Thursday, May 2, 2024

Ringworm Tinea > Fact Sheets > Yale Medicine

ringworm in hair

You or your child can acquire tinea capitis from contact with a person or animal with the infection or from contaminated soil. You can also acquire ringworm from objects or surfaces that hide the fungus. Your child can get tinea capitis from contact with infected people, animals and soil.

Wash your hands regularly (this helps prevent all sorts of infections).

Sometimes ringworm glows under UV light when other rashes don’t. Depending on the dermatophyte present, the area on your child’s scalp may glow a yellow, green or blue color. Although ringworm pictures can help you identify this infection, remember ringworm doesn't always cause a ring-shaped rash. Ringworm is easy to confuse with other skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or herpes.

Take a prescription antifungal

Each infected lesion lesion is less than about 2 inches (5 cm) across and occurs alone or appears as a skin rash in groups of three or four. Fungal spores can be transmitted through contact with an infected person or animal, fallen infected hairs, or contaminated objects. Ringworm stays contagious until about 48 hours after appropriate treatment has started.

Symptoms by type

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An antifungal shampoo is not usually effective alone but may be advised in addition to medication. What do athlete’s foot, jock itch, and barber’s itch all have in common? However, despite its name, ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm. It is very common, and your risk increases in hot, humid weather. If you have a rash and notice any of the symptoms in this video, see a board-certified dermatologist for treatment. Ringworm of the body is related to athlete's foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris) and ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis).

ringworm in hair

Risk Factors

This involves looking at your hair or a scraping from a scaly patch of scalp under a microscope. In more severe cases, you may develop crusty swellings called kerion that drain pus. If you suspect you or your child has ringworm, don’t use anti-itch creams containing corticosteroids. They can allow the infection to spread and cover larger sections of skin.

It may look red or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone. If ringworm develops on your feet or groin area, keep these areas dry. Your doctor will probably scrape some skin from the itchy, scaly areas and look at them under a microscope. The choice and duration of treatment can vary based on the severity of the rash, the part of the body affected, and your immune status. A quick method of diagnosing ringworm caused by Microsporum species is by exposing the rash to ultraviolet (UV) light, called a Wood's lamp.

Diagnosis

There are different types of ringworm—and treatments—depending on the body part affected. For instance, ringworm of the hands and feet is called athlete’s foot; ringworm of the groin or genital areas is called jock itch. Fungal infections can be challenging to prevent, but reducing your risk and not spreading the infection to others is possible. Regular shampooing, handwashing, not sharing personal care items, and pet wellness visits might reduce the spread of ringworm.

ringworm in hair

Ringworm Treatments

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You should complete the treatment course even if your skin appears to be cleared up. If you suspect a pet has ringworm, they also need a diagnosis and treatment plan. Maintain regular wellness visits for all your pets and ask the veterinarian to check for ringworm. Fomites are objects or materials that are likely to carry an infection.

How we reviewed this article:

Some people (mostly adults) can be carriers of the organism and spread it to others in the household without having symptoms. Disinfectants or bleach can be used to kill ringworm on surfaces. Washing clothes, towels, and sheets in hot water with detergent should kill ringworm, as well as stop its spread. Tinea capitis spreads mainly through one of three ways. Tinea capitis is a common condition primary care providers and dermatologists see.

This article was medically reviewed by Yale Medicine dermatologist Jeff Gelhausen, MD, PhD. Living in a warm, moist climate may increase a person’s likelihood of coming into contact with skin fungi. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40 unique species of fungi can cause ringworm. You should also talk with your doctor before using any medications if you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding.

It can be hard to tell if an animal has ringworm, but a common sign of infection is bald patches. Avoid petting any animals that have patches of skin showing through their fur. Maintain regular checkups for all pets and ask your veterinarian to check for ringworm. Your child can usually return to school once they start treatment for ringworm, but you should ask your doctor when it’s safe for them to return. A visual exam is often enough for a doctor to diagnose ringworm of the scalp.

Most topical creams for treating scalp ringworm are available over the counter (OTC) and applied directly to the scalp. Examples of OTC antifungal creams include Desenex (miconazole), Lotrimin (clotrimazole), and Tinactin (tolnaftate). Tinea capitis most commonly affects children between the ages of 3 and 14. It's especially common in people with weakened immune systems.

While psoriatic rashes on the scalp tend to itch, people should try to avoid scratching affected areas. Babies can develop seborrheic dermatitis on their scalps, which is also known as cradle cap. Fungi grow well in warm, moist areas, so ringworm often develops between the toes, in the groin area, or in skin folds. Ringworm is very common among children, adults with weakened immune systems, and owners of dogs or cats. Although ringworm can go away by itself, it’s not common.

But if they’re a carrier of the infection, they can spread it. However, this infection usually affects young children. This skin condition causes red, flaky rashes in areas of the skin that contain high concentrations of sebaceous glands, such as the scalp, face, and upper back. People who have tinea capitis may experience a localized area of scaling, itching, and pus filled bumps. Ringworm is a fungal infection that causes a bright red ring-shaped rash when it appears on the trunk, extremities, or face. However, these treatments are not scientifically proven, so it’s a good idea to consult a doctor before trying them.

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