Hillary Nguyen took to TikTok to share how she caught a fungal infection that has made her go bald, and urged people to make sure they’re cleaning the gym equipment before and after use
A gym enthusiast has issued a stark warning to fellow gym goers to always clean gym equipment before and after use, following her own nightmare experience that led to hair loss.
If you’re a regular at the gym, you’re likely familiar with the cleaning sprays and paper towels dotted around for patrons to wipe down machines post-workout. Although it was mandatory during the Covid pandemic, it seems many are now skipping the clean-up routine, which could have dire health consequences.
Hillary Nguyen took her story to TikTok, revealing how failing to clean gym gear resulted in her contracting a contagious fungal infection that caused her to lose her hair.
“If you aren’t wiping down every single piece of equipment before using it, you’re gonna wanna start,” she warned in her video, detailing her recent health scare.
“Three months ago, I discovered that I had scalp ringworm and it literally made me go bald,” Hillary said, recounting the emotional impact of seeing her thinning hair and rash, which she showed in a photo. She revealed she’d gone to see her doctor later that day, who confirmed the diagnosis after doing some tests.
“[The doctor] asked me if I go to the gym and I said ‘basically every day’, so that was most likely why,” Hillary revealed. “Luckily I caught it fast so all I had to do was to apply this ointment on it every day, but if the case is more serious you’re gonna have to take like an oral medication as well.”
She also mentioned that she uses Nizoral dandruff shampoo to wash her hair, a product that’s known to help treat and prevent the spread of fungal infections, according to the NHS.
Hillary then shared another photo of her scalp’s current state, saying: “This is what the spot looks like now, you can see the little baby hairs finally growing in, but it’s literally been three months and I’ve been applying this ointment every single day” and explained it could take at least six months for her hair to grow back properly.
“It looks so much better now, you can barely notice, but for a couple months I was super insecure about that bald spot. I used to be really lazy with wiping down equipment, but now I do it religiously because literally this sh*t can not happen to me again.”
Viewers were taken aback by Hillary’s experience, with many sharing how they’ll change their cleaning habits after hearing what she’d gone through.
“My gym doesn’t have sprays to clean equipment,” one person complained, which others quickly argued was a ‘red flag’ for a gym not to have.
“Unfortunately if you need to disinfect it before using it then you have to let it sit for the manufacturers time. Most of the time that’s 10 minutes. Sanitising helps, but disinfecting is so much better,” a second user shared.
Another chimed in with their personal precaution: “I bring my own Lysol wipes and wipe the machine before and after for this reason.”
The NHS outlines that the primary symptom of ringworm is a rash that might be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy, and can show up anywhere on the body, including the scalp, sometimes leading to patchy hair loss.
If you suspect you’ve got ringworm, it’s recommended to chat with a pharmacist who can suggest the right antifungal treatment.
