acenol...
The scientific name for hair loss is alopecia. As noted
on the page which follows, it is hardly ever contagious,
with the singular exception of hair loss caused by
ringworm, according to this page on NetDoctor:
"Alopecia [meaning hair loss] is hardly ever due to an
infection and is therefore, generally speaking, not a
contagious condition. However, there is one exception
to this and that is a patch of hair loss caused by
ringworm of the scalp."
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/ate/skinandhair/204972.html
Some forms of alopecia can have a hereditary factor
(passed on to family members by way of genes), such
as Alopecia Areata, according to this page on the
National Alopecia Areata Foundation site:
"...heredity plays a role. In one out of five persons
with alopecia areata, someone else in the family also
has it. Those who develop alopecia areata for the first
time after the age of thirty years have less likelihood
that another family member will have it. Those who
develop their first patch of alopecia areata before
the age of thirty have a higher possibility that other
family members will also have it."
http://www.naaf.org/requestinfo/faq.asp#4
Scalp ringworm, called tinea capitis is marked by the
following symptoms, according to the University of
Virginia Health System:
"Scalp ringworm is highly contagious, especially among
children. It occurs mainly in children between the ages
of 2 to 10. It rarely occurs in adults. Symptoms of
scalp ringworm may include:
- red, scaly rash on the scalp
- itching of the scalp
- hair loss on the scalp
- rash elsewhere on the body"
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_derm/ring.cfm
Some images of the advanced stages of this condition
are available on Google Images:
http://images.google.com/images?q=%22Tinea+capitis%22
If it is Scalp Ringworm, or Tinea Capitis, it is easily
treatable. Treatment consists of the following, according
to AllreferHealth:
"The goal of treatment is control of the infection. Oral
antifungal medications are required."
"Keep the area clean. A medicated shampoo, such as one
containing selenium sulfide, may reduce the spread of
infection. Other family members and pets should be
examined and treated if necessary."
http://health.allrefer.com/health/tinea-capitis-treatment.html
Obviously, the best advice I can give you is to go see
a dermatologist and have this diagnosed professionally.
They will be able to take samples from the reddened
areas, and determine precisely the nature of the
inflammation, and whether, and to what degree, it is
contagious or hereditary.
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Additional information may be found from an exploration of
the links resulting from the Google searches outlined below.
Searches done, via Google:
alopecia contagious
://www.google.com/search?q=alopecia+contagious
alopecia hereditary
://www.google.com/search?q=alopecia+hereditary
"scalp ringworm" red
://www.google.com/search?q=%22scalp+ringworm%22+red
"tinea capitis" treatment
://www.google.com/search?q=%22tinea+capitis%22+treatment |
