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

tinea capitis Microsporum canis scalp hairs ectothrix fungal spores hair shaft hair cuticle selenium sulfide shampoos hair follicle selenium sulfide

TLDR The hair cuticle acts as a barrier against fungal infection, which occurs only deep within the hair follicle.

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of scalp hairs from four patients with ectothrix Microsporum canis infection revealed a thick sheath of fungal spores encircling the hair shaft beneath an intact cuticle. These spores were only visible where the cuticle was damaged. Daily selenium sulfide shampoos effectively removed the spores from these areas. The study concluded that the hair cuticle served as an effective barrier against fungal penetration, making the hair susceptible to infection only deep within the hair follicle, where the fungus could produce spores that remained hidden beneath the cuticle.

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