The Infected Hairs of Tinea Capitis Due to Microsporum Canis: Demonstration of Uniqueness of the Hair Cuticle by Scanning Electron Microscopy

    February 1987 in “ Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ”
    Walter B. Shelley, E. Dorinda Shelley, Veronika Burmeister
    TLDR The hair cuticle acts as a barrier against fungal infection, which occurs only deep within the hair follicle.
    The study examined scalp hairs from 4 patients infected with ectothrix Microsporum canis using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that a thick sheath of fungal spores encircled the hair shaft beneath an intact cuticle, which acted as a barrier preventing visible surface infection. The spores were only visible when the cuticle was damaged. Daily use of selenium sulfide shampoos effectively removed the spores from these exposed areas. The research highlighted that the hair is susceptible to fungal infection only deep within the hair follicle, where the fungus can enter the hair cortex and produce spores that remain hidden beneath the cuticle.
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