To determine the influences of hair-grooming practices and environmental factors as risk factors for the acquisition of tinea capitis (TC) in children. Case-control study comparing children with culture-proved TC with age-, sex-, and race-matched control subjects without scalp disease. A multicenter study involving 3 urban referral centers in the United States. A convenience sample of 66 patients aged 12 years and younger presenting to pediatric dermatology clinics with clinical evidence of TC were enrolled as cases. Matched control subjects (n = 68), without known scalp disease, were enrolled from the outpatient pediatric clinics at the same institutions. Significant associations with TC in the conditional logistic regression model were a prior history of TC (odds ratio, 3.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-9.43; P =.04) and exposure to TC (odds ratio, 16.32; 95% confidence interval, 3.55-75.16; P =.001). The use of a hair conditioner was statistically significant in the univariable model but not in the multivariable model (odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-1.08; P =.07). Hairstyling, frequency of washing, use of oils or grease, and other hair care practices were not shown to be associated with the presence of TC.
Hair-grooming practices do not appear to play a major role in the acquisition of TC. Hair conditioners may be protective in children at risk for TC, but further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Do hair care practices affect the acquisition of tinea capitis?