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Ringworm Details

Ringworm (Dermatophytosis or Tinea):

Understand The - Symptoms, Causes, Tests & Treatment

Ringworm is a common skin disorder otherwise known as “tinea” or “dermatophytosis.” It is caused by a fungus that can live on skin, surfaces like locker room floors, and household items like towels, bedding, and clothes. The appearance of ringworm varies slightly depending on the area of the body affected. It commonly appears as a raised, scaly rash on the skin surface. The rash generally spreads outwards, forming a circular ring. Parts of the rash may form blisters that ooze infected pus.

It's A highly contagious fungal infection of the skin or scalp. The dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm can be transmitted to people by skin-to-skin contact with infected animals, soil, or other people. Dermatophyte fungi can also remain on surfaces touched by an infected individual, such as tiled floors, towels, or hairbrushes. The fungus itself remains in the cells of the top layer of skin (stratum corneum) until the infection is treated. Though children are especially susceptible to catching ringworm, it can affect adults as well.

Symptoms vary depending on where you’re infected. With a skin infection, you may experience the following:

Red, itchy, scaly, or raised patches
Patches that develop blisters or begin to ooze
Patches that may be redder on the outside edges or resemble a ring
Patches with edges that are defined and raised

If you’re experiencing dermatophytosis in your nails, they may become thicker or discolored, or they may begin to crack. If the scalp is affected, the hair around it may break or fall off, and bald patches may develop.

Ringworm attacks dead tissues in places like the hair, nails, and leftover dandruff. But our bodies’ immune reactions and local bacterial infections enable ringworm to turn healthy, living skin red and itchy.

What Causes Ringworm ?

Ringworm is more common in unsanitary and crowded places.

Three different types of fungi can cause this infection. They are called trichophyton, microsporum, and epidermophyton.

It’s possible that these fungi may live for an extended period as spores in soil. Humans and animals can contract ringworm after direct contact with this soil.

The infection can also spread through contact with infected animals or humans.

The infection is commonly spread among children and by sharing items that may not be clean.

Who is at risk for ringworm?

Anyone can develop ringworm. However, the infection is very common among children and people who own pet cats. Both cats and dogs can catch ringworm and then pass it on to humans who touch them.

You may be more likely to develop dermatophytosis if you come into contact with the fungi while you’re wet or if you have minor skin injuries or abrasions. Using a public shower or public pool areas may also expose you to the infective fungi.

If you’re often barefoot, you may develop ringworm of the feet (athlete’s foot). Those who often share items such as hairbrushes or unwashed clothing also have an increased risk of developing the infection.

Different Types Of Ringworm

Ringworm can go by different names depending on the part of the body affected.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) often starts as small sores that develop into itchy, scaly bald patches.

This fungal infection is most common among children. generally affects school-age children and may spread in schools.

It appears as scalp scaling associated with bald spots usually showing broken-off hairs.

Oral antibiotics are needed to penetrate the hair roots and cure the infection after which hair grows back.

Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)

Tinea corporis refers to ringworm of the trunk, legs, or arms. Different fungi cause tinea corporis in different parts of the world.

One of the most distinctive signs of tinea corporis (ringworm) is the appearance of an itchy, red, circular rash in the shape of a ring. This rash may resemble a target or a bullseye, and it usually has raised edges. Finding one of these is a helpful way to distinguish this rash from other even more common rashes such as eczema.

Eczema and other rashes may appear similar to ringworm, but they require very different treatment.

Acute and Chronic Ringworm of the Body

Tinea corporis can be acute or chronic. When acute, the fungus causes suddenly appearing, itchy, red patches that may fill with pus and spread rapidly. When chronic, tinea corporis spreads by slightly inflamed rashes more slowly, and tends to appear in body folds. Widespread chronic tinea corporis is harder to treat and is more likely to reappear.

Jock itch (tinea cruris)

Another itchy problem is tinea cruris, more commonly known as jock itch.

Most common among adult men, tinea cruris causes a scaly, reddish-brown rash with raised borders to form down the inner thighs. Sometimes ring-like rashes form on the buttocks as well.

This infection is unlikely to form on the penis or vulva, or around the anus.

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is the common name for ringworm infection of the foot. It is frequently seen in people who go barefoot in public places where the infection can spread, such as locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools. Tinea pedis is most often found on the feet of young adult men.

If you have tinea pedis, the good news is you’re not alone. This is the most common form of ringworm in humans. The bad news? It’s also the most difficult to treat.

Ringworm on the foot can appear with several different types of symptoms, including:

Athletes are more likely to get athlete’s foot because they fall into many categories at risk for this infection, including:

Ringworm of the Beard (Tinea Barbae)

Like certain forms of ringworm of the scalp, tinea barbae infects the hair itself on a man’s face. Beards and moustaches make fertile feeding grounds for the fungi responsible for tinea barbae. In the days when men frequently stopped by the barber shop for a shave, this disease was once commonly spread by barbers with unsanitary practices.

