Do not share hats, brushes, or a “just in case” minoxidil on a school-age scalp. Photograph; get a diagnosis.
Tinea capitis is dermatophyte infection of the hair shaft and follicle, commoner in children, sometimes with black-dot broken hairs, kerion, or lymphadenopathy. Alopecia areata is an autoimmune patch, often smooth, exclamation-point hairs, sometimes nails. They are not the same Disease Facts page. Wood’s lamp and culture or PCR belong to the clinic. Patterned recession in an adult is usually androgenetic until proven otherwise. This is not medical advice.
Do not start oral finasteride on a child’s patch. Do not borrow a roommate’s ketoconazole as a cure. Related HairBase files cover adult pattern and ketoconazole shampoo as an adjunct — different URLs. School exclusion rules are public-health, not this essay.
A boggy kerion, fever, or a child who cannot sleep from pain is dermatology now. This is not medical advice.
Try the free self-check →Sources: AAD ↗
FAQ
Can I treat both with minoxidil foam?
No. Fungus needs an antifungal plan. Areata is another diagnosis. Foam is a pattern label.
Is it contagious?
Tinea can spread via fomites. Areata is not a ringworm party.
Does areata become pattern baldness?
Different mechanisms. An adult with a widening part still needs an exam.
Same as seasonal shedding?
No. Patches and scale are not a calendar telogen essay.
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⚠️ When to see a doctor — don’t self-treat
- Sudden patchy or circular bald spots
- Redness, scaling, pus, pain or itch (possible scarring alopecia — treat urgently)
- Broken hairs or rapid loss
- Loss with body-wide signs (weight loss, fatigue, cycle changes, acne, extra hair)
- Loss right after a new medication
- Any hair loss in a child