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Patient Information About Ringworm

Ringworm is an infection of the skin caused by fungus. It can affect your scalp, body, groin, and feet. Other names for ringworm include tinea infection, jock itch, and athlete's foot.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of ringworm include thick, discolored nails, bald patches on the scalp or beard, and patches of skin which are red, raised, scaly and itchy.

    Diagnosis

    • Ringworm is typically diagnosed by a visual exam. Additional diagnosis includes scraping the skin for sample cells which are examined under a microscope, or looking at skin under an ultraviolet blue light (called a Wood's lamp), which can reveal fungus.

    Risks

    • Ringworm is easily passed from one person to another by direct contact with skin, dirty clothes, combs, showers and other contaminated surfaces. You can also get ringworm from your pet.

    Treatment

    • Ringworm treatment includes over-the-counter antifungal medicines such as clotrimazole and miconazole. More severe ringworm infections may require prescription antifungal or antibiotic medication.

    Complications

    • Complications of ringworm include spreading the fungus to other areas of your body, developing bacterial skin infections or other skin conditions, and side effects from medicine.

    Prevention

    • Prevent ringworm by keeping your skin clean and dry, wearing shoes or sandals in gyms and pools, and not sharing towels, clothes and other personal items.

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