Bald spot, top of head, 13yr DS - fungal, ringworm?

[sadie9]

Noticed a reddish patch on scalp of my son while drying his hair with the dryer. Now that area is losing hair. It is slightly red/pink but not angry or inflamed looking. Could it be ringworm or another fungal infection. He wears headphones a lot and the strap sits just on top of this bit.
We don't have any pets ourselves.

[LowDudgeon]

Ds2 had this aged about 7 - his was def ringworm. Anti-fungal cleared it up but the hair grew back differently - he always had a tufty bit on top

[sadie9]

Thanks, did you have to get cream or tablets? Did GP know straightaway or did they have to send to lab etc.

[LowDudgeon]

I can't remember if I went to GP or just bought OTC. In fact a pharmacist can probably tell you if it's ringworm & recommend a cream - it's the same kind of fungus as athlete's foot & thrush.

NHS advice

[LowDudgeon]

I probably used Canesten as we generally had it in anyway

[sadie9]

I was blaming the headphones rubbing against the scalp but I think it must be the headphones are making the area hot and sweaty, so creating perfect conditions for fungal type situation.

[LowDudgeon]

I think I thought initially that he'd had an insect bite there & kept scratching it & that was what had broken all the hairs. Took me a while

If the headphones have a solid plastic headpiece it certainly won't have helped! Good luck with it anyway

[sadie9]

Doc not sure it is ringworm but it could be some similar fungal type infection, not helped by the headphones making that place hot and sweaty. He has prescribed Nizoral cream to be applied for 3 weeks so we will see if that helps. Twice a day for the first week then once a day for the next 2 weeks.