Can tinea capitis heal by itself?

Written by Huang Ling Juan
Dermatology
Updated on May 29, 2025
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Some cases of tinea capitis can heal on their own. Clinically, tinea capitis is divided into white piedra, black dot tinea, yellow piedra, and kerion. White piedra can heal on its own, usually after puberty. Post-puberty, Malassezia may colonize the scalp and secrete free fatty acids, which have a certain killing effect on white piedra, so it may resolve without treatment. However, if the tinea capitis is yellow piedra, black dot tinea, or kerion, these types cannot heal on their own and may cause permanent hair loss. Therefore, it is crucial to treat these types promptly with antifungal medications under a doctor's guidance and pay attention to personal hygiene.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is tinea capitis highly contagious?

Tinea capitis is highly contagious because it is a fungal infection primarily caused by dermatophytes. It can be transmitted through direct contact or indirectly, including through shared use of hairdressing tools or communal hygiene items. Some patients may also contract tinea capitis from infected domestic animals like cats and dogs. This disease particularly tends to infect children or individuals with weakened immune systems.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
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What are the symptoms of tinea capitis?

Tinea capitis commonly presents with numerous symptoms, such as an abundance of dandruff, itchy scalp, formation of crusty pustules, and scaling. There are four types of tinea capitis, each differing slightly in symptoms. For example, yellow tinea can lead to atrophic scarring and permanent hair loss; white tinea typically causes brittleness of hair, eczematous or herpetic lesions; black tinea often leaves behind follicular damage and scarring; finally, pustular tinea can lead to secondary bacterial infections with exudation and lesion formation.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is tinea capitis contagious?

Tinea capitis is contagious and highly infectious. It commonly occurs in children and is related to poor hygiene, inadequate cleaning of the scalp, and contact with other individuals or animals infected with tinea capitis. Once tinea capitis appears, it should be taken seriously and treated promptly. If left untreated, it could lead to severe consequences, such as permanent hair loss. Tinea capitis should be addressed by a dermatologist, and it is advised to seek medical attention promptly.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
Dermatology
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Is tinea capitis easily contagious to adults?

Tinea capitis is not very contagious to adults. Because most adults have stronger resistance to fungi, the likelihood of infection is much smaller than in children. This disease is more common in children or people with poorer skin resistance. Tinea capitis includes yellow tinea, white tinea, black tinea, and dragon tinea. Regardless of the type, active antifungal treatment should be received. Avoid eating irritating foods, such as raw ginger, raw onions, pepper, chili, etc.

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Written by Zhu Zhu
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Difference between Tinea Capitis and Psoriasis

Tinea capitis and psoriasis are quite different from each other, starting with their causes. The causes of psoriasis are not very clear and may be related to factors like immune infection and heredity, whereas the cause of tinea capitis is quite clear, as it is caused by fungal infection. Furthermore, their treatments differ. It is recommended to use antifungal medications to treat tinea capitis, while psoriasis is generally treated with immunosuppressants and corticosteroids. Finally, the symptoms of tinea capitis include scaly patches, crusting, and itching, whereas psoriasis typically presents with scaly erythema, pustules, and less itching.