Tinea capitis is a fungal infection of the scalp and hair that can arise from different genera of dermatophytes, e.g., Microsporum and Trichophyton, depending on the soil, people, and location.
Tinea capitis in general is much more prevalent in prepubescent children with spontaneous remissions that can occur at puberty, as surface lipids in the adult skin may serve to inhibit fungal growth. Most adult cases occur in individuals over 60 years of age. However, the exact reason for this fact is not entirely clear.