A magnification of the skin
disorder ringworm
(dermatophytic fungus
Epidermophyton floccosum).
What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a common skin disorder otherwise known as
tinea. While there are multiple forms of ringworm, the
most common affect 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?
Ringworm is not, as its name suggests, caused by a worm.
Characterized 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.' While the condition is actually the result
of a fungal infection, the name 'ringworm' has stuck.
Ringworm is caused by fungi known as dermatophytes,
which live off of dead tissue.
What causes ringworm?
Although the world is full of
yeasts, molds, 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, much like a mushroom
can grow on the bark of a tree.
There are multiple
forms of ringworm
that affect different
parts of the body.
What types of ringworm are there?
As mentioned previously, there are several types of
ringworm (tinea) that can affect different parts of the
body. On the next several slides, we'll take a look at the
various forms from head to toe.
Ringworm of the body
(tinea corporis).
When fungus affects the skin of the body, it often produces
the round spots of classic ringworm. Sometimes, these spots
have an "active" outer border as they slowly grow and
advance. It is important to distinguish this rash from other
even more 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 (tinea capitis)
Ringworm of the scalp commonly affects children, mostly
in late childhood or adolescence. This condition may
spread in schools. Tinea capitis appears as scalp scaling
that is associated with bald spots (in contrast to seborrhea
or dandruff, for instance, which do not cause hair loss).
Ringworm of the foot
(tinea pedis).
Ringworm of the foot (tinea pedis)
Tinea pedis is an extremely common skin disorder. It is
the most common and perhaps the most persistent of the
fungal (tinea) infections. Also known as athlete's foot, it
may cause scaling and inflammation in the toe webs,
especially the one between the fourth and fifth toes.
Another common form of tinea pedis produces a thickening
or scaling of the skin on the heels and soles as well as
blisters between the toes or on the sole.
Ringworm of the groin
(tinea cruris).
Ringworm of the groin (tinea cruris)
Tinea of the groin ('jock itch') tends to have a
reddish-brown color and to extend from the folds of the
groin down onto one or both thighs. Other conditions that
can mimic tinea cruris include yeast infections, psoriasis,
and intertrigo, a chafing rash which results from skin
rubbing against skin.
Ringworm of the beard
(tinea barbae).
Ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae)
Ringworm of the bearded area of the face and neck, with
swellings and marked crusting, often with itching,
sometimes causes the hair to break off. In the days when
men went to the barber daily for a shave, tinea barbae
was called barber's itch.
Ringworm of the face
(tinea faciei).
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 manus).
Ringworm of the hand (tinea manus)
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 manus is a common companion of tinea
pedis (ringworm of the feet). It is also called tinea manuum.
Ringworm of the nails
(tinea unguium).
Ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium)
This 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
for tinea unguium as emery boards can carry infection, and
water can collect under the artificial nail, creating a moist,
warm environment favorable for fungal growth.
How did I get ringworm?
Ringworm is highly contagious and can be spread multiple
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 of frequent
sweating as well as skin folds such as those in the groin or
between the toes. This also accounts for their reputation as
being caught from contaminated items such as toilet articles,
clothing, pool surfaces, showers, and locker rooms.
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 and studies have shown that in
30%-70% of households in which a cat develops ringworm,
at least one person will develop the condition. Dogs, cows,
goats, pigs, and horses can spread ringworm to humans
and other animals via direct contact or contact with objects
the infected animal has touched (such as bedding, grooming
articles, saddles, furniture, carpeting, etc.).
How is ringworm diagnosed?
Sometimes, the diagnosis of ringworm is obvious from its
location and appearance. Otherwise, skin scrapings for
microscopic examination and a culture of the affected skin
can establish the diagnosis of tinea or rule it out.
How is ringworm treated?
Ringworm can be treated topically with antifungal creams
containing clotrimazole (Cruex, Desenex, Lotrimin),
miconazole (Monistat-Derm), ketoconazole (Nizoral) and
terbinafine (Lamisil). In severe or resistant infections on
the scalp or nails, oral medications such as terbinafine,
itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan) are
necessary.
Can ringworm be prevented?
Ringworm is difficult to prevent, but you can help reduce
your risk by following some simple guidelines. The next
several slides provide some helpful prevention tips in
minimizing the chance of developing ringworm.
Ringworm Prevention
Don't share clothing, sports gear, towels, or sheets.
Wear slippers or sandals in locker rooms and public pool
and bathing areas.
Shower and shampoo well 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 your skin clean and dry. Always dry yourself
completely after showers or baths.
If you have athlete's foot, put your socks on before
your underwear so that fungi do not spread from
your feet 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.
extracted from MedicineNet.com
