What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a common fungal skin disease otherwise known as tinea. Ringworm most commonly affects the skin on the body (tinea corporis), the scalp (tinea capitis), the feet (tinea pedis, or athlete's foot) or the groin (tinea cruris or jock itch).

Does ringworm mean I have worms?

No. Ringworm is not caused by a worm. Characterised by round lesions (rings) and early belief that the infection was caused by a parasite (worm), the term ringworm was born. Further confusion comes from the medical term for ringworm, tinea, which is Latin for 'growing worm.' Ringworm is actually a fungal infection.

What causes Ringworm?

Although the world is full of yeasts, moulds and fungi, only a few cause skin problems. Ringworm fungi are known as dermatophytes - microscopic organisms that live off the dead tissues of your skin, hair and nails. The fungus that causes ringworm thrives in warm, moist areas.

Types and symptoms: Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)

There are several types of ringworm (tinea) that can affect different parts of the body.

When fungus affects the skin of the body, it often produces the round skin lesions.  If you have a ring-shaped rash, you very likely have ringworm. However, it is important to distinguish this rash from other common rashes, such as nummular eczema. This condition, and others, may appear similar to ringworm, but they are not fungal and require different treatment.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)

Ringworm of the scalp commonly affects children in late childhood or adolescence. This condition may spread in schools. Tinea capitis often appears as patchy, scaling bald spots on the scalp. (Other scalp conditions, such as seborrhoea or dandruff, do not cause hair loss).

Ringworm of the foot (tinea pedis)

Tinea pedis is an extremely common skin disorder, also known as athlete’s foot.  This fungal (tinea) infection may cause scaling and inflammation in the toe webs, especially the one between the fourth and fifth toes. Other symptoms include itching, burning, redness and stinging on the soles of the feet.

Ringworm of the groin (tinea cruris)

Tinea of the groin (jock itch) tends to have a reddish-brown colour and may extend from the folds of the groin down on to one or both thighs. (Other conditions that can mimic tinea cruris include yeast infections, psoriasis and intertrigo.) Jock itch may occur due to sweating, hot and humid weather, or friction from wearing tight clothes.

Ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae)

Ringworm of the bearded area of the face and neck, with swellings and marked crusting, sometimes causes the hair to break off. In the days when men went to the barber every day for a shave, tinea barbae was called barber's itch.

Ringworm of the face (tinea faciei)

Ringworm on the face outside of the beard area is called tinea faciei. On the face, ringworm is rarely ring-shaped. Characteristically, it causes red, scaly patches with indistinct edges.

Ringworm of the hand (tinea manuum)

Ringworm may involve the hands, particularly the palms and the spaces between the fingers. It typically causes thickening (hyperkeratosis) of these areas, often on only one hand. Tinea manuum is a common companion of tinea pedis (ringworm of the feet).

Ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium)

Ringworm is the most common fungal infection of the nails, also called onychomycosis. It can make fingernails look white, thick, opaque and brittle, but more often toenails look yellow, thick and brittle. Artificial nails increase the risk of tinea unguium as emery boards can carry infection. Water can collect under the artificial nail, creating a moist area for fungal growth.

How did I get ringworm?

Ringworm is highly contagious and can be spread in many ways.

• You can get it from an infected person, animal, object and even soil.
• Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which makes them more common in areas where you sweat.
• Fungi also grows in skin folds such as those in the groin or between the toes.

Catching ringworm from pets

Ringworm is an example of a zoonotic disease (transmitted from animals to humans). Cats are among the most commonly affected animals. If a cat has ringworm, a person in the house often gets the infection. Dogs, cows, goats, pigs and horses can also spread ringworm to humans. People catch ringworm from touching the animals, or touching their bedding, grooming items, saddles, carpeting, etc.

How is ringworm diagnosed?

Sometimes, the diagnosis of ringworm is obvious from its location and appearance. Otherwise, doctors can test skin scrapings for tinea fungus.

How is ringworm treated?

Ringworm can be treated with antifungal creams containing clotrimazole, miconazole, ketoconazole and terbinafine. In cases of severe or resistant infections, and those of the scalp or nails, doctors may prescribe oral medicines such as terbinafine, itraconazole, griseofulvin or fluconazole.

Tips for preventing ringworm

Ringworm is difficult to prevent, but here are tips to reduce your risk:

• Don't share clothing, sport kit, towels or sheets.
• Wear slippers in changing rooms and public swimming pools.
• Shower after any sport that includes skin-to-skin contact.
• Wear loose-fitting cotton clothing. Change your socks and underwear at least once a day.
• Keep skin clean and dry. Dry yourself completely after showering.
• If you have athlete's foot, put your socks on before your underwear to prevent spreading the fungi to your groin.
• Take your pet to the vet if it has patches of missing hair, which could be a sign of a fungal infection.

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