Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp, eyebrows, and eyelashes. It tends to affect the fair shafts and follicles.
It presents with flaky skin and hair loss; there are black dots where hairs have broken; there can be a kerion (an abscess); there can be favus (yellow crusts). Patients experience itching and dryness often with hair loss.
Treatment is with oral anti-fungal medications (such as griseofulvin or terbinafine). It is important to check all the other family members too and treat where appropriate.