Ringworm can cause unsightly rashes and discomfort, but understanding the causes is the key to protecting yourself against it.
If you’ve ever noticed an itchy, red spot on your skin, it could have been ringworm. This common fungal infection can leave a red ring-like rash, affect the appearance of your nails, and even cause temporary hair loss, bringing stress and discomfort to those who catch it.
The good news is that treating ringworm is straightforward. Whether you’ve had it before or want to avoid it altogether, here’s a guide to managing ringworm, its causes, symptoms, and some steps to protect yourself from it.
Causes and Symptoms: A Quick Overview
Ringworm is a fungal infection, usually showing up as a round, scaly rash on the skin. Despite its name, it’s not caused by a worm. Instead, it results from about forty different types of fungi that thrive in warm, damp places like locker rooms, swimming pools, and public showers. Being highly contagious, it spreads easily between people and even from animals to humans. While not life-threatening, it can be uncomfortable.
The most common symptom of ringworm is an itchy, circular rash with a raised border. In some cases, it can affect the nails, causing them to discolour, harden, and become brittle. As the infection worsens, rashes might blister, ooze, and even cause hair loss on the affected area.
Treating and Preventing Ringworm
Ringworm may be unpleasant, but it’s usually easy to treat. Most cases respond well to over-the-counter antifungal creams, such as Lotrimin, which can clear up the infection within two to three weeks. If the infection spreads to the scalp or nails, a doctor might prescribe an oral antifungal medication. Although the treatment depends on the location of the infection, most people recover fully without lasting issues.
Want to keep ringworm away for good? Most people can avoid it by taking a few simple steps. The key is to keep your skin dry, as the fungi that cause ringworm thrive in moisture. Feet are particularly vulnerable, so make sure to dry thoroughly after sweating, remove wet shoes or socks quickly, and wear waterproof boots during wet weather.
Because ringworm is highly contagious, avoid close contact with infected friends until they’ve started treatment. To reduce the chance of catching it from others, avoid sharing personal items like clothing, towels, shoes, or hairbrushes. If you’re involved in contact sports like wrestling, wash with an antifungal soap and clean your body thoroughly after each match.
Unlike other skin conditions, ringworm can affect pets too, putting your whole household at risk. If your cat or dog shows symptoms, avoid touching the infected area, wash your hands after handling them, clean areas they’ve been in, and take them to the vet for treatment as soon as possible. Luckily, ringworm in animals is just as treatable as it is in humans.
Ringworm can affect anyone, but with some simple precautions, you can keep the risk low. If you’re worried about ringworm or have symptoms, a licensed dermatologist can help diagnose the condition and create a tailored treatment plan.
