Fungal scalp infections, commonly known as tinea capitis, cause dandruff, itching, hair loss, and inflammation. Anti-dandruff treatments help eliminate the fungal infection, soothe irritation, and promote a healthy scalp.

Fungal scalp infections — collectively termed tinea capitis — are caused by dermatophyte fungi, most commonly Trichophyton and Microsporum species, that invade the hair shaft and follicle. Unlike Malassezia-driven seborrheic dermatitis, these infections are contagious, progressive, and require systemic antifungal treatment to reach the fungal elements within the hair shaft where topical agents cannot penetrate adequately.

This treatment targets acne and skin congestion by:

Scalp diagnosis to confirm fungal infection.

Application of antifungal shampoos containing ketoconazole or selenium sulfide.

Topical antifungal solutions help treat the infection.

Oral antifungal medications may be prescribed for severe cases.

Grey Patch Tinea – Caused primarily by Microsporum canis, this pattern produces round, scaly patches where hairs break off several millimetres above the scalp, leaving a characteristic grey, stubbly appearance.

Black Dot Pattern – Trichophyton tonsurans invades the hair shaft internally, causing it to break at the scalp surface and leave behind dark dots visible within scaly patches.

Kerion Formation – A vigorous immune response to the fungal infection produces a boggy, tender, pus-discharging mass on the scalp.

Fungal scalp infections present in several distinct clinical patterns depending on the causative organism and the host immune response. At Claire Derma, our trichologists classify your infection type to guide treatment decisions — non-inflammatory grey patch tinea capitis caused by Microsporum species responds differently than inflammatory black dot tinea capitis caused by Trichophyton tonsurans.

Eliminates fungal overgrowth.

Reduces scaling and itching.

Promotes healing of the scalp.

Prevents spread and recurrence of infection.

Oral Terbinafine Protocol – Terbinafine inhibits squalene epoxidase in the fungal cell membrane and accumulates in hair and nails due to its lipophilic properties.

Adjunctive Topical Therapy – Medicated shampoos containing 2% ketoconazole or 2.5% selenium sulphide reduce viable spore counts on the scalp surface and hair shafts, which limits contagion to close contacts.

Kerion Management – Kerion lesions at Claire Derma receive a combined approach of systemic antifungals plus oral prednisolone at 0.5 to 1 mg/kg daily for one to two weeks to control the destructive.

Systemic antifungal therapy is mandatory for fungal scalp infections because topical agents alone cannot reach the intrafollicular and endothrix fungal elements. At Claire Derma, our first-line treatment is oral terbinafine or griseofulvin, with the choice depending on the suspected dermatophyte species.

Rapid relief from itching and scaling.

Effective control of fungal infection.

Promotes healthy hair regrowth.

Prevents future flare-ups with maintenance.

Improves scalp hygiene and overall health.

Benefit – Definitive mycological diagnosis using KOH microscopy and fungal culture, which removes the guesswork. At Claire Derma, knowing the exact dermatophyte species allows us to select the most effective antifungal agent.

Benefit – Monitored treatment with liver function assessments during systemic antifungal courses, so patients stay safe throughout the four-to-eight-week treatment period.

Benefit – Full infection control guidance including advice on environmental decontamination, contact screening, and prevention of reinfection.

Having fungal scalp infections diagnosed and managed at Claire Derma means accurate identification of the causative organism, the right antifungal selection, and complete eradication rather than temporary suppression. Many patients present to us after failed self-treatment with dandruff shampoos, having assumed their scaling and hair loss was simple dandruff.

This treatment is ideal for individuals who:

Individuals with patchy hair loss, intense dandruff, and itching.

Patients diagnosed with fungal scalp infections.

People looking for an effective treatment to eliminate the infection and restore scalp health.

You need to finish the full course of systemic antifungal medication to cure a fungal scalp infection. At Claire Derma, we emphasise that clinical improvement — reduced scaling and itching — often appears within two weeks, but stopping treatment early leaves viable fungal elements in the hair shaft that will cause relapse.