The main symptom of white piedra is the formation of clusters of tiny nodules along the hair shafts. These measures include: White piedra is a rare superficial fungal infection of the hair shaft. Seborrheic eczema, or dermatitis, is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes flaky, scaly patches on the skin, especially the scalp. How does it differ from similar conditions? When I don't wash my scalp every day, it flares up and takes a couple of days to calm down. Following good personal hygiene and hair care practices can help prevent future recurrences of white piedra. Options may include: Topical medications do not work for some individuals. It also has healing properties as a bonus for using it in the interim. So taking a hair product holiday is a good place to start, especially if there are any scalp conditions that seem chronic. White piedra may develop on any area of hair on the body, such as: It is easy to confuse white piedra with other skin and hair conditions. Black dried dots that look like grains of sand on the scalp. Individuals who suspect that they have white piedra should see a doctor. White piedra occurs more often in warm and tropical regions of the world, such as South America, Africa, and the southeastern United States. With many balding persons there are waxy granules and hard granules under the scalp. What can cause sores or scabs on the scalp? Mousse, paste and hairspray can be a pretty toxic mixture for your scalp on a regular basis. However, there are many possible causes…, © 2004-2020 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Also, women who immediately tie and cover wet hair and their scalp with a veil have a higher chance of developing white piedra. Trichosporon fungi occur widely in nature, particularly in soil, lake water, and plants. Call 416-360-5942 to book an appointment. In that case, it may not be as effective, but natural aloe vera as hair gel can give the hair some support. Black piedra is more commonly seen in scalp hair … Tiny red or reddish brown dots on the pillowcase. They can be as large as 1mm wide (see image, click to enlarge) and vary in colour from clear to brown to black. The hard granules vary in size and colour. Practices that can lead to colonization and result in white piedra infection include: White piedra is more common in temperate and semitropical climates. They're small, hard and come off in my hands quite easily. These areas include: Additional risk factors for getting a white piedra infection include: Most reports of white piedra have been in children and young adults, particularly females who regularly wear headbands. People can treat it by shaving the affected area and applying an antifungal medication. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. All rights reserved. If it is a particular product that causes this condition to flare up, then you have found the culprit. Q: Over the last few months I've noticed these hard grains of "sand" on my scalp. The fungus may remain in clothing and bedding. For external treatment of the black specks on scalp and skin, here are some good options: soak in a bath with epsom salts. rinse head/scalp with water and sea salt. White piedra appears as white or light brown stones that loosely attach to the tip of a hair shaft and may group to form clusters. In this article, we provide images of white piedra. © 2020 The Skincare Edit. Reinfection is usually the result of sharing combs, hair products or accessories, pillows, and linens. A person can treat white piedra with antifungal lotions and creams. My typical washing routine is Tigi Bed Head Epic Volume Conditioner daily and Tigi Bed Head Epic Volume Shampoo every other day. In this article, learn about what head lice and their eggs look like, as well as how to…, Scabs and sores on the scalp can be painful and itchy, but they often clear up on their own after a few days. However, it can also be a symptom of other conditions, such as pubic lice or vitiligo. White piedra infections will often come back, especially when they can pass between family members. It may only be external, but many people who get an external fungal It can affect people of any age and tends to occur in temperate regions of the world. These rock-like structures appear white, gray, or tan. A person should throw infected underwear away and disinfect other garments, linen, and towels to help prevent reinfection. Last medically reviewed on March 25, 2020, White pubic hair is part of aging. Styles that work with your shorter pieces. I don't feel overly itchy, but on occasion it happens. However, there are some key differences between them. Have you noticed any other symptoms of fungal overgrowth in your system? This type of hair infection requires medical evaluation and antifungal medication. Shaving the affected area and completing a short course of a topical antifungal can treat white piedra. Bill Angst is one of Canada’s top celebrity hairstylists and the owner of Angst Hair at 240 Queen Street East in Toronto.