How long is ringworm contagious?

The skin develops a ring-shaped pattern due to the irritating, infectious fungal illness known as ringworm. The fungus can be prevented from spreading to other areas of your body or to others with over-the-counter and prescription medications.

Who develops ringworm?

Anyone may get illness at any age. If you have an autoimmune condition like lupus or a weaker immune system, you’re more likely to get ringworm.

Play high-contact activities like wrestling

Increased sweating (hyperhidrosis)

Use the public restrooms or showers

Spend time with animals who may have ringworm carefully

Ringworm species

Types Of Ringworm

It may occur almost everywhere on your body and has several names depending on where it is. Infections with illness include:

Athlete’s foot: A rash of itchy, burning skin develops between your toes and on the bottoms of your feet as a result of athlete’s foot, also known as tinea pedis. Your skin may begin to burn, blister, or split. You could occasionally have bad foot odor.
Jock itch: Tinea cruris, sometimes known as jock itch, causes an itchy, red rash on your groyne, upper thighs, or rectum. Blisters occur in certain persons.
Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis): This condition results in bald patches on your scalp that are scaly, red, and irritating. The bald areas may worsen and eventually become permanent if addressed.
Hands (tinea manuum): Dry, cracked palms and ring-like areas are indications that you have ringworm on your hands.
Beard (tinea barbae): It occurs on your cheeks, chin, and beard. The spots might develop a crusty surface or fill with pus.

Fingernails and toenails affected with tinea unguium or onychomycosis develop thick, discoloured, and malformed nails.

How does ringworm appear?

Typically, it starts as a flat, discoloured patch that may be red in people with lighter complexions or brown in people with darker complexions. The patch has a raised, scaly border and a ring-like structure or circular shape.

Why does the illness develop?

It is actually a fungus, despite its name. Your skin, hair, and nails are home to this kind of fungus. However, the fungus begin to grow out of control when their habitat becomes hot and humid. Anytime the fungus on another person’s skin comes into touch with your skin, you might get this infection

How contagious is ringworm?

Contagious ringworm exists. It may survive in dirt, on surfaces, and on your skin. It mostly spreads by:

• Touch with someone who has ringworm on their skin.
• Contact with a dog, cat, or other animal (livestock or a pet) that is afflicted.
• Contact with a polluted surface, such as the floor of a locker room or sweaty athletic equipment.
• Sharing items like a brush, towel, or mattress with a sick person or animal.
• Polluted ground.

How is ringworm identified?

By examining your skin and considering your symptoms, your doctor can determine if you have ringworm. To examine the skin cells under a microscope, they can scrape the region. It is often identify by examining the scales.

How is ringworm managed?

It can be treated with a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription antifungal drugs. The many types of antifungals include creams, gels, and powders. With oral antifungal medicine, your healthcare professional can treat more severe cases of it.

Conclusion

The fungus that causes ringworm can be unpleasant, but antifungal drugs can help you get rid of it. Although the course of therapy may be lengthy, it’s crucial to adhere to it for the whole duration advised by your healthcare professional. It can reappear and become more difficult to treat if therapy is stop too soon.