Tinea capitis is best described as?

• A. Patchy hair loss in round or oval areas
• B. Infestation of head lice
• C. A fungal infection of the scalp (ringworm)
• D. Excessive oiliness of the scalp

Answer: (C)

Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp, commonly known as ringworm. This diagnosis fits because the term tinea capitis specifically denotes a dermatophyte (fungal) infection of the scalp, which typically presents with patchy hair loss, scaling, and sometimes itching or inflammation. It’s a contagious condition that requires medical treatment beyond simple at-home care, and in a barbering context you’d recognize it by the scalp lesions and advise medical evaluation rather than treating it as a normal scalp issue.

It is not head lice infestation (which causes itching and nits but is not a fungal infection) and it is not simply excessive oiliness of the scalp.