Fungal Infection In Scalp

[chiangrai]

I got itchy  scalp last month and I went to the doctor.

She said that I had a fungal infection and gave me

hydro-cortisone shampoo.

She said that the infection would be gone by the time I finished

the shampoo.

 

It wasn't.............So I got a skinhead haircut and another bottle 

of shampoo.

 

Is there anything else I can do.I see online that there are lots of creams and pills

for this problem but I'm not familiar with any of them.

[Sheryl]

Are you certain that what you got was a hydrocortisone shampoo and that she said you had a fungal infection?  ?

 

Hydrocortisone is NEVER used alone to treat fungal infections and will in fact make them worse.

 

Either what you got contained an antifungal or it was not a fungal infection.

 

Hydrocortisone and other steroids would be used for psoriasis of the scalp. Which is nto a fungal condition.

 

Before you try to buy anything you need to re-clarify the diagnosis. Was this a dermatologist that you saw?

[chiangrai]

The doctor had little English.

She is only a local GP in the village.

 

She said the problem was "fungi"

and the shampoo was Hydro-cortozone.

 

The shampoo bottle says  Nora-Ketoconazole for itchy scalp

and dermatitis  and no more English.

 

How can I tell if the problem is fungal or  dermatitis..

 

 

[Sheryl]

Ketoconazole is not hydrocortisone. It is completely different and is an antifungal. "Nora" shampoo contains ketoxconazole and ketoconazoel only so I don't understand where the hydrocortisone part is coming from.

 

So it seems she thought you have ring worm of the scalp (a fungal condition) and prescribed an antifungal shamopoo, not a steroid.

 

Treatment of ringworm of the scalp usually requires oral medication as well as medicated shampoo. As these medications have potential side effects and need to be taken for a long time,  I recommend you first see a dermatologist to be sure the diagnosis is correct.

 

Where in Thailand do you live?

[chiangrai]

I live in the mountains of Chaing Rai Province.

 

I must have misheard what she said the medicine was.

 

So I have a fungal outbreak in my scalp.

The first time I tried to treat it I only used the shampoo

every second day and it didn't work.

 

Now I have shaved my head and I use it every day and I let it

soak in for a few minutes before I wash it off.

I will see how that goes for a month.

 

I don't like the sound of those anti fungal pills do they  have side effects.

[Sheryl]

They do, though most people tolerate them OK.

 

If your head is shaved then in addition to or instead of the shampoo you can apply an antifungal  cream, if the diagnosis is correct than that might  do the trick and enable you to avoid systemic medication.

 

Brands:

 

Lamisil (terbinafine) is best but expensive

Clotrimazole - many, many brands of this. Cheap but takes a little longer to work

Ketoconazole cream - several brtands

 

Apply twice a day and keep it up for about 1 week after the rash has completely disappeared, may take several weeks

 

 

 

[chiangrai]

Thanks Sheryl,

I will try to buy the cream online.

Do you know the names of the best online pharmacy's.

 

Either in Thailand or with cheap shipping to Thailand.

Hope I'm not going too far off topic.

[Sheryl]

You should be able to find these creams at any pharmacy, even in rural area.

 

Or order from this place, it's the only online pharmacy in Thailand that I know of

 

http://drugstorebangkok.com//?s=lamisil

 

To avoid reinfection your pillowcase and sheets need to be washed in very hot water and machine dried if possible. If white color, add bleach  as well.