Barber’s itch is a rare infection also known astinea barbaeor beard ringworm.
Barber’s itch most often occurs in dairy farmers and cattle ranchers who have contact with infected animals.
Person-to-person transmission can occur after getting a shave in a barbershop that does not follow antiseptic procedures.
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Symptoms of barber’s itch can include:
In severe cases, lesions can develop into a kerion.
This is an inflamed, boggy, thickened, pus-filled area with scaly spots or patches of broken hair.
Without treatment, permanent hair loss and scarring may result.
The differential diagnosis includes bacterial folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles caused byStaphylococcus aureus.
Milder cases of tinea barbae appear similar to the following diseases that cause comparable symptoms.
Starting Barber’s Itch Treatment
Trying to treat beard ringworm on your own can be difficult.
However, suppose you begin treatment in the earliest stages of the disease when your symptoms are mild.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t notice improvement with topical treatment.
Most cases of beard ringworm require prescription antifungal medicine and an individualized treatment plan.
In some cases, affected tissue and hair may have to be removed to allow the area to heal.
Understanding Why Barber’s Itch Happens
Barber’s itch is a form ofdermatophytosis.
It occurs due to an infection sparked by dermatophytes, fungi that require keratin for growth.
Keratin is a protein found in soil.
The medical term tinea barbae describes features of the infection.
The term tinea means fungal infection.
Tinea infections are further classified by the site of the infection.
This infection is an occupational disease of farmers, veterinarians, and their family members.
Human-to-human transmission occurs mostly indirectly involving material such as loose strands of hair and shed skin cells.
Treatment of beard ringworm requires an oral antifungal medication for six weeks or longer.
The name beard ringworm describes the appearance of round skin lesions that form a rash in the affected area.
Because it is rare and mimics other skin conditions, barber’s itch is often misdiagnosed.
It is commonly confused with bacterial folliculitis, a disease sparked by a staph infection.
Prescribed oral antifungal drugs are the best way to treat barber’s itch.
Without treatment, lesions can become inflamed.
In extreme cases, inflamed lesions called kerions can occur, causing scarring and permanent hair loss.
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