Are Ringworm and Candida the Same?

Ringworm is a fungal skin and nail infection. It causes an itchy, red rash in the shape of a circle, as the name suggests. It is also called dermatophytosis or tinea. Ringworm can happen on lots of different parts of your body, which gives it a different name. These can include:

• Tinea capitis on your scalp
• Tinea pedis on your feet, called athlete’s foot
• Tinea cruris on your groin, called jock itch
• Tinea manuum on your hands

You can also get it on your beard, fingernails or toenails, and your arms or legs.

Over 40 different types of fungi can cause ringworm, including Microsporum, Epidermophyton, Tricophyton.

Ringworm mainly causes a skin rash. It can look silver, red, or darker than the skin around it, depending on your skin color. The rash also:

• Appears in a circle shape
• Slowly gets biggers
• Affects only one side of your body
• Is raised and rough

As the rash grows, the center of it often clears so that it has a strong ring border. It can also cause peeling and cracking skin, and hair loss on an infected scalp or beard.

You can treat most cases of ringworm with over-the-counter antifungal cream, lotion, or powder. These medications include:

• Miconazole
• Terbinafine
• Clotrimazole
• Ketoconazole

Follow the instructions on the bottle. Generally, you will need to apply the cream to your skin for two to four weeks. If it doesn’t get better, talk to your doctor.

If you have scalp ringworm, you will likely need to take prescription pills and use a prescription antifungal shampoo. The other products don’t work well for scalp ringworm, so make sure to talk to your doctor for treatment.

Candida is a type of fungi called yeast that causes an infection known as candidiasis. Candida is technically the fungi name, but the infection is often just called candida.

Where ringworm affects the skin and nails, candida lives on your skin and also inside your body. Lots of people have Candida in the gut, mouth, throat, and vagina, but don’t have an infection. If the Candida grows out of control, you will have an infection.

There are different names, depending on where you have the infection. These include:

• Oral candidiasis, an infection in the mouth called thrush
• Vaginal candidiasis, yeast infection in the vagina
• Candidal leukoplakia, ongoing infection in the mouth that causes plaques
• Erythematous candidiasis, infection in the mouth after taking antibiotics
• Small intestinal fungal overgrowth, an infection in the gut called SIFO
• Cutaneous candidiasis, infection on the skin

Candida can also get into your blood and internal organs and cause a severe infection called invasive candidiasis. This can get into your kidneys, brain, eyes, and other parts. Candidiasis in your blood is called candidemia and commonly happens to people who are hospitalized.

There are lots of different species of Candida. The most common is called Candida albicans. Another type called Candida auris is now resistant to lots of different medications.

Symptoms of a Candida infection can vary depending on where you have it. Some symptoms can include:

• Burning when you pee
• Itchy vagina
• Irritated vagina
• White discharge that looks like cottage cheese
• Vaginal rash
• Penis rash
• Yellow or white rash on your tongue
• Red, sore mouth
• Cracking at the corners of your mouth
• Pain when you swallow
• Fever, chills, and low blood pressure with candidemia
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Belching
• Bloating

You can find some over-the-counter vaginal treatments that you insert into your vagina and some antifungal treatments that can help with skin irritation. Generally, you will need antifungal medicine from your doctor to treat a Candida infection.

Candida can appear on your skin, but it looks slightly different. Where ringworm creates a red, circular rash, candida on the skin is a red rash that crusts over with white or yellow discharge.

If you have a rash that isn’t getting better with non-prescription treatment, talk to your doctor. You might need different prescription medication.