1. Ringworm Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Skin Conditions Quiz
3. Childhood Skin Problems Pictures Slideshow

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Ringworm facts
• What does the term ringworm mean?
• Is ringworm contagious?
• What causes ringworm?
• What are the sources of skin fungi?
• What are risk factors for ringworm?
• What types of ringworm are there? What are ringworm symptoms and signs?
• How is ringworm diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for ringworm? Are there home remedies?
• How can ringworm be prevented?
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for ringworm?
• Pictures of Ringworm - Slideshow
• Pictures of Skin Conditions - Quiz
• Pictures of Childhood Skin Problems - Slideshow
• Patient Comments: Ringworm - Effective Treatments
• Patient Comments: Ringworm - Contagious
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Ringworm Index

Often, the diagnosis of ringworm is obvious from its location and appearance. Otherwise, skin scrapings for microscopic examination and a culture of the affected skin can establish the diagnosis of ringworm. If the diagnosis is unclear, a potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparation of a skin scraping can be reviewed under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis of a fungal dermatophyte infection. If a dermatophyte infection is present and the skin problem is misdiagnosed, inappropriate treatment might be prescribed that could actually worsen the infection.

Home remedies cannot cure ringworm. To cure ringworm, it is necessary to take antifungal medications. 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 around two weeks. 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), econazole (Spectazole), naftifine (Naftin), and terbinafine (Lamisil cream and solution). These treatments are effective for many cases of foot fungus as well. Many of these antifungal creams are available as over-the-counter preparations. It is usually necessary to use topical medications for at least two weeks.

Systemic treatment: Some fungal infections do not respond well to external applications. Examples include scalp fungus and fungus of the nails. To penetrate these areas and in cases of particularly severe or extensive disease, oral medications can be used.

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). Oral medications are usually given for a three-month course.