Today, tinea barbae is most common among farmers. Two of the fungi most commonly responsible for the condition, T. verrucosum and T. mentagrophytes, are carried by cattle and horses, respectively.

Common symptoms of tinea barbae include:

Tinea barbae can appear on the face or neck.

Ringworm of the Nails (Tinea Unguium)

Tinea unguium is usually caused by one of two fungi: Trichophyton rubrum or T. interdigitale. Although tinea unguium can refer to fungal infection of the fingernails or toenails, toenails are much more likely to contract this disease. Those especially prone to ringworm of the nails include men, older adults, diabetics, people with peripheral vascular disease, or anyone with a compromised immune system.

Some of the symptoms of tinea unguium include:

Ringworm of the Face (Tinea Faciei)

Tinea faciei refers to ringworm infections on the face. This is an uncommon infection, and it can arise from contact with several sources, including:

Some of the common features of tinea faciei include patches that are:

Perhaps because it is uncommon, tinea faciei is often misdiagnosed as psoriasis, rosacea, contact allergic dermatitis, or many other non-fungal skin conditions.

Ringworm of the Hand (Tinea Manuum)

Tinea manuum finds its way onto human hands through either soil, animals, or human contact. This form of ringworm is fairly uncommon and frequently confused with other skin conditions.

Symptoms of tinea manuum may include:

How Ringworm is Diagnosed

Your doctor will diagnose ringworm by examining your skin and possibly using a black light to view your skin in the affected area. The fungus will fluoresce (glow) under black light. If you’re infected, the areas of the skin where fungus is located will glow. Your doctor may confirm a suspected diagnosis of ringworm by requesting certain tests:

Skin biopsy or fungal culture
If you’re getting either a skin biopsy or fungal culture, your doctor will take a sample of your skin or discharge from a blister and send it to a lab to test it for the presence of fungus. Doctor may recommend both medications and lifestyle adjustments to treat ringworm.

KOH exam
If you’re getting a KOH exam, your doctor will scrape off a small area of infected skin and place it in potassium hydroxide (KOH). The KOH destroys normal cells and leaves the fungal cells untouched, so they’re easy to see under a microscope.

Treatment Of Ringworm

Fungal diseases like ringworm are more difficult to treat than bacterial infection. That’s because fungus have more complicated cells which are more similar to our own. This makes it difficult to develop antifungal drugs that will kill the fungus, but do no harm to humans.

As a result, long-term topical and oral treatments are necessary, and they may not be 100 percent effective. Even after the infection appears to have disappeared, once ringworm appears once it is more likely to reoccur.

How to Get Rid of Ringworm

Ringworm can be treated topically with antifungal creams containing:

Clotrimazole (Cruex, Desenex, Lotrimin),
Miconazole (Monistat-Derm),
Ketoconazole (Nizoral), and
Terbinafine (Lamisil).

In severe or resistant infections on the scalp or nails, oral medications are necessary, such as:

Terbinafine,
Itraconazole (Sporanox), and
Fluconazole (Diflucan).

Who is at risk for ringworm?

Ringworm is a very common infection, and anyone can contract it. There are some people who are especially prone to infection, though. Anyone with a compromised immune system is both at a higher risk of being infected by ringworm and will have a harder time fighting off an infection. People who use public locker rooms, showers, swimming pools, and similar communal areas that are hot and humid are also at greater risk.
Athletes risk infection because they tend to sweat, and their athletic equipment sometimes traps moisture close to the skin. Athletes who make a lot of skin-to-skin contact, such as wrestlers and MMA fighters, are particularly prone to skin infections like ringworm. People who spend a lot of time with animals—farmers, veterinarians, and dog groomers, for example—are also at greater risk of making contact with the fungi that cause ringworm.
Anyone can develop ringworm. However, the infection is very common among children and people who own pet cats. Both cats and dogs can catch ringworm and then pass it on to humans who touch them. Signs to be aware of in pets include:
hairless patches of skin that appear circular
crusty or scaly patches
patches that may not be completely hairless but have brittle or broken hairs
opaque or whitish areas around the claws

Preventing ringworm

You can prevent ringworm by practicing healthy and hygienic behaviors. Many infections come from contact with animals and lack of proper hygiene. Tips to avoid ringworm include:

Wash your hands after interacting with an animal
Disinfect and clean pet living areas
Avoid people or animals with ringworm if you have a weakened immune system
Shower and shampoo your hair regularly
Wear shoes if showering in community areas
Avoid sharing personal items like clothing or hairbrushes with people who might have ringworm
Keep your feet clean and dry

Ringworm Prevention (Avoid)

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