Ringworm: Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & How to Identify
Ringworm is a common and widespread fungal infection that can affect both humans and animals. If you are experiencing an itchy red ring-shaped rash on the skin, you must consider consulting a dermatologist.
In this guide, get to know about the causes, symptoms and treatments of ringworm. Also, we wil help you identify it, so stay till the end.
Ringworm gets its name because of its appearance; it has nothing to do with a worm. It usually appears as a circular rash with clear skin in the middle.
Ringworm: Where it Appears and Causes
Ringworm can appear on the skin, scalp, feet, groin, nails, and beard area, typically as an itchy, red, and scaly rash. It is caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes that thrive in warm, moist environments and can spread through direct contact with infected people, animals, or contaminated objects and surfaces. Here are some of the causes:
- Skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or touching an infected animal, such as a cat, dog, cow, or pig, can cause ringworm. You need to avoid direct contact with that person or animal.
- Contact with contaminated items like clothing, towels, bedding, brushes, or combs can also lead to ringworm.
- Touching surfaces where the fungi can live, such as in damp areas like locker room floors.
- ungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so excessive sweating and wearing tight clothing can increase risk.
These environmental factors and other things need to be considered when looking for ringworm. Do consult a specialist and inform them.
Ringworm: Symptoms and Treatments
| Symptms | Treatments |
| A ring-like rash with raised, scaly borders and a clearer or scaly centre is the most common sign. On lighter skin, it appears red, while on darker skin, it can look purplish, brown, or greyish. Itching, redness, and bald patches where hair has broken off at or near the scalp. You may also see small black dots where the hair has broken off, and the hair can become brittle. The borders of the rash are often slightly raised and can expand outward. The skin within the rash and along the edges may appear dry, scaly, or flaky. | Because ringworm is a fungal infection, several non-prescription and prescription antifungal medications are available to treat it. Here are some treatment options available for ringworm: Over-the-counter antifungal creams, gels or powders typically work for it. These can include clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, and tolnaftate. If symptoms get worse or don’t clear after two weeks, you need an oral prescription medication from the healthcare provider. Antifungal shampoos can help with ringworm, especially when it is on the scalp, but they are not a cure on their own and work best when combined with oral medication for scalp ringworm. The shampoo helps reduce symptoms and, importantly, prevents the fungus from spreading to other people in the household. Oral medication is used for ringworm, especially for severe, widespread, or scalp and nail infections that don’t respond to topical creams. Prescription oral antifungal medications like terbinafine, griseofulvin, itraconazole, and fluconazole can be very effective. |
FAQs: Ringworm Diagnosis and More
Q1. Is ringworm related to skin cancer?
No, a typical ringworm infection (tinea) is not a direct cause of skin cancer. However, there are two rare and indirect connections.
Q2. Can skin cancer surgery lead to ringworm development?
No, skin cancer surgery does not directly lead to ringworm development, but a compromised immune system from the cancer or its treatment, or improper wound care after surgery, can increase the risk of a fungal infection like ringworm.
Q3. How is ringworm diagnosed?
Ringworm is diagnosed through a visual inspection by a healthcare provider, who may also use a Wood’s lamp to check for a specific fluorescence under UV light. To confirm the diagnosis, healthcare professionals often take a skin scraping, nail clipping, or hair sample for examination under a microscope or to send for a fungal culture, which can identify the specific fungus causing the infection.
Q4. Can steroid creams treat ringworm?
No, steroid creams should not be used to treat ringworm because they can worsen the infection by suppressing the immune system and allowing the fungus to spread. Steroid creams may temporarily reduce itching and redness, but they do not kill the fungus, and they can make the infection spread to larger areas.
Final Thoughts
SCCQ specialists understand your skin requirements and the changes it is going through. You need a dermatologist who better understands the ringworm and its connection with other infections. It is better to consult a specialist at SCCQ for better diagnoses and treatment. Do not confuse ringworm with a worm.
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