Ringworm is a fungal infection that can be found on the skin, scalp or nails. It’s called ringworm because it often looks like a worm under the skin, but it isn’t actually a worm. Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread easily through contact with an infected person or animal or by touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
Symptoms may vary depending on where the infection is located, but the most common signs are patches of red and inflamed skin that form a ring shape.
Ringworm is not difficult to treat. Over-the-counter antifungal creams and powders usually clear up the infection within 4 weeks, though you may need to apply them for longer if symptoms do not disappear after one week of treatment.
If the rash does not go away with over-the-counter medications, your doctor may prescribe stronger antifungal ointments or pills.
You can reduce your risk of ringworm by washing bedding often in hot water and keeping your body clean and dry, especially in areas where heat and sweat build up (under arms, groin area).
Ringworm is a fungal infection caused by mold-like parasites that live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin. They don’t have anything to do with worms, despite their name.
Ringworm can show up in many places on your body, including your groin, feet, scalp, and nails. It causes a red, itchy rash that can look like a ring. It’s called tinea corporis when it’s on your body and tinea cruris when it’s in your groin.
The infection is highly contagious and spreads easily from person to person. Some people are more prone to getting it than others.
Treatment for ringworm depends on where it is on your body and how severe it is. Options include antifungal medications and home remedies to relieve itching and prevent the spread of ringworm.
Ringworm is a skin condition caused by fungus. It can affect anyone, but is more common in children. This skin problem causes circular patches of hair loss on the head, eyebrows and eyelashes. It can also cause red rashes on the skin and scaly patches that are reddish brown in color.
Ringworm is not caused by worms. The name comes from the way the rash looks-like a worm is under the skin. The medical term for ringworm is tinea. The name depends on where it appears on the body:
Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
Jock itch (tinea cruris)
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)
Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)
Ringworm is a common fungal infection that can affect the scalp (tinea capitis), beard area (tinea barbae), or body (tinea corporis). It is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. The fungi grow on the top layer of the skin and feed on keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails.
Although ringworm is a contagious disease, it can be treated at home using antifungal ointments or creams. Some types of ringworm will disappear without treatment, but they can last for months if they are not treated.
The technical name for ringworm of the scalp is tinea capitis, which literally means “worm infection of the head.” However, it is not caused by worms. It is caused by fungal infections from the group of fungi known as dermatophytes. These fungi thrive in warm and moist places like locker rooms and swimming pools. They do not require sunlight to survive, so they are also common in places like movie theaters or airplanes where you may be sitting close to someone else for a long period of time.
Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. It gets its name from the ring-shaped rash it can cause, but not all people who get ringworm will show this symptom. The fungus that causes ringworm thrives in warm, moist areas. Ringworm is contagious and can spread easily through direct contact or through contaminated items or surfaces.
You may see your doctor if you suspect you have ringworm. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and inspect your skin to make a diagnosis of ringworm. Your doctor will most likely prescribe antifungal medication to treat the infection, but these may be taken orally or applied topically.
Over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams are effective for treating mild cases of ringworm, such as jock itch and athlete’s foot. But you should see your doctor if OTC treatments don’t improve symptoms after four weeks or if you suspect the infection has spread beyond the skin’s surface.
Ringworm is a common skin infection that is caused by a fungus. The official medical term for ringworm on the body is tinea corporis.
Ringworm is not caused by a worm, but by a mold-like fungus (a dermatophyte) that grows on the dead tissues of the skin, hair, and nails. In fact, there are many different types of fungi that can cause ringworm.
The fungi that cause ringworm live in moist areas including soil, locker rooms, and swimming pools. They can be spread from person to person and from one part of the body to another.
Ringworm can also be spread by touching infected pets and livestock. Animals with ringworm might have redness or scaly patches on their skin or fur. They may also lose some fur in the affected areas, which may look inflamed or crusty. Some animals itch more than others do but they usually carry the infection even if they don’t have any symptoms themselves.
You can catch ringworm even if you don’t get near an infected animal because the fungus that causes it can live in soil for years before it finds a host to infect.
What Does Ringworm Look Like?
Ringworm produces a red, circular, flat rash that may be
Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection that can be transmitted from person to person, or from pets to people. It can also spread by sharing items such as towels and clothing, or by touching an infected surface. Ringworm has nothing to do with worms. Instead, it’s a skin infection caused by a fungus.
Many types of fungi live on the dead tissues of the skin, hair and nails. These are called dermatophytes. Dermatophyte fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. They live off the keratin protein found in your skin, hair and nails.
The name “ringworm” comes from the ring-like rash that develops when a person is infected with the fungus. The rash may be red or silvery in color and may have raised edges that protect the center of the rash from air exposure, which can help kill off the fungus.