Q I keep getting grain-like pustules on my scalp and was told it's fungal folliculitis. I use antifungal shampoo regularly but it only helps temporarily. How is Korean medicine different?
A Antifungal shampoo reduces the fungi on the scalp surface, but the internal environment of excess sebum and accumulated damp-heat remains the same, so it tends to recur. Emptying that damp-heat from the inside is what can lengthen the intervals between flare-ups.
Detailed Answer
For folliculitis caused by fungi such as Malassezia, the basic treatment is to reduce the fungi with antifungal shampoos or ointments such as selenium sulfide or azole agents. However, if the scalp remains oily and prone to sweat and moisture, the fungi grow back, and it is common for the condition to improve and then recur in the same spot.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang, we identify, through pattern differentiation, the state in which heat and dampness gather toward the scalp, and treat it from the inside with herbal medicine that draws the heat downward and clears out waste. In addition to wiping away the surface fungi, our goal is to create a light, clean skin environment in which fungi struggle to multiply, thereby reducing recurrence.
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