Ringworm: Quick Guide to Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Ringworm is a common fungal skin infection that causes a red, itchy, circular rash. It is also called tinea and can affect the scalp, body, feet (athlete’s foot), groin (jock itch), and nails. The rash often looks like a ring with clearer skin in the center, but not always. Ringworm spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact, shared clothing, towels, or contaminated surfaces. Pets, especially cats and dogs, can pass it to people.
Spotting ringworm early helps you treat it faster. Typical signs include a round or oval patch, scaling, raised edges, itching, and slow growth outward from the center. Scalp infections may cause hair loss in patches. Nail infections make nails thick, brittle, or discolored. If a rash is warm, swollen, or pus-filled, it might be a bacterial infection instead—see a doctor.
How to treat ringworm at home
Most skin ringworm cases respond well to over-the-counter antifungal creams, sprays, or powders. Look for ingredients like clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine. Apply the product to the rash and one inch of surrounding skin twice daily for at least two weeks, and continue for a few days after the rash clears. Clean and dry the area before applying. For athlete’s foot, use a powder to keep feet dry and change socks daily.
If the infection involves the scalp, nails, or is widespread, oral antifungal pills prescribed by a doctor may be needed. Prescription topical products or a longer course of treatment might also be required for stubborn cases. Always finish the full course your clinician recommends, because stopping early can cause the fungus to come back.
Preventing ringworm
Good hygiene cuts the risk a lot. Wash hands after touching a rash, and avoid sharing clothing, towels, or hairbrushes. Keep skin dry and change sweaty clothes quickly. When using shared gym spaces, wear flip-flops in showers and clean exercise mats. Check pets for patches of missing fur or scaly skin and take them to a vet if you suspect ringworm. If someone in the house is infected, wash bedding and towels in hot water and dry on high heat.
When to see a doctor: if the rash covers a large area, keeps spreading despite treatment, affects the scalp or nails, or looks infected with swelling and pus. Also seek care for young children, people with weakened immune systems, or if over-the-counter options don’t help after two weeks. Your clinician can confirm ringworm with a simple skin scraping or culture and choose the right medication.
With proper treatment and hygiene, most ringworm clears up in a few weeks. Prevent reinfection by treating pets, washing contaminated items, and keeping skin clean and dry.
Extra tips: trim nails to avoid spreading fungus underfingernails, avoid tight clothing over infected areas, and use separate towels for the infected person. Sterilize combs and brushes by soaking them in antifungal shampoo or hot water. If you get recurring infections, ask your doctor about testing for conditions like diabetes that make fungal infections more likely.
