The name “ringworm” has confused patients for generations. Despite its name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms. It is actually a fungal infection of the skin that can affect people of all ages.
Because ringworm often starts as a small circular rash, many people mistake it for eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, or dry skin. Others spend weeks using steroid creams that actually make the infection worse. Fortunately, ringworm is usually straightforward to diagnose and highly treatable. Many uncomplicated cases can be evaluated through telehealth using your medical history and clear photographs of the affected skin.
What Is Ringworm?
Ringworm, also called tinea corporis, is a superficial fungal infection caused by dermatophytes. These fungi feed on keratin, the protein found in the outer layer of the skin, hair, and nails. Depending on where the infection occurs, physicians use different names: tinea corporis (body), tinea pedis (athlete’s foot), tinea cruris (jock itch), tinea capitis (scalp), and tinea unguium / onychomycosis (nails). Although the names differ, they are all caused by similar fungi.
What Does Ringworm Look Like?
The appearance is often characteristic: a round or oval rash, a raised and slightly scaly border, clearer skin in the center, a gradually enlarging ring, mild to moderate itching, and a red or pink color depending on skin tone. Some people develop a single patch, while others develop several lesions over time.
How Do People Get Ringworm?
Ringworm spreads through direct contact — skin contact with someone who has an active infection, contact with pets (cats, dogs, and especially young kittens are frequent carriers), and shared objects such as towels, clothing, athletic equipment, wrestling mats, gym floors, and hairbrushes. Less commonly, certain fungi live in soil. Higher-risk factors include contact sports, gym use, sweating, humid climates, diabetes, weakened immune systems, and close contact with infected pets. Children are especially susceptible to scalp ringworm.
Ringworm vs. Eczema
| Ringworm | Eczema |
|---|---|
| Circular | Often irregular |
| Raised border | No distinct border |
| Center clears | Uniform inflammation |
| Mild itching | Often intense itching |
| Caused by fungus | Immune-mediated inflammation |
| Treated with antifungals | Treated with steroids / moisturizers |
Applying steroid creams to untreated ringworm may temporarily reduce redness while allowing the fungus to spread more deeply. Physicians call this tinea incognito, an altered appearance caused by steroid use.
Ringworm vs. Poison Ivy
Poison ivy usually appears after outdoor exposure, develops blisters, often forms linear streaks, and improves over several weeks. Ringworm usually enlarges gradually, forms circular patches, persists without antifungal treatment, and rarely develops blisters.
How Is Ringworm Diagnosed?
Many uncomplicated cases can be diagnosed visually. Your physician may ask when the rash began, whether it is getting larger, whether it itches, whether you have tried steroid creams, whether you recently adopted a pet, whether you participate in sports, and whether anyone around you developed a similar rash. Occasionally, skin scrapings are examined under a microscope or sent for fungal culture when the diagnosis is uncertain.
Treatment Options
Topical antifungal creams: most uncomplicated body ringworm responds well to terbinafine, clotrimazole, miconazole, or butenafine. Treatment usually continues for one to two weeks after the rash appears to resolve — stopping too early increases recurrence.
Oral antifungal medication: more extensive infections, or infections involving the scalp, often require prescription oral antifungals. Scalp infections almost never resolve with creams alone.
Preventing Spread
While receiving treatment, wash your hands frequently, avoid sharing towels, wash clothing after exercise, keep affected skin clean and dry, treat infected pets under veterinary guidance, and complete the entire course of medication. Recurrence is common if treatment is stopped too early, family members remain infected, pets continue carrying the fungus, or the skin remains warm and moist.
Can Telehealth Diagnose Ringworm?
Yes. Ringworm has a distinctive appearance that often photographs well. Telehealth works particularly well for single lesions, mild infections, medication refills, and early diagnosis. If the rash appears unusual, widespread, infected, or resistant to treatment, your physician may recommend an in-person evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ringworm caused by poor hygiene?
No. Anyone can develop ringworm. It spreads through exposure to fungi rather than poor personal hygiene.
Can my pet give me ringworm?
Yes. Cats, especially kittens, are common sources.
Can I go swimming?
Swimming itself does not worsen ringworm, but avoid sharing towels and cover affected areas when appropriate until treatment has begun.
Will steroid cream cure ringworm?
No. Steroids may actually make fungal infections more difficult to recognize and treat.
How YourMD Telehealth Can Help
If you’ve developed a circular itchy rash, you don’t necessarily need to wait days for an office appointment. With YourMD Telehealth, Nevada residents can securely upload photographs and consult with a board-certified physician. When appropriate after reviewing your symptoms and images, secure asynchronous consultations start at $20, phone consultations are $40, and video visits are $50, with prescription antifungal medications sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy when clinically indicated. If your rash appears inconsistent with ringworm or requires additional testing, we’ll guide you toward the appropriate next step. Not sure what your rash is? See our guide to 8 common skin rashes.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology. Ringworm: Diagnosis and Treatment.
- Ely JW, Rosenfeld S, Seabury Stone M. Diagnosis and Management of Tinea Infections. American Family Physician. 2014;90(10):702-710.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm (Dermatophyte Infections).
- Gupta AK, et al. Superficial Fungal Infections: An Update on Diagnosis and Management. JAAD.
- Hay RJ. Dermatophytosis and Onychomycosis. Lancet. 2018.
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Prescriptions are provided only when a physician determines treatment is clinically appropriate. Services currently available to Nevada residents 18 and older.