Free

E-Newsletters

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Lifestyle and home remedies

By Mayo Clinic staff

Your doctor may recommend that you wash your child's hair with a prescription-strength medicated shampoo that contains 2.5 percent selenium sulfide. This may help remove fungus spores and prevent the spread of the infection to other people or to other areas of your child's scalp or body.

For best use:

  • Lather your child's hair with the medicated shampoo. Let the shampoo stay on your child's scalp for five minutes before rinsing.
  • Use the medicated shampoo two to three times a week for about a month, or as otherwise directed by your doctor. Use a milder, nonmedicated shampoo on the other days.

Have your child wear a hat or scarf if he or she is embarrassed by or self-conscious about bald patches. You don't need to shave the scalp.

References
  1. Goldstein AO, et al. Dermatophyte (tinea) infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2010.
  2. Andrews MD, et al. Common tinea infections in children. American Family Physician. 2008;77:1415.
  3. Levy M, et al. Dermatophytes and other superficial fungi. In: Long S, et al., eds. Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/226852420-3/1084137919/1679/259.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06687-0..50258-7--cesec1_4588. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
  4. Ringworm and animals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/ringworm.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
  5. Dermatophytes (ringworm). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/dermatophytes/. Accessed Nov. 16, 2010.
  6. Andrews RM, et al. Skin disorders, including pyoderma, scabies, and tinea infections. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2009;56:1421.
  7. Griseofulvin. National Center for Biotechnology Information. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000641. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
  8. Terbinafine. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/print/lexicomp/terbinafine.html. Accessed Nov. 18, 2010.
DS00892 Jan. 29, 2011

© 1998-2012 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger