What Are the Two Signs of Ringworm?

Top Signs of Ringworm: What to Look For & Why It Matters

Though the name may include the term “worm,” ringworm is not caused by any worm. It is a fungal infection that occurs due to the presence of mould-like fungi on the dead tissue of skin, nails, scalp, or hair. To identify whether you have ringworm, you must understand the signs and symptoms, causes, complications, and diagnosis procedures.

Here’s more on it!

What are the two most common signs of ringworm?

The most common signs of ringworm are the red, swollen, itchy, ring-like fungal infection and in some cases, particularly with severe infections, pus-filled patches or blisters may develop. However, depending on the type of ringworm, the symptoms may vary.

Here are the common types of ringworm and their symptoms:

• Tinea Corporis : Ringworms in the body are called tinea corporis. It is a ring-shaped, round infection with patches on the skin of your limbs and torso.
• Tinea Barbae : Ringworms in the beard are called tinea barbae or barber's itch. They appear like folliculitis, acne, or other skin conditions affecting the chin, cheeks, and upper neck. It can lead to bald patches, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Tinea Manuum : It occurs when you touch the affected areas of your body, like your foot or groin. It usually occurs on your hand, causing deep cracks and dry skin on the palm. Ring-shaped patches may also develop on the back of your hand if the fungal infection spreads.
• Tinea Cruris : It is also known as jock itch, a fungal infection that occurs on the skin of inner thighs, buttocks, and groin, mostly among adolescent boys and males. It appears as a discoloured rash on the area between your body and leg. You may experience a severe itching sensation after exercise if you have jock itch.
• Tinea Capitis : It is the ringworm infection on your scalp that usually affects the children. It starts as dandruff-like scaling that develops into bald patches. This itchy and scaly infection often causes the hair around it to fall off, causing bald patches.
• Tinea Unguium : Tinea unguium is a fungal infection that primarily affects toenails, causing them to thicken, discolour, crack, or lift from the nail bed. This happens because shoes create a warm, moist environment where fungi can thrive.
• Tinea Pedis : Tinea pedis, or athlete’s foot, is a fungal infection common among people walking barefoot in public areas. It begins as dry, scaly skin between the toes and can cause itching, burning, peeling, blisters, and an unpleasant odour.

What Causes Ringworm?

Ringworm may occur due to fungal infection from nearly 40 species of fungus. However, the most common fungi that cause ringworm are as follows:

• Epidermophyton
• Trichophyton
• Microsporum

These fungi can survive on your skin and various surfaces, especially in moist environments. They can also remain in the soil as spores for a long time.

What are the complications of ringworm?

If ringworms are not treated, they can easily spread to other parts of the body and other people, increasing the risk of infection. Untreated ringworm may lead to the following complications:

• Baldness : Hair loss and scarring, especially with scalp infections, can cause permanent bald patches.
• Hyperpigmentation : Dark marks or hyperpigmentation may remain on the skin after healing, particularly in people with darker skin tones.
• Deformities : Nail infections can cause deformities, thickening, or discolouration of the nails. Additionally, broken skin caused by ringworm can allow bacteria to enter, resulting in secondary infections that may cause pain, fever, or discharge.
• Majocchi Granuloma : A rare but serious complication is Majocchi granuloma, where the fungus penetrates deeper into the skin layers, making treatment more difficult.

Because of these potential risks, it is crucial to treat ringworm promptly to avoid lasting damage and further spread of the infection.

How to Diagnose Ringworm?

A doctor usually starts by closely examining your skin to diagnose ringworm. Sometimes, they may use a black light to look at the affected area, as certain types of fungi can glow under this light.

For a more accurate diagnosis, your doctor might perform additional tests.

• Biopsy : One common method is a skin biopsy or culture, where a small sample of skin or fluid from a blister is collected and sent to a laboratory to check for the presence of fungi.
• KOH (potassium hydroxide) Test : In this test, the doctor gently scrapes a bit of the affected skin onto a glass slide and adds a few drops of KOH solution. The KOH dissolves normal skin cells, making spotting fungal elements under a microscope easier. These methods help confirm ringworm and guide the best treatment.

Knowing the signs and symptoms of ringworm is necessary to implement the proper treatment procedures. Though you may try home remedies like garlic, coconut oil, tea tree oil, soapy water, etc., severe infections may need additional care. Therefore, it is necessary to consult with a dermatologist to get the proper treatment for ringworm.