Ringworm
(Tinea)
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Ringworm Treatment
Learn about treating ringworm
Ringworm can be treated topically (with external applications) or systemically (for example, with oral medications):
Topical treatment: When fungus affects the skin of the body or the groin, many antifungal creams can clear the condition in two weeks or so. Examples of such preparations include those that contain clotrimazole (Cruex cream, Desenex cream, Lotrimin cream, lotion, and solution), miconazole (Monistat-Derm cream), ketoconazole (Nizoral cream), and terbinafine (Lamisil cream and solution). These treatments are effective for many cases of foot fungus as well.
Systemic treatment: Some fungus infections do not respond well to external applications. Examples include scalp fungus and fungus of the nails. To penetrate these areas, oral medications are necessary.
For a long time, the only effective antifungal tablet was griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, and Gris-PEG). Now, other agents are available that are both safer and more effective. These include terbinafine, itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). Reputations die hard, however, and many people continue to fear that even these newer agents are "bad for the liver," when in fact they are quite safe when used properly.
How is ringworm treated? Read All About Treating Ringworm »
What does the term ringworm mean?
The term ringworm or ringworms refers to fungal infections that
are on the surface of the skin. The name is derived from the early belief was
that the infection was due to a worm, which it is not. Ringworm is a fungal infection in the skin. Nevertheless, the name ringworm has stuck. Some of these fungi produce round spots on the skin but many do not. On the other hand, many round spots on the skin are not due to a fungal infection. A physical examination of the affected skin, evaluation of skin scrapings under the microscope, and culture tests can help doctors make the appropriate distinctions. A proper diagnosis is essential to successful treatment.
The medical term for ringworm is tinea. (Tinea is the Latin name for a growing worm.) Doctors add another word to indicate where the fungus is located.
Tinea capitis, for instance, refers to scalp ringworm, tinea corporis to fungus of the body,
tinea pedis to fungus of the feet, and so on.
What causes ringworm?
Although the world is full of yeasts, molds, and fungi, only a few
cause skin problems. These agents are called the dermatophytes,
which means "skin fungi." An infection with these fungi is sometimes known as dermatophytosis. Skin fungi can only live on the dead layer of keratin protein on top of the skin. They rarely invade deeper into the body and cannot live on mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or vagina.
Scientific names for the most common of the dermatophyte fungi include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton interdigitale, and/or Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, and Epidermophyton floccosum.
What are the sources of skin fungi?
Some fungi live only on human skin, hair, or nails. Others live on animals and only sometimes are found on human skin. Still others live in the soil. It is often difficult or impossible to identify the source of a particular person's skin fungus. The fungi may spread from person to person (anthropophilic), from animal to person (zoophilic), or from the soil to a person (geophilic).
Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which makes them more commonly found in skin folds such as those in the groin or between the toes. This also accounts for their reputation as being caught from showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. This reputation is exaggerated, though, since many
people with "jock itch" or "athlete's foot" have not contracted the infection from locker rooms or athletic facilities.
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Next: What types of ringworm are there? What are the symptoms? »
- ketoconazole, Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel, Kuric - Learn about ketoconazole (Nizoral, Extina, Xolegel, Kuric), a drug used to treat a variety of fungal infections such as dandruff, jock itch, athlete's foot, and ringworm.
- Rash - Learn about rash causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Common skin rashes include poison ivy, hives, shingles, eczema, contact dermatitis, ringworm, psoriasis and impetigo.
- clotrimazole, Lotrimin, Mycelex - Read about clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) medication prescribed for vaginal yeast infections, thrush, jock itch, athlete's foot, and tinea versicolor. Side effects, drug interaction, and dosage information is included.
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Athlete's Foot »
What is athlete's foot?
Athlete's foot is a very common skin infection of the foot caused by fungus. The fungus that commonly causes athlete's foot is called
Trichophyton. When the feet or other areas of the body stay moist, warm, and irritated, this fungus can thrive and infect the upper layer of the skin. Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp, trunk, extremities (arms and legs), hands, feet, nails, groin, and other areas.
Athlete's foot is caused by the ringworm fungus ("tinea" in medical jargon). Athlete's foot is also called tinea pedis. The fungus that causes athlete's foot can be found on many locations, including floors in gyms, locker rooms, swimming pools, nail salons, and in socks and clothing. The fungus can also be spread directly from person to person or by contact with these objects.
However, without proper growing conditions (a warm, moist environment), the fungus may not easily infect the skin....
Read the Athlete's Foot article »
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