Medically, ringworm on the body is called tinea corporis. It’s a fungal infection that causes a red, itchy rash surrounded by a ring-like scaly rim, forming a “ring” of scales.
The shape of this rash is called “ring-shaped” or “multi-ringed” because the rash may appear as a single circular plate of rash or interconnected circles of rash.
A ringworm rash can appear anywhere on the body. This infection is usually superficial, meaning the fungus only thrives on the first layer of skin (the stratum corneum).
The shape of this rash is called “ring-shaped” or “multi-ringed” because the rash may appear as a single circular plate of rash or interconnected circles of rash.
A ringworm rash can appear anywhere on the body. This infection is usually superficial, meaning the fungus only thrives on the first layer of skin (the stratum corneum).
Dermatophytes can also cause:
- Tinea pedis ( athlete’s foot )
- Tinea ( tinea cruris )
- Tinea (include hands)
- Tinea capitis (including scalp, eyelashes, and eyebrows)
- tinea
- Ringworm Barbie (including hair)
- Onychomycosis (Includes fingernails or toenails)
How Can a Person Get Ringworm?
Ringworm is very contagious. The dermatophytes that cause ringworm can be transmitted to humans from infected animals (zoophilic) or through contact with an infected person (anthropophilic).
You can also spread the infection from one part of your body to another, known as self-inoculation.
For example, people with athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) can transmit the fungus from their feet to their groin (jock itch) through their contaminated hands. You can also pick up the fungus from an infected surface/soil (geophilia).
Because fungi thrive in warm, humid, and crowded conditions, common pools, gyms, and locker rooms are among the most common points of contamination.
What is the best way to treat or healed ringworm scar?
Ringworm of the body (tinea of the body) can be treated with antifungal medications. Antifungal drugs are divided into two classes:
- antifungal
- fungicide
Antifungal drugs stop the growth of the fungus but do not kill it directly, while antifungal treatments directly destroy the dermatophyte.
healed ringworm scar options include topical cream formulations and oral pills.
Can ringworm go away without treatment?
I don’t see these cases because everyone who comes to a dermatologist for this problem has a rash that lasts weeks to months.
Technically, the immune system can clear simple bacterial infections and viral infections (common warts) without treatment. The same can be said about fungal infections.
However, people with compromised immune systems may be more likely to develop fungal infections or highly resistant diseases that do not respond to topical medications. These immunocompromised groups include those with diabetes HIV/AIDS and the elderly.
How long does it take to healed ringworm scar?
Early treatment is the best way to ensure a speedy recovery from ringworm. A long wait may be required otherwise.
It usually takes between 2 and 4 weeks to treat a superficial rash with topical creams, which may or may not be accompanied by oral antifungal treatment.
The aim is to contain the dermatophytes on the skin’s surface to prevent them from penetrating the hair follicles.
An infection that spreads to the dermis, or second layer of skin, via the hair follicles is called Majocchi granuloma. This condition is difficult to treat and can take more than a month to heal with high doses of oral antifungals.
Does ringworm leave a scar?
Ringworm can leave a flat, dark/discolored patch of “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation” that will fade over time.
Ringworm doesn’t usually cause scars unless it’s a serious fungal infection called tinea bullous. This type of infection usually affects the feet and lower legs.
Will treatments like rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide help treat ringworm?
These disinfectants have antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It can kill the fungal threads, but I don’t usually recommend using it on rashes.
Alcohol rubbing, apple cider vinegar (neat), and hydrogen peroxide can slow wound healing when there are open sores/wounds related to a fungal infection. It can cause discomfort, burns, and dry skin, which can cause flare-ups or worsening of eczema and dry skin.
For ringworm, see your dermatologist if over-the-counter antifungal creams are ineffective.
For toenail fungus (onychomycosis), I recommend over-the-counter options as prescription options are not very effective and can be expensive.
For onychomycosis, I usually recommend soaking the nails in white vinegar diluted with water, followed by applying a hand sanitizer that contains more than 60% alcohol or tea tree oil.
What preventive measures can be taken against ringworm?
Ringworm is usually transmitted from infected surfaces. Therefore, you should wear shoes as often as possible by the pool or when using a public shower to avoid ingesting dermatophytes on your feet.
