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| Ringworm |
What is ringworm
of the skin?
Ringworm of the skin is an infection caused by a fungus.
Ringworm can affect skin on your body (tinea corporis), scalp
(tinea capitis), groin area (tinea cruris, also called jock
itch), or feet (tinea pedis, also called athlete's foot)
What causes ringworm?
Although the name suggests so, Ringworm is not caused by a worm. It is caused
by a fungus. The kinds of fungi that cause ringworm live and spread on the top
layer of the skin and on the hair. They grow best in warm, moist areas, such
as locker rooms and swimming pools, and in skin folds.
Ringworm is contagious. It spreads when you have skin-to-skin contact with a
person or animal that has it. It can also spread when you share things like towels,
clothing, or sports gear. |
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Symptoms of ringworm
Ringworm of the skin usually causes a very itchy rash. It often
makes a pattern in the shape of a ring, but not always. Sometimes
it is just a red, itchy rash.
Jock itch is a rash in the skin folds of the groin. It may also
spread to the inner thighs or buttocks.
Ringworm of the hand looks like athlete's foot. The skin on the
palm of the hand gets thick, dry, and scaly, while skin between
the fingers may be moist and have open sores. |
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Diagnosis
If you have a ring-shaped rash, you very likely have ringworm. Your doctor will
be able to tell for sure. He or she will probably look at a scraping from the
rash under a microscope to check for the ringworm fungus.
How is it treated?
Most ringworm of the skin can be treated at home with creams you can buy
without a prescription. Your rash may clear up soon after you start treatment,
but it’s
important to keep using the cream for as long as the label or your doctor says.
This will keep the infection from coming back. If the cream doesn't work, your
doctor can prescribe pills that will kill the fungus.
If ringworm is not treated, your skin could blister, and the cracks could become
infected with bacteria. If this happens, you will need antibiotics.
If your child is being treated for ringworm, you don't have to keep him or her
out of school or day care. |
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To prevent ringworm:
- Don't share clothing, sports gear, towels, or sheets. If
you think you have been exposed to
ringworm, wash your clothes in hot water with special anti-fungus
soap.
- Wear slippers or sandals in locker rooms and public bathing
areas.
- Shower and shampoo well after any sport that includes skin-to-skin
contact.
- Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Change your socks and
underwear at least once a day.
- Keep your skin clean and dry. Always dry yourself completely
after showers or baths.
- If you have athlete's foot, put your socks on before your
underwear so that fungi do not spread from your feet to your
groin.
- Take your pet to the vet if it has patches of missing hair,
which could be a sign of a fungal infection.
- Ringworm can come back. To prevent this, use talcum or other
drying powder on the affected area every day.
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