Ringworm is an infectious fungus disease that can affect any body part including the feet, scalp, and nails. Contrary to what the name might suggest, ringworms have nothing to do with a worm under your skin. Ringworm is named so because it forms a red ring on the infected person's skin. It can be transmitted by coming in direct contact with an infected person or pet. This skin condition can be caused by numerous kinds of mold-like fungi known as dermatophytes that survive on dead cells of the skin like hair and nails.

Ring worms often affect young children. Occurrence of ringworm is common in schools, children care homes, and infant nurseries. In addition, children with pets are at a greater risk of ringworm infection than others who do not have pets.

You can catch the infection by coming in contact with an animal with ring worm. Fungi causing ring worm can multiply while petting or cleaning dogs or cats. You can also get the infection from animals like cows, goats, and horses. Moreover, ring worm can spread by getting in touch with objects touched by an infected person or animal like clothing, upholstery, towels, bedding, combs and brushes.

In odd cases, humans can get ringworm through contact with infected soil. In case there are adequate nutrients in the soil, the mold fungi causing ring worms can exist for months or a much longer period. Infection is most likely to come about from long contact with highly contaminated soil.

Areas Where Ringworms Can Appear

Ring worm of the scalp generally starts with occurrence of a small pimple that keeps on growing, thereby, leaving crusty patches of short-term baldness. This makes the roots of infected hair weak and they easily break off. At times, a yellowish crusty area may also develop during the occurrence of ring worms. As opposed to this, ring worm of the body can occur as red patches anywhere on the skin excluding the scalp and feet. The center of expanding rash keeps on clearing the area producing a ring. In more severe cases of ringworms, several patches might appear, and they can overlap each other too. This causes acute inflammation on the infected area.

Talking about ring worm of the nails, it may affect one or more nails on either the person's hands or feet. In this case, the nails may grow to be thick, pale, and weak. However, the chances of this ringworm type occurring are less before puberty. See your doctor immediately if you notice a red, patchy, and itchy spot that you think can be ringworm.

When this skin condition appears on the feet, it is called athlete's foot. Generally, it results in rashes and patches between an individual's toes. Indeed, these ringworm rashes affecting the person's foot and jock-related areas may not look like rings at all, but will be red and scaly.

Treatment

Luckily, this disease is quite easy to detect and treat. Dermatologists can easily diagnose ring worm simply by looking at it. But in some cases, a doctor can scrape off a little part of flaky infected skin to detect it under microscope for fungus.

Doctors usually recommend an antifungal medication to the persons suffering from ring worm. Although, any good topical ointment or cream may take care of skin infections, but ring worms of the scalp and nails need oral antifungal medication. Your doctor will determine which treatment is suitable for you.

Like all skin ailments, prevention of ringworm occurrence demands general cleanliness and hygiene. Clothes, including your socks, should not encourage perspiration. Cotton clothing helps in preventing this condition.