Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
Ringworm | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
My twin boys are 2½ years old. They both have dry scalps with thick, yellowish colored skin that you can scrape off their heads. I have tried washing their scalps every night, washing them only once or twice a week, and even the old baby oil on the scalp trick and nothing seems to help. What can I do?— Frustrated in South Carolina | | | ANSWER |
August 24, 2001 | | | Dear Frustrated,
What you are describing sounds suspiciously like ringworm of the scalp, also known as tinea capitis. Ringworm is not caused by a worm at all but is in fact caused by a skin fungus. It is very common. Although parents often worry that ringworm is a sign of poor hygiene, it isn't. Even the most well shampooed children can get ringworm.
Ringworm can be confusing because it looks different depending on where it shows up on the body and also depending on the individual's response to the fungus. Some children develop just mild dandruff-like patches; others have a lot of hair loss and even swelling and pus. Ringworm on the body usually responds well to anti-fungal creams. For scalp ringworm, however, it usually takes medicine by mouth for several weeks to clear the infection completely.
There are other things, too, that can cause the sort of scaling you describe, so it's important that you take your children to see their doctor or nurse practitioner, who can make the diagnosis and prescribe the proper treatment.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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