Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the top layer of skin and is not due to a worm or parasite despite its name. The medical terms are tinea and dermatophytosis. Other names for ringworm are based on its location on the body – for example, ringworm on the feet is also called athlete’s foot and ring worm on the groin or inner thigh area is referred to as jock itch. It can be found on other areas of the body such as the toenails or fingernails, scalp, beard, hands, arms and legs. Symptoms typically appear between 4 and 14 days after the skin comes in contact with the fungi that cause ringworm.
It causes an itchy and scaly, crusted rash that may appear as round rings or red patches on the skin. The patches tend to have sharply defined edges that are redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center. They may blister and ooze.
Other symptoms and signs of ringworm include patches of hair loss or scaling on the scalp, itching, and blister-like lesions. If ringworm affects your hair, you will have bald patches. If it affects your nails, they will become discolored, thick, and even crumble.
The fungi that cause this infection can live on skin, surfaces, and on household items such as clothing, towels, and bedding. It can even travel through the air making it highly contagious. Animals and humans can contract ringworm and symptoms for both are the same.
Ringworm can spread easily from one person to another. You can catch ringworm if you touch someone who has the infection, or if you come into contact with items contaminated by the fungus, such as combs, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. You can also catch ringworm from pets that carry the fungus. Cats are common carriers. The fungus that causes ringworm thrive in warm, moist areas. It is more likely when you are often wet (such as from sweating) and from minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails.
Ringworm can easily transfer from animals to humans but by taking the following steps to protect yourself and your pet, you can avoid it from spreading through your household.
• Don’t share clothing, towels, blankets or bedding with a person or pet that has ringworm.
• Keep your skin clean and dry.
• Change underwear and socks every day.
• Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying powders, lotions, or creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, or similar ingredients.
• Don’t wear clothing that rubs against and irritates the area.
• Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while you are infected.
Skin medicine usually treats ringworm within 4 weeks. If your ringworm infection is severe or it does not respond well to self-care, it will usually respond quickly to antifungal pills. Your health care provider may prescribe pills to treat the fungus if you have a severe case of ringworm, ringworm that keeps coming back or that lasts for a long time or ringworm in your hair. You may need medicines such as ketoconazole, which are stronger than over-the-counter products. You may also need antibiotics to treat skin infections from strep or staph that are caused by scratching the area.
You should call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a bacterial infection, which can result from scratching. These signs include swelling, warm skin, sudden worsening in redness of the patches, red streaking, pus, drainage, and fever. Also contact your doctor if you have ringworm on your scalp or beard, your skin does not improve after 4 weeks of self-care or the rash spreads and you have diabetes or a weakened immune system due to disease or certain medications.
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