If you have chronic athlete’s foot or recurrent athlete’s foot, wear socks before putting on your pants/shorts to prevent the fungus from spreading from your feet to your groin (jock itch).
If you’ve recently cleared a fungal infection on your feet, spray the inside of your shoes with an over-the-counter antifungal such as tolnaftate spray to help prevent your foot from becoming infected again.
Does ringworm leave a scar?
Ringworm can leave a flat, dark/discolored patch of “post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation” that will fade over time.
Ringworm doesn’t usually cause scars unless it’s a serious fungal infection called tinea bullous. This type of infection usually affects the feet and lower legs.
Does ringworm cause itching?
Itching Very common with fungal infections but not always present. Some people with neuropathy and/or diabetes The classic itching associated with a tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) rash.
Pain can also be associated with a fungal infection, especially when:
- Soak between the toes
- Secondary bacterial infection, where bacteria infect open wounds caused by a primary fungal infection.
Cellulitis is a serious skin infection caused by either of these conditions.
Are there any tips or insights that can help our readers protect themselves from fungal infections like ringworm?
My top tips are as follows:
Do not walk barefoot on public floors: Be aware of your surroundings and avoid walking barefoot in public areas such as gyms, locker rooms, public showers and hotel rooms. Pack your own flip flops or slippers when you travel.
- Change your shoes and socks daily: Avoid reusing socks and alternate between different pairs of shoes. Wear new socks every day. Also replace your shoes/boots daily, especially wet shoes.
In warm weather, try wearing open-toed slippers or open-toed shoes to prevent excess moisture from building up in your shoes and causing dermatophytes to form.
- Keep your feet moisture-free: After showering, be sure to dry your feet properly, especially before putting on socks.
- During and after antifungal treatment: If you are recovering from athlete’s foot, use an over-the-counter antifungal spray on all of your shoes to help prevent reinfection. Furthermore, make sure you wear socks before putting on your pants to avoid spreading the fungus to your groin.
- Find out when to see your dermatologist: If you’re treating the rash with over-the-counter antifungals and the rash is persistent, make an appointment to see a dermatologist.
Bring the medications you have tried with you to the appointment and be prepared to answer questions about your medical history (immunosuppressed and diabetic history). Your dermatologist can scrape the rash and look at the cells under a microscope to visualize the fungal elements.
If your rash worsens with a topical steroid or cortisone, you may have a fungal or yeast infection that needs to be evaluated by a dermatologist at the earliest, as this may require oral treatment.
Why is ringworm common in the summer season?
Fungal species thrive in humid and warm environments. In summer, in addition to the pronounced heat, there is increased sweating on congested body surfaces such as groins and feet.
Men are affected in the thigh creases, particularly in the area where the scrotum approaches the adjacent inner thigh.
Individuals who are overweight or obese tend to get more yeast infections because they have prominent skin folds all over their body that collect sweat and heat, providing an ideal environment for dermatophytes, or yeast, to grow.
Do Diet Changes Affect Ringworm?
There are no dietary factors associated with the fungal infection.
However, if a person has diabetes (high blood sugar) or a compromised immune system, tinea eye infection can become a recurring problem.
Therefore, exercise (increases insulin sensitivity and more efficient insulin action) and a healthy diet are recommended to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
In general, unhealthy eating, obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and emotional stress can make any skin condition worse.
What is the difference between psoriasis and ringworm?
Psoriasis It is an inflammatory disease of the skin, joints and even the cardiovascular system. It can cause a red rash with thick white scales. The scales are thicker than the fine scales that appear in ringworm or ringworm.
Psoriasis is not contagious and does not involve microbes (bacterial, fungal, viral or parasitic), although it can occur after infection with streptococcal pharyngitis (streptococcus).
If a squamous epithelium of the rash is scraped, then when examined under a microscope, microscopic signs of fungal elements (no spores or hyphae) do not appear. These elements can be found in skin rashes such as ringworm.
If the fungus has invaded the second layer of skin or infects the hair follicle, the skin scraping will be false negative.
Another difference between psoriasis and tinea capitis is that psoriasis improves with topical corticosteroids. On the other hand, ringworm either develops under topical steroids (incognito) or worsens and becomes an infection deeper in the skin (majocchi granuloma).
As the fungal infection progresses and penetrates deeper into the skin, the infected person will need oral antifungals for at least 4 weeks.