S.L. asks from Pueblo, CO on November 11, 2010
Fungus on Daughter's Scalp - Don't Want to Use Nasty Med
Hi ladies!
My 3 year old daughter has a 1/2 inch bald patch on her head. I took her to the doc, and it's a fungus (like ringworm). It's been there about a month and doesn't bother her at all. You can't even see it, her part makes her hair cover it up. We really trust our doctor to only prescribe meds when they are absolutely needed. He feels that nothing topical will work and had to prescribe Sporanox, a pretty nasty oral anti-fungal (the doc called it "not a Kindgergarten medicine"). She would have to be on it for 4-6 weeks, and while she is a very healthy child, he said we would have to watch her closely for signs of liver issues. I picked up the medicine and read everything that went with it and am FREAKED OUT by it. I haven't started it yet. My feeling is that since it does not bother her and is growing so slowly, maybe I could try a natural remedy or less nasy medicine first. In the end, I may have to go back to the Sporanox, but as a last resort. Does anyone have any suggestions? A friend of mine said she used some fungus spray (I think for athlete's foot) on her kid's shoulder and it worked. I realize those are still medicines, but at least it's not an oral, systemic thing that can damage her liver! Would love any suggestions and thanks, moms!
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S.H. answers from St. Louis on November 11, 2010
try apple cider vinegar.....it works on foot fungus.
Vicks Vapor Rub worked on my mom's toenail fungus.
Good Luck!
1 mom found this helpful
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C.S. answers from Jacksonville on November 11, 2010
Try going to your nearest herbalist or health food store and asking for Tea Tree OlL, it's a natural anti-fungal . (Works on even toenail fungus, but , it takes time) I'd wash her hair and then apply it to the area. You may ask how often you can do it , just to be safe and it shouldn't affect her liver in any way. If that doesn't work ,try some T-Gel shampoo . It stinks , but ,it's great stuff .Good Luck, C. S.
2 moms found this helpful
D.G. answers from Dallas on November 11, 2010
I'm not going to say not to try something else but I have heard from lots of sources that ringworm in the scalp responds to NOTHING except the oral anti-fungal. Just something about it. We were told this when my son had a ringworm on his forhead that wouldn't go away. The doc prescribed a cream to put on it and said to do everything we can to make sure it didn't spread to his hairline and into the hair. It's just very very hard to clear up. Good luck though !
2 moms found this helpful
S.H. answers from St. Louis on November 11, 2010
try apple cider vinegar.....it works on foot fungus.
Vicks Vapor Rub worked on my mom's toenail fungus.
Good Luck!
1 mom found this helpful
L.S. answers from Philadelphia on November 11, 2010
what about an anti-fungal cream, like lamisil...
or if you want an herbal treatment, put a few drops of tea tree oil and grapefruit seed distill in an unscented lotion and try that for a week or two.
another one is oregano extract, although it is a bit stronger than the teat tree oil and grapefruit seed, it may work for you topically.
Also, remember that fungal infections can be passed on to others, so wash her sheets/clothes/towels in hot water, as well as her brush since it is on her head. And don't forget to wipe down hard surfaces that you sit her wash/brush/clothes on.
(My sister was a holistic nurse and she told me about all these great herbal remedies for everything you can possibly think of)
Hope it helps!
1 mom found this helpful
J.C. answers from New York on November 11, 2010
Well, he said that nothing topical would work and suggested an oral anti-fungal. That being said, I would call him and ask if it would be ok to try a topical antifungal or two before starting the oral meds. In other words, a less agressive approach. Then see what he says. Tell him that you are worried. He is the expert and you trust him. But ask a few more questions to reassure yourself.
Good luck.
1 mom found this helpful
M.S. answers from Boise on November 12, 2010
If it is like ringworm, the only thing that we ever used growing up is straight bleach. If we ever got ringworm we would take a q-tip and dip it in the bleach and rub it around the spot and a little ways off the spot. We would do this twice a day, in the morning and right before bed. Within a couple days it was gone. It's worth a try...you might turn part of her hair blonde for awhile though :)
1 mom found this helpful
N.S. answers from Chicago on November 11, 2010
Try Bragg's brand Apple Cider Vinegar with the "mother" in it. You can buy it at health food stores. You can put it on a cotton ball and dab it on the ringworm. It might sting a bit, but that will go away in a few seconds. Dab it on 2-3x a day.
Fungus lives on sugar, so drastically cut down on the sugar in her diet. It wouldn't hurt to get her some probiotics. Even yogurt with live cultures in it would help.
You can also mix the Apple Cider Vinegar with some water and some honey or stevia and have her drink it. Just do one teaspoon of ACV and mix in the honey to sweeten. This would be in addition to dabbing it on her head.
I had a fungal patch on my face and my doctor wanted to give me a topical cream but I had to stay out of the sun. This was in the middle of summer! I put Apple Cider Vinegar on it and in two days it stopped itching and in a week it was gone.
R.K. answers from Boston on November 11, 2010
There is a prescription shampoo that can be used you could always ask your pediatrician if you can try that first.
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