A venue for strengthening the body and mind can quickly and unexpectedly become a danger zone. A physically active and generally healthy woman, Hillary Nguyen (@xhillarynguyen), experienced sudden (and unwelcome) hair loss. Eventually, she was able to connect it to a ringworm infection contracted at the gym.

Ramos M. ‘OK im scared’: Woman goes to the gym. Then she starts going bald for this strange reason. Daily Dot. January 19, 2025.

While gyms may be the perfect breeding grounds for fungal infections, given their warm, moist environments (and given the risk of unclean equipment), sudden hair loss is an unexpected symptom of trying to live a healthy lifestyle. 

When healthy becomes harmful

This is true not only of fungal infections like ringworm but also of many other types of pathogens, including respiratory pathogens. 

“Sweating and room temperature heat on bodies helps pathogens grow,”  Sharon Nachman, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, tells MDLinx.  Gymgoers can also contract bacterial infections like Staph aureus, viral infections like herpes, and fungal infections like ringworm from using gym equipment, she added. 

The good news, as Dr. Nachman explains, is that “ringworm is a very slow-growing fungal infection, and early diagnosis and treatment can prevent it from spreading on the head (to the point of complete balding) and to other parts of the body.” 

Hair loss risk

Gym goers who have been lucky enough, so far, to escape contracting ringworm or other infections can take certain precautions to assure this doesn’t happen. Basic hygiene practices are key.

The best way to resist ringworm is to keep the body and the surfaces it touches as clean as possible, according to Thomas Pontinen, MD, LCP-C, o-founder of Midwest Anesthesia and Pain Specialists. 

Dr Pontinen advises patients: “Do not sit or lay on any gym equipment until you’ve wiped it down with sanitary spray, usually provided by the gym. Wash your hands when you’re done with your workout with warm water and soap, and do not touch your face or skin with your hands during your workout. If you can, frequent the gym during off hours when fewer people are indoors.”  

Dr Patel echoes Dr Pontinen’s advice, adding that “the best way to reduce the risk of contracting is to clean down equipment, especially places with high-touch areas such as the handlebars, kettlebells, and gym seats, before and after exercising.” He also advises wearing closed-toed shoes, covering all open cuts or abrasions with a band-aid, showering after exercising, and changing undergarments and all other clothing afterwards.