What makes ringworm

People with HIV and other conditions that weaken the immune system are more likely to experience a spreading of ringworm. It is more difficult to get rid of the infection if the immune system is weak. Ringworm is caused by a type of fungus that eats keratin. These are called dermatophytes. Dermatophytes attack the skin, scalp, hair, and nails because those are the only parts of the body with enough keratin to attract them. Dermatophytes are microscopic spores that can survive on the surface of the skin for months.

They can also survive in towels, combs, the soil, and other household objects. They are very resilient. Dermatophyte spores spread in the following ways :. If a person or animal has the infection, they may deposit fungal spores on objects and surfaces when they touch them; anyone who touches those objects may become infected. Children usually show symptoms when they become infected, but many adults do not.

The older an individual is, the more likely their immune system will protect them. However, they may still be a carrier. The following risk factors either increase the chances of developing ringworm or make the symptoms worse:. On the body, patches grow slowly in size, and more patches can appear on other parts of the body. The center of the patch may clear, leaving a ring.

If there are several rings, they may merge. The bacteria that cause ringworm are not the good kind. Continue reading to learn about signs, symptoms, diagnosis and prevention. The scientific name for ringworm is tinea.

The condition is caused by skin fungi called dermatophytes, which live on top of skin and typically do not invade deep inside the skin. Additioanlly, dermatophytes do not live inside the mouth. A person can have the fungus on several areas of the body at the same time. Ringworm is very contagious and spreads easily from person to person.

Other ways it can spread include:. If you feel your child has ringworm, contact their pediatrician for proper diagnosis and treatment. Treatment may involve an antifungal cream.

During treatment, be sure to keep the child clean and dry and wash all clothes, bed sheets and towels every day. Proper hand washing and skin care is important in preventing ringworm. Remind your child to wash their hand frequently with running water, soap and plenty of friction. Other ways to prevent ringworm:. Your doctor will diagnose ringworm by examining your skin and possibly using a black light to view your skin in the affected area. Depending on the type of fungus, it may sometimes fluoresce glow under black light.

Your doctor may prescribe various medications depending on the severity of your ringworm infection. Ringworm of the scalp or nails may require prescription-strength oral medications such as griseofulvin Gris-PEG or terbinafine.

Over-the-counter OTC medications and antifungal skin creams may be recommended for use as well. These products may contain clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, or other related ingredients. Find antifungal treatments online. In addition to prescription and OTC medication, your doctor may recommend that you care for your infection at home by:. Take an in-depth look at ringworm treatments here. People have used home remedies for ringworm for many years before researchers invented antifungal treatments.

Support for use of these remedies is mostly anecdotal. There is no scientific data to support their use over OTC antifungals. Some people apply apple cider vinegar-soaked cotton balls over affected areas of skin three times a day to treat ringworm. If you want to try this remedy, apply coconut oil one to three times a day. Turmeric is a spice you can mix with water to make an antifungal paste. Apply the paste directly to your skin and allow it to dry.

Instead, discuss any you might like to try alongside proven treatments with your doctor. Learn more about home remedies for ringworm, including powdered licorice.

It can take up to 2 weeks before you start noticing symptoms. Some of the stages you may see include:. Anyone can develop ringworm. However, the infection is very common among children and people who own cats or dogs. Both cats and dogs can catch ringworm, and then pass it on to humans who touch them.

You may be more likely to develop dermatophytosis if you come into contact with the fungi when your skin becomes soft and wet from prolonged water exposure macerated or if you have minor skin injuries or abrasions.

Using a public shower or public pool may also expose you to the infective fungi. Those who often share items such as hairbrushes or unwashed clothing also have an increased risk of developing the infection. Learn more about how long you, a loved one, or a pet could spread ringworm to another person. Ringworm can closely resemble another condition, nummular eczema.

Doctors also call nummular eczema discoid eczema or nummular dermatitis. The lesions are often itchy and scaly. A person with ringworm usually has fewer ring-like patches than a person who has nummular eczema. Sometimes the two conditions look so much alike that the only way to tell the difference is to see your doctor.

A doctor can take samples of the skin cells and send them to a laboratory for testing. Doctors treat nummular eczema in different ways from ringworm. This ring pattern gave ringworm its name, but not every infected person has it. The skin may flake, peel, or crack, and it can itch, sting, burn, or feel uncomfortable. Ringworm on the scalp may start as a small sore that looks like a pimple before becoming patchy, flaky, or scaly.

These flakes may look like dandruff. It can make some hair fall out or break into stubble, leaving a bald spot. It also can make the scalp swollen, tender, and red.

Sometimes, it causes a pus-filled mass known as a kerion. When the scalp is infected, it can cause swollen lymph nodes at the back of the head or neck. Ringworm on the nails may affect one or more nails on the hands or feet. The nails may become thick, white or yellowish, and brittle.

Ringworm is caused by fungi that normally live on the skin, hair, and nails called dermatophytes pronounced: der-MAH-tuh-fites. When the environment they live in gets warm and moist, they grow out of control and start to cause symptoms.

Besides spreading from person to person, ringworm can come from pets or other animals usually cats, dogs, or rodents. It thrives in warm, moist environments such as public showers, locker rooms, or pool areas. It can spread easily when people are in close physical contact.