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09/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2024 12:45

How Long Is Ringworm Contagious

Key takeaways:

  • Ringworm is a contagious infection caused by a fungus that lives on the skin. It can spread between people, between people and pets, and by touching an infected surface.

  • Ringworm stops being contagious after 48 hours of antifungal treatment. Treatment options include topical creams or oral medication.

  • Without treatment, people are contagious until the ringworm rash goes away. This can take up to 3 weeks, although treatment is usually needed to clear ringworm.

alejandrophotography/iStock via Getty Images Plus

If you, a family member, or your pet has ringworm, you might wonder how you can keep it from spreading to the rest of your household. Ringworm is very contagious. But there are ways and treatments to keep it from spreading.

What is ringworm?

Ringworm (tinea) is a common skin infection. It's caused by a fungus, not a worm. You can get ringworm anywhere on your body. But the rash might look different depending on where it is.

The rash is usually very itchy. It might also be slightly raised and flaky and colored red, gray, or brown. It's usually a circular or round shape, but it doesn't have to be.

Some types of ringworm include:

Sometimes, the fungus that causes ringworm gets into your fingernails and toenails. This can lead to fungal nail infection (onychomycosis).

Pictures of ringworm

These pictures of ringworm can help you know what to look for.

Ringworm on the arm.
Several patches of ringworm on the arm.
Scalp ringworm with temporary hair loss.
Ringworm on the feet and in between the toes (athlete's foot).

Is ringworm easy to catch? How contagious is it?

Ringworm is very contagious.

It can spread from person to person very easily. It's one of the few fungi that infects both animals and people in the same way. So, you can pick up ringworm not only from other people but also your cat or dog. And your pets can get it from you and other animals.

You can also spread ringworm on yourself. For example, if you have jock itch, scratch it, and then touch other parts of your body, you can spread the fungus to other parts of your skin. Because ringworm is so contagious, some people end up with ringworm in many spots.

How long is ringworm contagious?

It depends.

Once you start treatment for ringworm, you stop being contagious after 48 hours. It'll take longer for your rash to completely heal and disappear. But with treatment, you quickly stop being contagious to yourself and others.

If you don't start treatment, you'll be able to spread ringworm to others and to yourself until the rash completely goes away. This can take weeks or even months. And that's if it goes away at all. Ringworm doesn't always go away on its own without treatment.

Whether or not you choose to treat your ringworm, you don't have to stay home from work or school. But you need to keep the area covered to make sure someone doesn't accidentally come in contact with it. Depending on where the ringworm is, you might not be able to do this very easily.

If your job or activities involve skin-to-skin contact, you may not be able to go back until you start treatment.

How does ringworm spread?

Ringworm spreads by coming into contact with something or someone that has the fungus. Here are the main ways ringworm spreads:

  • Person to person: skin-to-skin contact with someone else who has it

  • Personal spread: from one part of your body to another through touch

  • Animal to person: petting or cuddling an infected animal (like a cat)

  • Soil to person: prolonged contact with infected soil

  • Object to person: contact with an infected object or surface, like a brush, towel, or floor; in warm, moist environments, ringworm can survive for up to a year or longer.

How can you stop ringworm from spreading?

The best way to keep ringworm from spreading is to prevent getting it in the first place. Here are some tips to prevent ringworm:

  • Keep your skin clean and dry, especially in common places for ringworm (like your feet).

  • Change socks and underwear every day and wear clean clothes.

  • Wash your hands after petting an animal or coming into contact with ringworm.

  • Treat any pets that have ringworm.

  • Don't share personal items, like clothes, towels, or hair brushes.

  • Wear flip-flops or water shoes in locker rooms and public showers.

  • Wash any clothing or towels that have touched ringworm with a hot setting.

  • Shower immediately after any contact sports (like wrestling).

  • Treat any ringworm on your body and wash your hands after touching it.

  • Disinfect any surfaces that have come into contact with ringworm.

Frequently asked questions

Is jock itch contagious?
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Yes, jock itch is contagious. It can spread to other parts of your body and to other people. To keep it from spreading, treat it with antifungal creams, wear loose clothing, and keep the area clean and dry.

Is it safe to be around someone with ringworm?
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Yes, it's perfectly safe to be around someone with ringworm. To avoid catching it, don't touch the ringworm directly. If you do touch it, wash your hands right away.

What ringworm medication is best?
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Ringworm can usually be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams. These are usually applied once or twice a day until the rash goes away. Ringworm in the scalp or on the nails usually requires prescription-strength antifungal pills.

The bottom line

Ringworm is a common skin infection caused by a fungus. It's very contagious and can pass easily among people and animals without treatment. With treatment, people stop being contagious with ringworm after 48 hours. Without treatment, ringworm is contagious until the rash goes away completely. This can take several weeks.

Why trust our experts?

Dr. Tracy Norfleet is a board-certified internal medicine physician, health expert, and physician leader with over 20 years of experience practicing adult medicine.
Edited by:
Sophie Vergnaud, MD
Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is an experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist who spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London.
Maria Robinson, MD, MBA, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who has practiced dermatology and dermatopathology for over 10 years across private practice, academic, and telehealth settings. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatopathology.

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

References

American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.). Ringworm: Who gets and what causes.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). What causes ringworm and fungal nail infections.

View All References (6)
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Center for Food Security and Public Health. (2013). Dermatophytosis (ringworm). Iowa State University.

Hawaii State Department of Health Disease Investigation Branch. (2008). Ringworm (athlete's foot, tinea, dermatomycosis, dermatophytosis).

HealthDirect. (2023). Tinea.

Nationwide Children's. (2023). Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis).

Seattle Children's. (2023). Ringworm.

Spickler, A. R. (2013). Dermatophytosis (ringworm, tinea). The Center for Food Security & Public Health.

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.

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