Pennsylvania Barber Licensure Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your Licensing Success!

A common sign of fungal infection in the scalp is redness and scaling. This symptom typically indicates an inflammatory response, which is a reaction to the presence of the fungus on the skin. When a fungal infection occurs, it can disrupt the normal barrier function of the skin and lead to irritation, resulting in redness. The scaling is a consequence of skin cell turnover being altered by the infection, causing flakes to appear on the scalp.

In contrast, excessive oiliness is usually associated with conditions like seborrheic dermatitis or other sebaceous gland-related issues, rather than a direct fungal infection. Dryness and split ends are more indicative of a lack of moisture and are not specifically linked to fungal infections. Thinning hair can result from a variety of factors including genetics or stress, but it is not a direct sign of a fungal infection in the scalp. Thus, redness and scaling are clear, identifiable symptoms that align more directly with fungal infections, making this the correct choice.