Q My 7-year-old child has a round patch of hair loss on the head with scale-like flakes. Is this tinea capitis? Is there a treatment that is safe for children?
A Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) is a dermatophyte infection common in children. Round patches of hair loss and scaling are characteristic. Pediatric oral antifungals (griseofulvin, pediatric terbinafine) are the standard treatment, and Korean medicine treatment can be combined to strengthen the child's immunity and restore the skin barrier.
Detailed Answer
Tinea capitis is most common in preschool children and spreads through group settings (daycare centers, schools). It is characterized by round or oval patches of hair loss and scalp scaling, and in severe cases a kerion (a pus-filled inflammatory mass) may form. Because topical antifungals struggle to penetrate the scalp, oral antifungals are the standard treatment. An antifungal shampoo (ketoconazole) is used concurrently during the treatment period.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
For tinea capitis in children, Dongjedang provides supportive care to strengthen the child's immunity and improve the scalp environment. We strengthen the immune terrain with gentle herbal medicine that supports the child's Spleen-Stomach function (centered on Astragalus root, hwanggi, and Chinese yam, sanyak), and expel local heat-toxins with heat-clearing scalp pharmacopuncture. Combined with antifungal treatment, this can help suppress the progression of a kerion and restore the patches of hair loss.
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