Warning as common gym habit leaves young woman ‘bald’
An expert has explained why a young woman lost her hair after attending the gym every day to work out.
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A woman has shared a “PSA” for gymgoers after she discovered an awful side-effect of using dirty equipment – and experts warn it is more “common” than you think.
Hillary Nguyen trains almost every day, but when she developed a lesion on her scalp that caused her hair to falling out, she never imagined her daily gym habit was behind it.
After seeking treatment from her doctor, Ms Nguyen discovered she’d contracted ringworm, a fungal infection that can cause itching and a rash.
It spreads by skin-to-skin contact or from touching objects and surfaces that have been infected.
In Ms Nguyen’s case, her doctor said she likely picked it up from unsanitised equipment at the gym, prompting the 26-year-old to issue a public warning.
“PSA to all my gym girlies, if you’re not wiping down every single piece of equipment before you use it you’re gonna want to start,” she said in a video that has since gone viral.
“Three months ago I discovered that I had scalp wing worm and it literally made go bald.”
She then shared several photos of her scalp, exposing a bald patch near the front of her head.
“That same day I went to the doctor’s and they did a black light test on me and that’s how they discovered that it was ringworm.
“She asked me if I go to the gym and I said basically every day, so that was most likely why.”
Her warning left many shocked, as others explained they had “never heard of ringworm on the scalp”.
Jaye Edwards, owner and founder of Australian hair-salon chain EdwardsAndCo, advised that the skin on our scalps is often forgotten – but just as important as it is on the rest of our bodies.
“Your scalp can contract germs and infections in so many different ways. Fungal infections can be contracted through something as simple as contaminated surfaces e.g., towels, combs, or gym equipment,” the celebrity hairstylist told news.com.au.
“Scalp injuries like cuts or burns, can introduce bacteria, infecting the hair follicles and enter the skin.
“The infection weakens hair strands, causing increased breakage.”
However, the hair care expert stressed that there are steps that can be taken to avoid contracting scalp infections as well as options for those who experience hair loss.
“Contracting germs via your scalp can be preventable by practising scalp health,” Mr Edwards explained.
“Regular scalp care, including gentle cleansing, exfoliation, and hydrating treatments, supports a healthy microbiome, prevents build-up, and ensures hair follicles stay nourished.”
If you contract a scalp infection, whether it be fungal or bacterial, Mr Edwards advised medical assistance would be required.
“The most important thing is to treat the infection first. Once the infection is cleared, start looking at hair growth treatments to help stimulate hair regrowth,” he said.
“Be gentle with your hair and scalp. Avoid tight hairstyles, excessive heat styling, or harsh chemical treatments that could further damage the follicles.
“Lastly, hair regrowth after infection can take several months, so be patient.”
In another video, Ms Nguyen said that her scalp improved after three months of treatment, but she said she’s now super cautious with gym hygiene.
“New fear unlocked, OMG, I’ll be extra vigilant at the gym now,” one person replied.
“Thank you for this warning, I’ve never thought about that, so scary,” another agreed.
As one wrote: “I work in a dermatology and we see many ring worm that were encountered at the gym. Cleaning the equipment before and after helps.”
Recent studies have shown that some gym equipment harbours 362 times more germs than the average toilet seat. The biggest culprits include exercise mats and dumbbells but experts have warned that anywhere there’s sweat, there are likely germs.
“By far, the most germ-rich areas in any gym are places that are warm and wet – such as saunas, showers, swimming pools or hot tubs,” Dr Primrose Freestone, an Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester, wrote for The Conversation.
“The most common disease-causing bacteria found in gym germ profiling studies were those that cause skin infections – such as Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria which can cause MRSA.
“Stomach infections are also a risk, as pathogens such as Salmonella (which cause sickness, diarrhoea and vomiting) have been found on gym equipment.”
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