Ringworm is a common and contagious fungal infection that affects the skin, hair, and nails. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with worms. The infection gets its name from the characteristic red, itchy, ring-shaped rash that it causes. It affects people of all ages, but it is more common in children. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ringworm is caused by fungi called dermatophytes. These fungi thrive in warm, moist environments and can infect humans and animals alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ringworm can affect different parts of the body, and depending on the location, it is given different names. The most common types of ringworm are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Tinea corporis:<\/strong> Often referred to as “ringworm of the body,” this condition affects the skin of the face, torso, arms, and legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Tinea pedis:<\/strong> Also known as athlete’s foot. This fungal infection causes a burning, itchy, skin rash on the soles of your feet and between your toes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Tinea cruris:<\/strong> Also known as jock itch. It affects the skin in the groin area. Jock itch causes itchy, red rash in your thighs, upper groin, or rectum. Some people may even get blisters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Tinea capitis:<\/strong> Also known as ringworm of the scalp, it affects the scalp and hair. Scalp ringworm causes red, scaly, and itchy bald spots on the scalp. The bald spot may grow bigger and become permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Tinea unguium:<\/strong> Also known as nail ringworm, it affects the nails. The nails become discolored, thick, and deformed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ringworm is caused by the fungus, dermatophytes. This fungus naturally lives on the skin, hair, and nails. However, when the environment becomes hot and damp, the fungi start growing uncontrollably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The fungi that cause ringworm thrive in damp, warm areas such as locker rooms, public showers, and swimming pools. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ringworm can spread through close contact with an infected person or animal or by touching contaminated objects such as towels, clothes, and surfaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The symptoms of ringworm depend on the location of the infection. However, common symptoms include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ringworm affects people of all ages. However, certain factors increase the risk of getting the infection. These factors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ringworm is highly contagious. It can spread easily through close contact with an infected person or animal or by touching contaminated objects. The infection can also spread from one part of the body to another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can treat ringworm with antifungal medications available over the counter or by prescription. These medications come in different forms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Creams<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Gels<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Powders<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the infection is widespread, your healthcare provider may prescribe oral antifungal medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n OTC products include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Clotrimazole<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Miconazole<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Terbinafine<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your symptoms get worse or don’t clear after two weeks, you may need an oral prescription medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preventing ringworm involves keeping the skin clean and dry, avoiding close contact with infected persons or animals, and not sharing personal items. It is also essential to disinfect surfaces and objects that come into contact with the infected area. Wearing flip-flops in public areas such as locker rooms, public showers, and swimming pools can also help prevent infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ringworm is a common fungal infection that can affect the skin, hair, or nails. While it is highly contagious and can cause discomfort, prompt diagnosis and treatment can effectively manage the infection and prevent complications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By practicing good hygiene and taking preventive measures, you can reduce the risk of contracting ringworm and enjoy healthy, radiant skin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ringworm is a common and contagious fungal infection that affects the skin, hair, and nails. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with worms. The infection gets its name from the characteristic red, itchy, ring-shaped rash that it causes. It affects people of all ages, but it is more common in children. Ringworm is …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37707,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[204],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37703"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37703\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rx2go.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Causes of Ringworm<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms of Ringworm<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Who gets ringworm?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How contagious is ringworm?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ringworm Treatment<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ringworm Prevention<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n