Dry yourself completely after showering. Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) is a rash caused by a fungal infection. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites can all cause skin infections. It will be a bit of cleaning on your part, but well worth it to get rid of the ringworm! These products are often found in the foot care aisle and marketed for athlete's foot. Ringworm on the face outside of the beard area is called tinea faciei. These patches typically appear red on lighter skin or brown-gray on darker skin. Ringworm may involve the hands, particularly the palms and the spaces between the fingers. This condition may spread in schools. They can allow the infection to spread and cover larger sections of skin. Treatment is typically continued until two consecutive negative ringworm cultures are obtained, usually 2 to 4 weeks apart. Oozing sores are the bodys way of flushing infection. They may scrape the area to look at the skin cells under a microscope, too. Ringworm can infect almost Fungal infection: Ringworm of the body. Instead, discuss any you might like to try alongside proven treatments with your doctor. American Family Physician. What steps can I take to prevent ringworm from spreading to other parts of my body? Psoriasis is another skin condition that can sometimes resemble ringworm. Keep the affected area clean and dry. Early intervention is. information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist areas, such as the skin folds of the groin area or between the toes. Dermatophytosis, also known as ringworm, is a fungal infection of the skin. Ringworm can closely resemble another condition called nummular eczema. (2018). However, most are successfully treated by applying an anti-fungal ointment to the infection site. The lesions are often itchy and scaly. Wear clean breathable fabrics, like cotton, around feet and genitals. For moreCat's Health Guides, please visit Cattybox! The first-choice medication is usually griseofulvin (Gris-Peg). You can get this infection anytime your skin comes into contact with the ringworm fungus on someone elses skin. Affected nails may become thicker or discolored. This usually starts as an itchy red, brown, or gray rash where your leg and body meet. The itching may intensify after exercise and may not improve after using anti-itch cream. Tinea capitis often appears as patchy, scaling bald spots on the scalp. It can affect 20% to 25% of the worlds population at any given time. Plaque psoriasis skin lesions are usually larger, involve more areas of your skin, and occur in distinct locations, like your lower back, elbows, and knees. Treating pets for ringworm, if theyre infected. Practicing healthy and hygienic behaviors can help prevent ringworm. Nevertheless, in other more difficult cases, it takes much more time to diagnose ringworm in cats, particularly in long-furred cats. Don't share clothing, sports gear, towels, or sheets. Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? While ringworm is present on your skin, youre still contagious to others. No worm is involved. If you have athlete's foot, put your socks on before your underwear to prevent spreading to your groin. (2010). Other potential complications include: The complications of tinea capitis can be worrisome because it can produce life-long permanent hair loss. This type of ringworm affects your arms, legs, torso and face. The characteristic "ring" that we see on humans does not always appear as a ring on animals. Each of these oral medications help treat the most common type of ringworm in cats, Microsporum. McGraw-Hill Education; 2016. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Get practical pet health tips, articles, and insights from our veterinary community delivered weekly to your inbox. In: Mind the Gap: A Handbook of Clinical Signs in Black and Brown Skin. Signs and symptoms of ringworm may include: Talk to your doctor if you have a rash that doesn't begin to improve within two weeks of using an over-the-counter antifungal product. Yes, you can get ringworm from dogs, cats and other animals like cows, goats or horses. Plaque psoriasis is a disorder due to immune dysfunction that produces inflammatory plaques on your skin. Cats may have circular thickened patches of skin with hair loss. Lets cover the stages of healing so you can get an idea of where you might be in the process and then well cover some other FAQs about ringworm. Disinfectant sprays like Lysol or bleach can remove the fungus. You get ringworm from contact with an infected person, animal or object. Most often it will appear on one of these areas of the body: the toes and feet (tinea pedis; athletes foot), underarms or torso (tinea corpus),and the genitals or buttocks (tinea cruris; jock itch). These are called zoonotic. Please also note: if you have pets, your home is even more susceptible to the never ending cycle of ringworm and the passing of ringworm back and forth until the fungus is removed from your home. It can have a red center (seen here) or normal skin tone inside the ring. Using a public shower or public pool may also expose you to the infectious fungi. Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 10/21/2022. Although the fungus is dead and no longer harmful, the DNA is still present so the test will remain positive. Direct contact with a fungal spore causes infection, but the skin must already be open, through a scrap or scratch, in order to infect. Featured Image Credit: Yaya photos, Shutterstock. Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which makes them more common in areas where you sweat. Ringworm goes by different names depending on which body part it affects. When you are applying the anti-fungal ointment every day, you may wonder about some things you see at the infection site: Dry or flaky skin is a sign that the fungus is being deprived of the damp, musty conditions it needed to grow. Jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm of the body can all typically be treated with topical medications, such as antifungal: Some severe cases may be treated with oral medications. Here are six simple ways to treat ringworm. The fungal spore is very hardy and can survive and remain dormant on bedding, carpet, furniture, brushes, and/or other surfaces for up to 18 months. Ringworm of the scalp or nails may require prescription-strength oral medications, such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG) or terbinafine. This skin irritation often looks like a ring on your cat. Artificial nails increase the risk for tinea unguium as emery boards can carry infection, and water can collect under the artificial nail, creating a moist area for fungal growth. It may be passed by direct contact with an infected animal or person, the soil, or a contaminated surface. cloth. Follow your healthcare providers treatment plan until the infection clears completely. They will usually have a loss of fur on their skin, often in a circular pattern. The fungi that cause this infection are known as dermatophytessome dermatophytes only infect a single species, while others will infect several different species and spread from species to species. Otherwise, doctors can test skin scrapings for tinea fungus. The spray is known for getting into hard to reach places. Take your pet to the vet if it has patches of missing hair, which could be a sign of a fungal infection. Wash sweat and grime from skin and hair as soon as possible following vigorous activity. 1. On the face, ringworm is rarely ring-shaped. Lesions are most likely to be found on the skin on your cats head, chest, front legs, and spine. This type of fungus naturally lives on your skin, hair and nails. What is Ringworm? All rights reserved. Ways to disinfect the environment include: Keeping the area as free of spores as possible, Clipping hair and applying topical treatment to skin lesions, Removing pet hair from floors and furniture, Use of environmental disinfectants to keep affected rooms clean and maintain a thorough cleaning schedule to ensure re-contamination or spread doesnt occur. For these furry four-legged friends that have been susceptible to repeated infection living in these environments, it is necessary that pet owners and shelter workers always keep the environment clean and routinely wash their hands as well as clothes. What You Need to Know. Lifestyle: Free-roaming or outdoor animals are more likely to encounter fungal spores from the environment. Ringworm is not caused by a worm. Steroid creams can be helpful for some skin problems and can even temporarily reduce ringworm symptoms like itching and redness. Ringworm infections include: Ringworm typically begins as a flat, discolored patch, which may appear red in lighter complexions and brown in darker complexions. The What Kills It Team is a skilled, research-loving group of micro-biology nerds! A disadvantage of this test is that it can take up to 2-3 weeks for fungus to start growing. You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. If left untreated, ringworm can spread to other areas of your body. Any breed, age, or gender of cat can get ringworm. What You Need to Know! With kerion, you may develop crusty, pus-filled sores, often with hair loss and scarring. Ringworm of the beard, also called tinea barbae, affects your cheeks, chin, and upper neck and can cause bald patches. Exposure to pets. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medications and antifungal skin creams as well. Contact with a contaminated surface, such as a locker room floor or sweaty gym clothes. Majocchis granuloma: Current perspectives. These lesions are usually not itchy at first but can become itchy if severe scaling or bacterial infection occurs. Ringworm gets its name because of its appearance. (6) Credit: Dr. H.C. Robinson / Photo Researchers, Inc. The infection is called "ringworm" because it can cause an itchy, red, circular rash. You may need prescription medication. 5 /17. Follow your doctors instructions. You should also talk with your doctor before using any medications if you are breastfeeding. Also called Tinea capitis, it causes small patches of itchy, scaly skin. Unfortunately, in the cat communities of the feline population such as cat shelters, especially animal rescues, completely getting rid of the environment and furry friends of fungal spores is, without doubt, such a challenging task. Ringworm may spread from an affected area to other parts of the body, such as the: Symptoms vary depending on where the infection occurs. It feeds off of protein in hair and skin. You might also see the following: The first step in treating ringworm is, of course, taking your cat to the vet for a proper diagnosis. Infections can range from mild to severe. If you dont, it may spread and grow. WhatKillsIt.com publishes content that may include sponsored posts or links. Regardless of the medication of choice, if youre pregnant and have ringworm, its best to ask your doctor first before using any kind of medication or home remedy to treat your condition. If your cat loses a patch of hair, look closely for a thick or scaly rash or lesion on the skin. Antifungals come in various forms like creams, gels or powders. Support for use of these remedies is mostly anecdotal. Ringworm is a skin infection that can affect cats, humans, and other pets. Ringworm most commonly affects the skin on the body (tinea corporis), the scalp (tinea capitis), the feet (tinea pedis, or athlete's foot), or the groin (tinea cruris, or jock itch).

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