Ringworm: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Images, and More

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If you've been diagnosed with ringworm, you may be wondering how you got infected with a worm. The answer: You didn't. Ringworm isn't actually a worm. It's a fungus.

Ringworm is very contagious and spreads easily. But the good news is that treating ringworm is usually easy. Here, we cover everything you need to know about ringworm and how to get rid of this itchy rash fast.

What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a common skin infection. It's caused by a fungus, not a worm. Ringworm gets its name from the fact that it causes a red, violet, or brown itchy rash in the shape of a circular ring. You can get ringworm anywhere on your body.

Types of ringworm

The medical term for ringworm is "tinea," followed by where on the body the infection happens. You might hear ringworm called:

• Tinea corporis: Ringworm on the trunk, back, arms, and legs

• Tinea pedis: Ringworm of the feet, also called "athlete's foot"

• Tinea cruris: Ringworm of the groin, also called "jock itch"

• Tinea capitis:Ringworm of the scalp, a difficult type of ringworm to treat

• Tinea barbae: Ringworm in the beard area

• Tinea faciei: Ringworm on the face

• Tinea manuum: Ringworm on the hand

• Tinea unguium or onychomycosis: Ringworm of the nails

What does ringworm look like?

Ringworm can look a little different depending on where it is. Here's what it looks like on different body parts.

Tinea corporis

On the skin of the trunk, back, arms and legs,ringworm usually looks like a raised, ring-shaped rash. Depending on your skin tone, it can be red or pink (in fairer skin) or brown, violet, or gray (in darker skin). The skin usually looks cracked or scaly, and you may notice some bumps inside the ring.

Ringworm on the arm (tinea corporis).

Tinea pedis

On the feet, ringworm causes a scaly red, brown, or gray rash. It can appear on the bottom and sides of the feet and in between the toes. Sometimes there are open sores or blisters.

Ringworm on the feet (athlete's foot or tinea pedis).

Tinea cruris

Ringworm in the groin causes skin color changes, scaling, and small bumps. These can also appear on the upper thighs.

Ringworm in the groin (jock itch or tinea cruris).

Tinea capitis

On the scalp, ringworm can have a red, brown, or gray scaly rash. It can also cause patches of temporary hair loss.

Ringworm on the scalp (tinea capitis) with hair loss.

Tinea barbae

In the beard area of the face, ringworm can cause a red, brown, or gray scaly rash. It can also cause patches of temporary hair loss, similar to ringworm of the scalp.

Ringworm in the beard area (tinea barbae).

Tinea faciei

Ringworm on the face looks similar to ringworm on the body. The rash is usually round, scaly, and red, brown, or gray, depending on skin tone.

Ringworm on the face (tinea faceii).

Tinea manuum

On the palms of the hands, ringworm causes dryness and peeling. Ringworm on the back of the hand can look like tinea corporis.

Ringworm on the hand (tinea manuum).

Tinea unguium (onychomycosis)

On the nails, ringworm causes thickening, deformation, and discoloration.

Ringworm on the toenails (onychomycosis).

How do you get ringworm?

Ringworm is caused by different types of fungi that infect the skin. These fungi live off keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails. Animals - including dogs and cats - also have keratin in their skin and hair. So, they can get ringworm, too.

You can get ringworm a few different ways, including from:

• Other people: If someone has an infection and you touch their ringworm, you can pick up the fungus.

• Pets: You can pick up ringworm by touching a pet's infection. Puppies and kittens are more likely to have ringworm than adult pets. Other animals - including cows, goats, pigs, and horses - can also get ringworm.

• Objects: Since the fungus can live on objects, you can get ringworm if you touch something that has the fungus on it. Fungi prefer moist and warm areas, like towels, shower floors, and gym mats and equipment.

• Soil: The fungi can pass from animals - or people who walk barefoot - into soil. If you come in contact with infected soil, you can pick up ringworm. This isn't a common way to get ringworm, though.

• Yourself: If you have ringworm on one part of your body, you can spread it to another part.

Ringworm risk factors

Ringworm can affect anyone, but some people are more likely to get it. This includes:

• Children and older adults

• People with a weakened immune system

• People in close contact with infected animals (especially puppies and kittens)

• People with diabetes (and people with diabetes are more likely to have ringworm of the nails)

• People who play sports that involve skin-to-skin contact (like wrestling)

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

In addition to the rash discussed above, ringworm can have other symptoms. These may be mild to start. But, as ringworm spreads or gets worse, symptoms can get worse.

Common symptoms of ringworm include:

• Itching (which can be intense)

• Burning, stinging, or peeling (in tinea pedis)

• Blisters or painful cracking (in tinea pedis)

• Thick, discolored, or deformed nails (in onychomycosis)

• Foul odor (in tinea pedis)

• Hair loss (on the scalp or beard)

What are the best treatments for ringworm?

Most of the time, ringworm can be treated with antifungal cream. These creams are available over the counter (OTC) without a prescription.

Popular OTC creams include:

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Clotrimazole 3)

• Miconazole (Monistat)

• Terbinafine (Lamisil AT)

• Tolnaftate (Tinactin)

• Butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra)

These creams are applied directly to the ringworm once or twice a day until the rash goes away. There's no evidence that one type of cream is better than the other, so use whichever one you like best. If you've had ringworm before and did well with one cream, you can keep using it.

It's important to keep in mind that nystatin, which can treat other types of fungal infections, doesn't work against ringworm.

Fungal creams don't work against tinea capitis or onychomycosis. Ringworm in the scalp or on the nails requires treatment with medications that are taken by mouth.

If your rash doesn't go away after 2 weeks, see a healthcare professional. You might need a prescription-strength cream or to take a medication by mouth to treat your ringworm.

How do I get rid of ringworm fast?

In addition to using antifungal cream, these steps can help get rid of ringworm fast:

• Try to minimize sweating.

• Avoid wearing tight-fitted clothing or tight shoes.

• Change your socks frequently, if you have athlete's foot.

• Wash towels, clothing, and any items that come in contact with your ringworm after one use.

• Wash your hands with soap and water anytime you touch your ringworm or apply antifungal cream.

How can I prevent ringworm?

To prevent getting ringworm, you can:

• Avoid walking barefoot in public spaces (especially showers).

• Avoid sharing items with someone who has ringworm.

• Wash your hands with soap and running water immediately after contact with animals.

• Shower immediately after contact sports.

• Keep sports gear clean.

• Avoid sharing helmets or combs.

Frequently asked questions

Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).

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