ABSTRACT
Pustular lesions on the scalp should always raise suspicion for and evaluation of tinea capitis. Lymphadenopathy is often present and can help to distinguish tinea capitis from other forms of patchy noninfectious alopecia, such as alopecia areata or the alopecia of lupus erythematosus. Culture via scalp brushings, swab, or collection of hair stubs (scraped from the follicular ostia) is important to document infection and guide therapy. Examining long, plucked hair shafts is fruitless-these hairs are not infected.
