Ringworm of the body

People with diabetes have a higher risk of fungal nail infections that can become severe and lead to bacterial infections.

What Causes Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections

Ringworm is caused by fungi and not a worm. The scientific names for the most common fungi that cause ringworm are Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Fungal nail infections can occur if fungi get under the nail through small cracks in the nail or surrounding skin.

Ringworm is very common and can be spread by:

• Skin-to-skin contact with people or animals with the infection.
• Shared objects (e.g., towels, bed sheets).
• Shared surfaces (e.g., locker room floors).

Some activities can increase the risk for getting ringworm, such as:

• Walking barefoot in public showers or locker rooms.
• Participating in contact sports like wrestling.
• Wearing tight shoes and socks.
• Excessive sweating.
• Close contact with animals.

Help protect yourself and others from ringworm.
May 9, 2024

Prevention methods

To help protect yourself from ringworm:

• Keep your skin clean and dry.
• Wear shoes that allow air to circulate freely around your feet.
• Wear protective footwear in areas like locker rooms or public showers.
• Clip your fingernails and toenails short and keep them clean.
• Change your socks and underwear at least once a day.
• Don’t share clothing, towels, sheets, or other personal items.

Athletes can help prevent ringworm by:

• Taking a shower right after practice, matches, or games.
• Keeping sports gear clean.
• Not sharing sports gear (helmets, etc.) with other players.
• Wearing shoes or sandals in locker rooms and public showers.

Wear sandals in public showers and locker rooms.

Outbreaks in schools and daycare centers

Ringworm sometimes causes outbreaks in schools and daycare centers. Take your child to see a pediatrician if he or she develops ringworm symptoms. Consider letting the school or teacher know so they can help prevent it from spreading to other children.

If there is an outbreak occurring at your child’s school or daycare, tell your child not to share personal items, such as clothing, hairbrushes, and hats, with other people. Check with your child’s school or daycare to see if he or she can still attend classes or participate in athletics. Contact your local health department for more information.

Using disinfectants to kill fungal spores‎

The spores of this fungus can be killed with common disinfectants like diluted chlorine bleach (1/4 cups per gallon water), benzalkonium chloride, or strong detergents. Never mix cleaning products. This may cause harmful gases.

Risk factors

Anyone can get ringworm, but people who have weakened immune systems may be especially at risk for infection and may have problems fighting off a ringworm infection.

People with diabetes have a higher risk of fungal nail infections that can become severe and lead to bacterial infections.

Some more severe forms of ringworm are becoming more widespread in other parts of the world. These forms are resistant to antifungal medications, meaning they cannot be treated by the medicines that usually kill the fungus. Travelers to these areas are at increased risk.

Pets

Bring your pet to the vet if you think they may have ringworm.

If your pet has ringworm, you can help protect yourself by taking these steps:

• Take your pet to the veterinarian right away for treatment.
• Wear gloves and long sleeves if you are handling a pet with ringworm.
• Wash your hands with soap and running water after contact with your pet.
• Vacuum the areas of the home that the pet commonly visits.
• Disinfect surfaces and bedding as appropriate.

Keep Reading: Info about pets and ringworm

Do not handle animals with ringworm if your immune system is weak in any way, especially if you:

• Have advanced HIV.
• Are undergoing cancer treatment.
• Are taking medications that suppress the immune system.

Keep Reading: How to stay healthy at petting zoos and other animal exhibits.

If one of your pets has ringworm, make sure you have every pet in the household checked for ringworm infection.

Ringworm of the body

Ringworm is a skin infection that is caused by fungi. It is also called tinea.

Related skin fungus infections may appear:

• On the scalp
• In a man’s beard
• In the groin (jock itch)
• Between the toes (athlete’s foot)

Causes

Fungi are germs that can live on the dead tissue of the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. Ringworm of the body is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes.

Ringworm of the body is common in children, but can occur in people of all ages.

Fungi thrive in warm, moist areas. A ringworm infection is more likely if you:

• Have wet skin for a long time (such as from sweating)
• Have minor skin and nail injuries
• Do not bathe or wash your hair often
• Have close contact with other people (such as in sports like wrestling)

Ringworm can spread quickly. You can catch it if you come into direct contact with an area of ringworm on someone’s body. You can also get it by touching items that have the fungi on them, such as:

• Clothing
• Combs
• Pool surfaces
• Shower floors and walls

Pets can also spread ringworm. Cats are common carriers.

Symptoms

The rash begins as a small area of red, raised spots and pimples. The rash slowly becomes ring-shaped, with a red, raised border and a clear center. The border may look scaly.

The rash may occur on the arms, legs, face, or other exposed body areas.

The area may be itchy.

Exams and Tests

Your health care provider can often diagnose ringworm by looking at your skin.

You may also need the following tests:

• Examination of a skin scraping from the rash under a microscope using a special test
• Skin culture for fungus
• Skin biopsy

Treatment

Keep your skin clean and dry.

Use creams that treat fungal infections.

• Creams that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, or oxiconazole, or other antifungal medicines, are often useful in controlling ringworm.
• You can buy some of these creams over-the-counter, or your provider may give you a prescription.

To use this medicine:

• Wash and dry the area first.
• Apply the cream, beginning just outside the area of the rash and moving toward the center. Be sure to wash and dry your hands afterward.
• Use the cream twice a day for 7 to 10 days.
• Do not use a bandage over ringworm.

Your provider may prescribe medicine to take by mouth if your infection is very bad.

A child with ringworm can return to school once treatment has started.

To prevent the infection from spreading:

• Wash clothing, towels, and bedding in hot, soapy water and then dry them using the hottest heat recommended on the care label.
• Use a new towel and washcloth every time you wash.
• Clean sinks, bathtubs, and bathroom floors well after each use.
• Wear clean clothes every day and do not share clothes.
• If you play contact sports, shower right away afterward.

Infected pets should also be treated. This is because ringworm can spread from animals to humans by contact.

Outlook (Prognosis)

Ringworm often goes away within 4 weeks when using antifungal creams. The infection may spread to the feet, scalp, groin, or nails.

Possible Complications

Two complications of ringworm are:

• Skin infection from scratching too much
• Other skin disorders that require further treatment

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your provider if ringworm does not get better with self-care.

Alternative Names

Tinea corporis; Fungal infection – body; Tinea circinata; Ringworm – body

Images

• Dermatitis – reaction to tinea
• Ringworm – tinea corporis on an infant’s leg
• Tinea versicolor – close-up
• Tinea versicolor – shoulders
• Ringworm – tinea on the hand and leg
• Tinea versicolor – close-up
• Tinea versicolor on the back
• Ringworm – tinea manuum on the finger
• Ringworm – tinea corporis on the leg
• Granuloma – fungal (Majocchi’s)
• Granuloma – fungal (Majocchi’s)
• Tinea corporis – ear

References

Dinulos JGH. Superficial fungal infections. In: Dinulos JGH, ed. Habif’s Clinical Dermatology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 13.

Hay RJ. Dermatophytosis (ringworm) and other superficial mycoses. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 266.

Patterson JW. Mycoses and algal infections. In: Patterson JW, ed. Weedon’s Skin Pathology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Limited; 2021:chap 26.

Review Date 11/18/2022

Updated by: Elika Hoss, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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