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Everything You Need To Know About Ringworm
lemaster • August 11, 2020
Everything You Need To Know About Ringworm
Do you have an itchy, red, and circular rash? While you might associate the shape with the bullseye rash of Lyme disease, the discolored spot may point to another issue - ringworm. If you're not sure what type of rash you have, take a look at these top ringworm questions.
Is Ringworm a Worm?
Even though the name has the word in it, ringworm is not a worm. Unlike tapeworms, pinworms, and other parasites, ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the skin. While the name is somewhat misleading, it comes from the shape of the rash and not the cause of the skin condition. The rash has a characteristic ring shape with a raised worm-like border.
Where on the Body Can You Get Ringworm?
Ringworm can develop in different areas of the body. Tinea corporis is the medical term for general ringworm of the body. This may include the legs, arms, buttocks, or trunk or chest areas. Along with tinea corporis, ringworm infections also include tinea cruris (also known as jock itch), tinea pedis (athlete's foot), or tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp).
How Do You Get Ringworm?
Again, this isn't a parasitic infection. This means a worm won't give you ringworm. Instead, people and some animals spread this fungal infection. Ringworm requires direct contact with the skin of the infected person or animal or direct contact with an object infected by a person or animal (such as towels, bed linens, or a pet's bed).
While less common, you can get ringworm from contaminated soil. This type of transmission requires prolonged contact with the soil.
Can You Prevent Ringworm?
This fungal infection is highly contagious. An infected person or animal can pass it on before symptoms become noticeable. This makes prevention a challenge.
To reduce the risks of ringworm, stay away from infected people or animals. Close contact during some types of sports (such as wrestling) or the use of someone else's towel, bed linens, or personal care products such as combs and brushes can also spread the infection. Never share these items with a potentially infected person.
Moisture can also increase the spread of ringworm. If the weather is warm, you're active, or you sweat a lot, bathe and change your clothes regularly. While this won't completely eliminate the risk, a dry environment makes it harder for the fungus to grow or spread.
What Are the Symptoms of Ringworm?
Do you have ringworm? The telltale red or pink ring-shaped rash is the first sign of an infection. The inside area of the rash may look scaly or have red bumps. Even though the rash is round, the border is often irregular or wavy. If you don't have a perfect ring, you could still have ringworm.
A ringworm rash on the groin, soles of the feet, or palms of the hands may not have a circle shape. These rashes may still look red or pinkish and itch.
How Should You Treat Ringworm?
Diagnosis is the first step towards treatment. If you suspect a ringworm infection, call the dermatologist for an exam. A round, raised, or red rash could indicate another type of infection (such as Lyme disease) or an allergic reaction.
If the dermatologist does diagnose you with ringworm, they'll prescribe or recommend an antifungal treatment. Over-the-counter antifungal creams can typically treat athlete's foot or jock itch effectively. These include ingredients such as clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, and ketoconazole.
Severe ringworm infections and tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) may require a prescription treatment. Instead of a topical treatment, the doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal medication.
Do you have ringworm concerns? Contact Spartanburg Dermatology & Skin Surgery Clinic, P.C., for more information.
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