Ringworm pictures can help you identify this common infection.
The infection is not resulting from a worm but rather by one of about 40 differentfungus types.
The itchy, circular rash usually starts small and expands outward.
Infographic by Verywell Health
This article shows pictures of ringworm along with a description of signs and symptoms.
Infographic by Verywell Health
What Are the Symptoms of Ringworm?
The scaly area progresses quickly to form the classic ringworm rash, circular in shape with slightly raised edges.
DermNet /CC BY-NC-ND
As the rash spreads, the ring will grow outward in a symmetrical circular pattern.
With that said, the rashes aren’t always circular.
You may have just one or several rashes, and they may either be separate or overlap.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Small blisters may also form within the patchy skin, causing oozing and crusting.
In some cases, the skin inside the ring may be clear and appear normal.
At other times, the rash may resemble a bullseye.
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This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
The rash can sometimes feel wet or develop crusting.
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet NZwww.dermnetnz.org2022.
Tinea barbae can also cause bumps and blisters that are easily confused withacne.
Tinea barbae causes inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis).
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Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
How Quickly Does Ringworm Develop?
You may also notice a callus-like thickening of the skin.
Your feet might also experience burning or stinging sensations.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet and © Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
If left untreated, the soles of your foot may thicken like a callus.
Athlete’s foot is common in teens and adults and rarely seen before adolescence.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet and Raimo Suhonenwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
The rash can easily spread to the genitals, thighs, buttocks, and stomach.
Jock itch blisters in the groin area can easily be mistaken for genital herpes.
Jock itch is more common in males, especially during warmer weather conditions.
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It very rarely affects females.Like athlete’s foot, jock itch is rare in children.
Reproduced with permission from DermNetdermnetnz.org2024.
Also known asonychomycosis, this hard-to-treat fungal infection can cause nails to become discolored, thickened, and brittle.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
In severe cases, the nail may separate from the nail bed and fall off.
Tinea unguium affects roughly 10% of adults with older adults being most commonly affected.
Males have nail fungus more than females.
What Are the Possible Complications of Ringworm?
Serious complications from ringworm are rare.
In the vast majority of cases,ringworm goes away quickly with treatment.
This is calledpost-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
The discoloration can be long-lasting but generally fades over time.
Some people, including those with dark complexions, are more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than others.
This can lead to a severe bacterial infection known ascellulitisthat involves deeper tissues.
Kerions most commonly occur with tinea capitis or tinea barbae, causing folliculitis and large patches of hair loss.
Some people also experience fever and malaise (a general feeling of unwellness).
This shows up when the fungus travels down hair follicles and infects the deeper skin layers, called thedermis.
Patchy hair loss is common.
Is Ringworm Contagious?
Animals can also spread ringworm to people, including dogs and cats (and especially kittens and puppies).
What Causes Ringworm?
Ringworm can be because of around 40 different fungus types.
When an infection is established, the fungus produces spores that get embedded in the skin.
This allows the fungal colony to grow, causing an expanding rash.
These include:
How Is Ringworm Diagnosed?
Ringworm is confirmed by exposing scrapings to a solution calledpotassium hydroxide (KOH).
The KOH solution works by destroying healthy skin cells, leaving only fungal cells behind.
Under UV light,Microsporumspecies will appear blue.
How Is Ringworm Treated?
Ringworm usually doesn’t get better on its own without treatment.
The appropriate treatment for ringworm is a class of drugs calledantifungals.
These come in topical formulations you apply to the skin or oral formulations you take by mouth.
The following approaches are recommended:
Do not use creams that contain steroids to treat ringworm.
Steroid creams weaken the skin’s defenses.
This allows the ringworm infection to spread and cover an even larger area of your body.
Ringworm on the scalp can be more difficult to treat.
What Conditions Are Mistaken Ringworm?
These include:
Can Ringworm Be Prevented?
Summary
Ringworm is a common fungal infection that causes a ring-shaped skin rash.
Hair loss can also occur.
Although ringworm pictures can help you identify this infection, remember ringworm doesn’t always cause a ring-shaped rash.
Ringworm is easy to confuse with other skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, or herpes.
See a healthcare provider to obtain the right diagnosis and treatment for your symptoms.
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