Ringworm on the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Over time, it may look like one or more rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear). This ring pattern gave ringworm its name, but not every infected person has it.
Ringworm typically begins as a flat, discolored patch, which may appear red in lighter complexions and brown in darker complexions. The patch has a ring-like or circular shape with a raised, scaly border.
Ringworm on the face and neck may not appear ring-shaped, but may be itchy and swollen, and it can become dry and crusted. If you have a beard, you may notice patches of hair breaking away.
How soon do symptoms appear? The incubation period is unknown for most of these agents, however ringworm of the scalp is usually seen 10 to 14 days after contact and ringworm of the body is seen 4 to 10 days after initial contact.
At first you might not notice ringworm. Or you may just see a small, red, often raised itchy spot or pimple. Sometimes there may only be 1 spot. At other times there may be several.
There are a variety of ringworm imposters that could be causing you or your child's rash. The two most common conditions are nummular eczema and granuloma annulare. Nummular eczema causes circular patches of dry skin that can burn or become dry and scaly.
It may look red, silver or darker than surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone. The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen or itchy. Ringworm can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis) and groin (jock itch). The rash is usually ring-shaped, but it may look different on your face, neck or scalp.
Myth 5: Ringworm isn't contagious
Ringworm is so contagious, in fact, that you don't even have to touch someone to get infected. The fungus can linger in places like locker room floors, as well as on hats, combs, and brushes. If you share an infected brush or comb, you can develop ringworm of the scalp.
Ringworm stops being contagious after 48 hours of antifungal treatment. Treatment options include topical creams or oral medication. Without treatment, people are contagious until the ringworm rash goes away. This can take up to 3 weeks.
To prevent ringworm from spreading or infecting other areas of the body, keep the skin as clean as possible. To do this, rinse the infection with soap and warm water once or twice daily. Be sure to dry the skin fully, as fungus thrives in moist areas.
On the body and groin: it begins as a ring-shaped, flat, scaly rash. Gradually the ring becomes larger and raised, with the inside of the ring clearing. Ringworm on the skin or groin usually appears four to 10 days after contact with an infected person, pet or surface.
The fungi that cause this infection can live on skin, surfaces, and on household items such as clothing, towels, and bedding. Ringworm goes by many names.
According to the Seattle Children's Hospital, ringworm stops being contagious after 48 hours of treatment. While undergoing treatment, a person can cover the lesion to help prevent it from coming into contact with other people or objects in the environment.
People can get ringworm after contact with someone who has the infection. To avoid spreading the infection, people with ringworm shouldn't share clothing, towels, combs, or other personal items with other people.
No. However, they should be excluded from certain activities that are likely to expose others to the fungus, such as using communal swimming pools or showers, sharing towels, sharing gym equipment or wrestling. Children receiving treatment for ringworm of the scalp may attend school once they start taking medication.
Touching or scratching the area with ringworm and then touching another area can spread ringworm from one part of your body to another. Washing your hands well can help prevent this. Keep the infected area clean and dry.
There are a variety of ringworm imposters that could be causing you or your child's rash. The two most common conditions are nummular eczema and granuloma annulare. Nummular eczema causes circular patches of dry skin that can burn or become dry and scaly.
Ringworm is contagious during incubation, about a week after transmission, and as long as the fungi are alive. With proper treatment and hygiene, ringworm can be cleared in about three weeks.
The following are the foods you should avoid when you have a ringworm infection. - Foods that contain sugar, including fruits. - Refined carbohydrates like white rice and pasta.
Ringworm is often circular. It typically begins as a rash with a clearly defined border that looks like there is a worm under the skin. The center of the rash appears sunken and may be gray or scaly. While psoriasis rashes can also be round, the shape is less regular and does not resemble a worm.