What is Ringworm? Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment Explained
Ringworm, according to experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is an extremely widespread infection affecting about 20 percent of the public at any given time. Sometimes, it could nothing more than a small spot on the arm, but in many cases, it could be a raging infection spreading across large areas of the body. What is ringworm? How can a person get infected?
There are already hundreds of thousands of literature out there about this fungal infection, but some misleading information still persist. Let's try to separate the facts from the myths.
What is ringworm? Is it really caused by a worm?
Ringworm, is caused by mold-like fungi referred to as "dermatophytes." To be clear, they're not caused by worms as many seem to believe. These micro-organisms are present in the soil and on the skin of people and animals. These creatures consume the dead skin cells in the outermost layer of our skin and breeds in warm, moist, and unhygienic conditions. A flare-up will start when the fungi starts to multiply in large numbers through an entrance in the dermal layer such as an abration or a cut, for instance.
What is ringworm? What are its symptoms?
Ringworm often begins as a very small slightly bumpy spot on the surface of the skin. As it develops, it takes on a reddish hue and grows in size. The spot may be very itchy forcing the person to scratch it to stop the itching, which in turn could provide the fungus with more opening in the epidermis in which to spread. As the infection widens, it now begins to look like a ring with reddish flaky borders surrounding normal looking skin in the middle. Hairless spots in the head with some broken-off hair (black spots) are often observed in kids with ringworm of the scalp.
There are several types of ringworm, according to the location of the infection. Tinea corporis or ringworm of the body affects the trunk of the body as well as in the extremities like the arms and the legs. Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) affects the head and is common in grade school kids, as noted above. Ringworm of the feet (tinea pedis), also commonly known as "athlete's foot" is normally found in the moist areas between the toes, on the soles or sides of the feet.
Is ringworm contagious? Yes, ringworm is contagious. Scratching the affected area can spread the ringworm to other parts of the body. Fungal spores will also attach themselves to the fingertips and may be transmitted to other family members by way of direct skin contact. Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) especially, which mostly affect prepubescent kids, is extremely contagious.
What is ringworm? How is it treated?
Most cases of ringworm such as those affecting the feet, the crotch area, and the body are not difficult to treat and can be managed with self-care ringworm treatment using over-the-counter creams or sprays. A few of the most-commonly used OTC ointments are: Tinactin, Monistat, Lotrimin, and Lamisil.
There are some types of ringworm infection that may be harder to treat. Self-medication using over-the-counter creams or sprays may not work very well to cure ringworm of the scalp, fingernails, or toenails. The fungal spores in such cases may be hard to treat with ordinary creams or may have developed resistance to common anti-fungal medication like certain types of the scalp ringworm fungus. Oral medication, like Sporanox or Grifulvin, may be prescribed by your physician to eradicate the infection.
What is ringworm? It's just a fungal infection and ringworm cure is easy to administer - no need to reach for the panic button. With some very basic steps in personal hygiene, this infection can be prevented without any difficulty.
There are already hundreds of thousands of literature out there about this fungal infection, but some misleading information still persist. Let's try to separate the facts from the myths.
What is ringworm? Is it really caused by a worm?
Ringworm, is caused by mold-like fungi referred to as "dermatophytes." To be clear, they're not caused by worms as many seem to believe. These micro-organisms are present in the soil and on the skin of people and animals. These creatures consume the dead skin cells in the outermost layer of our skin and breeds in warm, moist, and unhygienic conditions. A flare-up will start when the fungi starts to multiply in large numbers through an entrance in the dermal layer such as an abration or a cut, for instance.
What is ringworm? What are its symptoms?
Ringworm often begins as a very small slightly bumpy spot on the surface of the skin. As it develops, it takes on a reddish hue and grows in size. The spot may be very itchy forcing the person to scratch it to stop the itching, which in turn could provide the fungus with more opening in the epidermis in which to spread. As the infection widens, it now begins to look like a ring with reddish flaky borders surrounding normal looking skin in the middle. Hairless spots in the head with some broken-off hair (black spots) are often observed in kids with ringworm of the scalp.
There are several types of ringworm, according to the location of the infection. Tinea corporis or ringworm of the body affects the trunk of the body as well as in the extremities like the arms and the legs. Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) affects the head and is common in grade school kids, as noted above. Ringworm of the feet (tinea pedis), also commonly known as "athlete's foot" is normally found in the moist areas between the toes, on the soles or sides of the feet.
Is ringworm contagious? Yes, ringworm is contagious. Scratching the affected area can spread the ringworm to other parts of the body. Fungal spores will also attach themselves to the fingertips and may be transmitted to other family members by way of direct skin contact. Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) especially, which mostly affect prepubescent kids, is extremely contagious.
What is ringworm? How is it treated?
Most cases of ringworm such as those affecting the feet, the crotch area, and the body are not difficult to treat and can be managed with self-care ringworm treatment using over-the-counter creams or sprays. A few of the most-commonly used OTC ointments are: Tinactin, Monistat, Lotrimin, and Lamisil.
There are some types of ringworm infection that may be harder to treat. Self-medication using over-the-counter creams or sprays may not work very well to cure ringworm of the scalp, fingernails, or toenails. The fungal spores in such cases may be hard to treat with ordinary creams or may have developed resistance to common anti-fungal medication like certain types of the scalp ringworm fungus. Oral medication, like Sporanox or Grifulvin, may be prescribed by your physician to eradicate the infection.
What is ringworm? It's just a fungal infection and ringworm cure is easy to administer - no need to reach for the panic button. With some very basic steps in personal hygiene, this infection can be prevented without any difficulty.
