Ringworm Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

If you've ever had a strange ring-shaped rash, you may already be familiar with ringworm. Despite its name, this rash isn't caused by a worm at all. This rash is highly contagious and can even be spread between pets and people. That's why you'll want to identify it quickly and get treatment immediately.

What Is Ringworm?

Ringworm refers to a red, often itchy rash that is usually in the shape of a ring.¹ This rash is a skin infection caused by a fungus — not a worm — and is very contagious.

You might be surprised to learn that there are about 40 different species of fungi that can cause ringworm.¹ So, ringworm actually refers to a set of symptoms rather than a particular species of fungus.

Here's what ringworm typically looks like:

• Discolored, scaly patches on the skin.² On lighter complexions, the patches look red. With darker complexions, the patches may look brown or gray.³
• The scaly patch is a circular shape and may have a raised ring-like border.³
• Sometimes you may also have itchy bumps or more than one ringed rash.²

Your pets can get ringworm and pass it on to you, or vice versa,⁴ so you'll want to be aware of the symptoms in dogs and cats, too. Pets with ringworm may have red, scaling patches in their skin, often accompanied by fur loss. If ringworm is on their nails, they may be very brittle or break easily.

Types of Ringworm Infections

Ringworm can be in different places on the body, with the symptoms varying slightly depending on where it's located.⁵ The different locations include:

• Scalp. Called "tinea capitis,"¹ may start as a sore that turns scaly and tender. Your hair might even fall out where the ringworm is.² Sometimes your lymph nodes swell.⁵
• Feet. Called "tinea pedis" or athlete's foot,¹ this is often a rash on your feet or between your toes. You may also notice blisters or scaling on your feet.⁵
• Groin area. Called "tinea cruris" or jock itch,⁵ you may feel pain or itching in addition to the rash.
• Beard. Called "tinea barbae,"¹ hair in the affected areas may fall out, in addition to having scaly, itchy red spots.
• Hands. In this case, it is called "tinea manuum."¹
• Other parts of the body. In this case, it is called "tinea corporis."¹
• Toenails or fingernails. Called "tinea unguium" or onychomycosis,¹ this may not present like your typical ringworm rash. Rather, your nails may look discolored or yellow, thicker or deformed.⁵

How Ringworm Spreads

Ringworm is very contagious. Not only can people spread it to one another, but your pets — like dogs and cats — can spread it to you as well (or vice versa).⁴ In addition to dogs and cats, ringworm is also commonly seen in pet rats,⁴ lambs and even cows, goats, pigs and horses.¹

Ringworm spreads the same way, whether in humans or animals. All it takes is touching an infected person or animal's skin or hair, or touching something else that touched the infected skin, like a blanket or towel.¹ You can even get it by touching soil that's infected with a fungus that causes ringworm.² And if you already have it, you can spread it more simply by itching the rash and then touching another part of your body. This is why it's so important to practice good hygiene and wash your hands frequently.

While anyone can get ringworm, the people at greatest risk include:

• People who use public showers or locker rooms³
• People who share towels, combs, brushes or clothes⁵
• People in high-contact sports, such as wrestling³
• People who work closely with animals that can get ringworm³
• People with weakened immune systems³
• Children or seniors⁴

Diagnosing Ringworm

Because some other skin conditions can resemble ringworm, it's a good idea to see a doctor if you think you might have it.² Your doctor will do a physical exam to see if your symptoms match ringworm.⁵ They may also run a test to be sure; these can include:

• Skin culture. They send a sample of your skin to a lab to identify the exact fungus.⁵
• Skin scraping. They scrape a small sample from the top of your skin and view it under a microscope.⁵
• Biopsy. For infections of the scalp or nails, they take hair or nail clippings and examine them under a microscope.⁵

Ringworm Treatment Options

Your ringworm treatment will vary depending on what part of your body is affected and whether you have a mild or more severe case. The main types of treatments include antifungal creams and ointments, oral antifungal medication and antifungal shampoos.

Generally, mild infections can clear up in just a few weeks, while more severe infections can take up to 12 weeks.³ It's important to follow the full course of treatment to help avoid reinfection.

The cost of treatments for ringworm can range from as low as just $7 for some over-the-counter medications, and up to $100 to $300 or more for prescriptions, not including the cost of seeing a doctor.⁶ Health insurance might help pay for the costs, depending on your deductible and the CareCredit credit card can help.*

Here's a look at the main treatment options for ringworm:

1. Topical antifungal creams, lotions or powders

For milder skin cases, your doctor may simply recommend an over-the-counter antifungal cream, lotions or powder.¹ This is often the treatment of choice for athlete's foot and jock itch, and may take only about two to four weeks to clear up. If your symptoms don't improve in two to four weeks, you'll want to tell your doctor.

2. Oral antifungal medications

Oral antifungal medications are often prescribed for people with scalp ringworm.¹ You may need to take these pills for as long as one to three months.

3. Antifungal shampoos

Antifungal shampoos don't cure fungal infections, but they can stop them from spreading further.³ These shampoos are typically used in combination with an antifungal pill.

Avoid topical steroid creams

There is a big difference between topical antifungal creams and topical steroid creams. If you're given a steroid cream for ringworm, you'll want to get a second opinion. This is because steroid creams can actually cause ringworm rashes to grow, develop unusual patterns or become more severe.¹ Steroid creams don't kill the fungus, but they do weaken your skin's natural defenses. So while it may temporarily relieve some itching, the cream can actually help the infection spread more or, on rare occasions, go deeper.

How to Prevent Ringworm

Ringworm is highly contagious, but there are a few steps you can take to help prevent yourself from catching it in the first place. You should also follow these steps after finishing a course of treatment to help avoid reinfection.

• Keep your skin clean and dry.² This includes making sure the skin between your toes is dry after you shower.³
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.¹ This includes if you've been touching pets that might have ringworm.
• If you're in a public restroom or locker room, wear sandals instead of walking barefoot.²
• Don't share towels, sheets, hairbrushes or clothing with anyone who might have ringworm.¹ Don't share sports uniforms or gear.²
• Change into clean underwear and socks every day.² (If they become damp or dirty, change them more often.³)
• If you've been exercising or in a contact sport, shower right after you're done.³
• Use Lysol or bleach to disinfect surfaces.³

If you have a pet with ringworm, you'll want to take a few extra precautions, in addition to seeing your veterinarian.

• Keep your pet in a room all to itself while it's being treated, away from other pets.⁴
• Always wash your hands after handling your pet. You may want to wear long sleeves and gloves.⁴
• Regularly clean and vacuum your pet's room.⁴ When the treatment's finished, thoroughly disinfect the room, following your veterinarian's instructions, and wash all your pet's bedding and towels with soapy, hot water.

Ringworm can be uncomfortable, but the good news is that it's typically not too difficult to treat. However, you need to treat ringworm right away because it's very contagious, and the sooner you catch it, the easier your life will be. If you think you or your pet may have ringworm, visit a healthcare provider right away.

CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Dermatology

The CareCredit credit card makes it easy to pay for dermatology visits, over-the-counter treatments and prescription medications at locations within the CareCredit network.* Start investing in your skin today and apply for the CareCredit credit card. Find a dermatologist near you that accepts CareCredit and continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your account, find a provider on the go, and easily access the Well U hub for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

Author Bio

Stephanie Dwilson specializes in science journalism, breaking news, and animal health and is a business owner, non-practicing attorney and writer.