treatment methods of the two are different. This time, He Jianrong, a registered Chinese medicine doctor from Deshanjianfa, will be invited to teach you how to distinguish between eczema and ringworm, and provide some daily care tips to keep your scalp healthy.
Ringwormnot to be underestimated severe sepsis
The term “mange disease” generally refers to minor problems, but scalp ringworm is far from simple. Not only is it itchy, but it may also lead to septicemia! He Jianrong, a registered Chinese medicine doctor of Deshan Jianfa, said that ringworm of the scalp is caused by fungal infection. Generally, people with poor immune systems, such as children, the elderly, chronically ill patients, cancer and other debilitating diseases, AIDS and leukemia and other immune systems Disease people are more likely to suffer from scalp ringworm. In addition, people who live in humid environments, lack hygiene awareness, keep pets, and often go to and from hospitals are also high-risk groups. From the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine, the formation of scalp ringworm is mainly caused by external factors. Dr. He pointed out that people with insufficient endowment are more likely to be invaded by wind evil insect poison in the body due to humid climate and environmental changes, causing symptoms of hot, damp, and cold. Ringworm. Generally, people with strong immunity will recover quickly after treatment; however, if people with low immunity are infected with scalp ringworm and neglect to treat it, the fungus will penetrate into the hair follicles and cause hair breakage and hair loss after a long time. The scalp may not only leave permanent scars, but also may cause blood vessel infection, and the most serious one may cause sepsis, which is life-threatening.
Ringwormdifferent causes of eczema
Many people confuse scalp eczema with scalp ringworm, but the pathogenesis of the two is by no means similar. Dr. He explained that eczema is mainly caused by the accumulation of dampness and heat in the body. Changes in the weather or eating “hair products”, such as bamboo shoots or crustacean seafood, will induce the body to expel the poison of dampness and heat, making the skin red, itchy, and pimples. In addition, eczema, nasal allergy and asthma are known as the “allergic triad”. If a patient has nasal allergy or asthma at the same time, and often develops symptoms such as skin redness after eating seafood, it can almost be concluded that it is eczema.
| scalp eczema | Ringworm |
| • Prevalent in alternating seasons, wet or dry weather | • more common in humid weather |
| • not contagious | • contagious |
| • Frequently occurs on scalp, neck, extremities, bends of limbs, etc. | • Often occur in sweaty and unventilated places, such as scalp, underarms, inner arms or back, etc. |
| • Large distribution area and symmetrical distribution on the left and right sides of the body | • Small distribution, progressive enlargement in a circular pattern, may have several locations on the head |
| • Expansion is rapid, and the scope of influence may naturally shrink | • Scales slowly, does not naturally shrink in area of influence |
| • Symptoms: dry itchy scalp, redness, sticky dandruff, pimples, and dull pain | • Symptoms: Scars, yellow scabs, hair breakage, white hyphae at the ends of hair |
TCM internal and external pincers can effectively cure scalp ringworm
The common types of scalp ringworm include microsporum, yellow tinea, trichophyton, and violaceum, etc., each with different characteristics. water”. If neglected, tinea scalp can spread to the entire head.
Doctor trained in Western medicine generally prescribes ointment treatment scalp ringworm, in order to kill fungus. However, Dr. He pointed out that long-term use of ointment will dry out and thin the skin barrier, increasing the chance of secondary infection. In addition, steroids have little effect on the treatment of tinea scalp. Although steroids can suppress inflammation, they can also suppress the immune system. When the patient stops taking steroids, the immune system disorder will worsen again, making the condition worse. Traditional Chinese medicine can avoid the above problems. Traditional Chinese medicine treats scalp ringworm mainly with external application of drugs, such as rhubarb, coptis, Phellodendron cortex and other traditional Chinese medicines for heat-clearing and anti-inflammatory, combined with traditional Chinese medicines such as pepper and flavescens to dispel wind and kill insects. Patients only need to apply the medicine once a week for one hour each time, and most of them can be cured within half a year. At the same time, special attention should be paid to personal and environmental hygiene to avoid recurrence of scalp ringworm.
