Ringworm of the Skin

Causes

Ringworm is very common all over the world, including the U.S. It can take less than 1 week and up to 2 weeks to develop the infection after being exposed. So you may not figure out the exact cause.

It's spread through direct skin-to-skin contact with:

• An infected person or animal

• Infected soil, or objects, such as towels, clothing, and combs

• Surfaces, such as locker room and public showers

Symptoms

Symptoms often appear within 4 to 14 days after the skin comes in contact with the fungus that causes ringworm. At first you might not notice ringworm. Or you may just see a small, red, often raised itchy spot or pimple. Sometimes there may only be 1 spot. At other times there may be several. Ringworm can look slightly different on different parts of the body. But a few things are almost always seen:

• Irregular, round, oval or ring-shaped. This is why it's called ringworm

• Clearer or lighter color at the center, since it spreads from the center of the spot outward

• Red or inflamed look

• Raised

• Itchy

• Scaly, dry, or flaky

• Hair loss at the site of the rash

Home care

Follow these tips to help care for yourself at home:

• Leave it alone. Don't scratch at the rash or pick it. This can increase the chance of infection and scarring.

• Take medicine as prescribed. If you were prescribed a cream, apply it exactly as directed. Make sure to put the cream not just on the rash, but also on the skin, 1 or 2 inches around it. Medicine by mouth is sometimes needed, particularly for ringworm on the scalp. Take it as directed and until your healthcare provider says to stop. Some ringworm creams are available without a prescription (over the counter). Talk with your healthcare provider about these. In some cases, they may be just as effective but less expensive than prescription medicines.

• Keep it from spreading to others. Untreated ringworm of the skin is contagious by skin-to-skin contact. An affected child may return to school 2 days after treatment has started.

Prevention

To some degree, prevention depends on what part of your body was affected. In general, the following good hygiene can help.

• Clean up after you get dirty or sweaty, or after using a locker room.

• When possible, don’t share combs and brushes.

• Stay away from having your skin and feet wet or damp for long periods.

• Wear clean, loose-fitting underwear.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your healthcare provider as advised by our staff if the rash does not improve after 10 days of treatment. Or if the rash spreads to other areas of the body.

When to get medical care

Call your healthcare provider right away if any of these occur:

• Redness around the rash gets worse

• Fluid drains from the rash

• Fever of 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, or as advised by your provider