Misdiagnosis is more difficult to cure
Dr. Ho pointed out that people often confuse scalp eczema with scalp ringworm. Since the treatments for scalp eczema and scalp ringworm are quite different, wrong treatment methods may aggravate the condition. Dr. Ho said that traditional Chinese medicines for treating eczema mainly focus on clearing heat, detoxifying and removing dampness. If patients suffering from scalp ringworm take it by mistake for a long time, it may weaken their own immunity and make the fungus more difficult to control. On the contrary, applying topical medicine for scalp ringworm to treat scalp eczema may stimulate the body’s immune response, making the rash redness, itching and water seepage more serious, and even a tingling sensation, spreading the eczema area , more difficult to cure.
Simultaneously suffer from scalp eczema andRingworm TCM precise treatment in stages
Dr. Ho shared a real case. Ms. Chen, who was about 40 years old, began to suffer from scalp sensitivity after home renovation. In addition, her immune system was disturbed due to irregular diet, and she was infected with fungi due to negligent personal hygiene. The patient sought treatment from Western medicine and Chinese medicine successively, but the effect of the medicine was not good, and the condition worsened after stopping the medicine. Not only did Ms. Chen suffer from head scars, she could not sleep at night, but her daily life and work were also greatly affected. After the problem lasted for nearly half a year, he asked Deshan Jianfa for help.
After scalp examination and pulse questioning, it was found that Ms. Chen’s scalp was reddened in a large area, slightly seeped, peeled, and hyphae appeared in her hair. In addition, she was diagnosed with scalp eczema and scalp ringworm at the same time. Dr. Ho first prescribed traditional Chinese medicine for the patient to treat eczema and restore immunity, and externally applied Chinese medicine to treat scalp ringworm and eliminate fungus. In order to reduce the stimulation of externally applied Chinese medicine on eczema, the doctor first applied low-irritant Chinese medicine externally to reduce inflammation, and then gradually added pepper and sophora flavescens to enhance the anti-fungal effect. After four months, the condition has improved significantly, and the scars have been greatly reduced .
After treatment, the patient’s scalp eczema and scalp ringworm problems have been greatly improved, and the patient has returned to a normal state of health.
TCM Shares Daily Health Tips to Effectively Prevent and Treat Scalp Ringworm
1. It is not advisable to overeat crustacean seafood, scaleless fish, mushrooms, spicy food, bamboo shoots, geese and other fats.
2. Shampoo should not be too dense, the water temperature is too hot and too vigorously stimulated, and it must be dried with warm air.
3. Avoid sharing towels with family members, or washing machines with people with tinea capitis.
4. Regularly wash towels and pillows with boiling water.
5. Pay attention to daily cleaning and hygiene, and keep the home environment dry.
6. Frequent scratchers must have their nails trimmed regularly.
7. It can be used to make soup with Smilax cocos, Coix seed, Rehmannia glutinosa, and purslane on a regular basis, which can help invigorate the spleen and remove dampness.
common problem
Head scars are unbearable, but how to stop them?
Scalp ringworm patients should not scratch their heads, because scratching the scalp may cause the fungus to enter the blood. Patients should trim their nails regularly, and use their fingertips as much as possible when scratching their heads to reduce the chance of damaging the scalp. In addition to seeking medical advice as soon as possible, you can take the soup of Tu Fu Ling and barley, which can help improve the symptoms of head marks.
Can the hyphae on broken hair survive for a year?
Studies have shown that the fungus of ringworm can survive on hair loss for up to a year. Dr. He explained that the humid environment in the bathroom is suitable for the growth of fungi. A single fungus can survive in the bathroom for three months, and it is not surprising that the broken hair flora that falls on the drain pipe can survive for more than a year.
Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Information provided by Deshan Jianfa
