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Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice – written to help you feel informed, confident and in control. Assess your symptoms online for free Browse discussions, ask questions, and share experiences across hundreds of health topics. A boil (furuncle) is an infection of a hair follicle.
Still, you should check with your healthcare provider before using over-the-counter antifungal creams or powders. The same fungi that cause ringworm can cause jock itch, athlete’s foot, and nail infections. People who have fungal toenail infections often have a fungal skin infection on the foot, especially between the toes. Ringworm, also called tinea, is a common skin infection caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes.

How common is ringworm?

Most commonly, treatment involves applying salicylic acid or freezing with liquid nitrogen or a cold spray. There is no need to stay off work or school once ringworm treatment has started. Antifungal creams and tablets are covered in more detail in the separate leaflet called Antifungal Medicines.
An antifungal medicine taken by mouth is sometimes prescribed if the ringworm infection is widespread or severe. For ringworm skin that is particularly inflamed, a doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid cream. These are good at clearing fungal skin infections such as ringworm. Generally speaking, ringworm and other fungal skin infections are contagious, but not especially so.
There is no evidence that any one cream is better than any other one. The rash may be irritating, itchy and inflamed. Sometimes only one patch of infection occurs.

• (It is not due to a worm as its name implies!) There are many types of fungal germs (fungi) and some can infect the skin, nails, and hair.
• Ringworm has different names based on where it appears on your body — and it can appear just about anywhere.
• Most medications are prescribed for between one and three months.
• In most cases, ringworm develops into a rounded, red, inflamed patch of skin.
• Globally, fungal skin infections are estimated to affect more than 650 million people at any time and of these, ringworm accounts for over half the cases (1).

There is a spreading outbreak of extensive and drug-resistant ringworm in many countries Symptoms of ringworm include itching, redness, and a characteristic ring-shaped rash. Contact a healthcare provider for an appropriate diagnosis.
Warts and verrucas usually clear in time without treatment. Ringworm is also more common in people living in a warm climate. This varies between the different creams, so the instructions should be read carefully.

Ringworm (tinea)

Not all ringworm treatments are suitable for everyone. This would normally be used for no more than seven days and an antifungal cream might need to be used alone for a time afterwards. An antifungal cream can be bought from pharmacies over the counter (OTC) or prescribed. This leaflet just deals with ringworm of the skin (sometimes called tinea corporis).
Ringworm is contagious and extremely common. Ringworm has different names based on where it appears on your body — and it can appear just about anywhere. This type of ringworm affects your arms, legs, torso and face.

• Your weekly dose of clear, trustworthy health advice – written to help you feel informed, confident and in control.
• This would normally be used for no more than seven days and an antifungal cream might need to be used alone for a time afterwards.
• Ringworm is usually diagnosed based on its characteristic appearance and symptoms.
• In some cases, incorrect treatment can worse the infection.
• It can be caused by ringworm or by infection with other types of fungi such as yeasts.
• For example, corticosteroid creams can be important for treatment of many skin infections.
• Prevalence of scalp infection among children in these areas may reach more than 25 % of school children under 10 (2).

A weak immune system or living in a damp, warm climate increases your risk of a fungal infection. They can allow the infection to spread and cover larger sections of skin. These betsomnia casino creams weaken your skin’s defenses. If you suspect you or your child has ringworm, don’t use anti-itch creams containing corticosteroids.

Can ringworm come back?

Several factors can increase the risk of developing ringworm. First reported in India, it has spread widely in communities in South-East Asia and is now increasingly reported in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas. Prevalence of scalp infection among children in these areas may reach more than 25 % of school children under 10 (2).
Fungal infections are also known as ‘jock itch’, ‘tinea’, ‘tinea infections’, ‘dermatophyte infections’ or ‘dermatophytosis’. Ringworm is a fungal skin infection caused by parasites that live on dead skin tissue. Treatment with an antifungal cream usually works well. Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus. While ringworm is usually not serious, it can lead to complications if left untreated or if the infection is severe. The type of medication and duration of treatment will depend on the location and severity of the infection.

Emerging severe ringworm

Ringworm is often described by the site of the body affected. Ringworm is characterized by the part of the body affected. Infections are difficult to treat, and some strains are antimicrobial-resistant. Ringworm spreads easily through direct contact with an infected person, animal, or contaminated surface. Ringworm can appear on different parts of the body including the scalp, feet (athlete’s foot), and groin (jock itch).

They may scrape the area to look at the skin cells under a microscope, too. It can live on your skin, on surfaces and in soil. However, when their environment gets hot and damp, the fungi start growing uncontrollably.

Antifungal creams for ringworm

You might be surprised to learn that a fungus — and not a worm — causes ringworm. Let your child’s teachers know they have ringworm. Ringworm is caused by a type of fungi. It’s important to use it for the right amount of time, even if the rash has gone away. Speak to a pharmacist first if you think you have ringworm.
Ringworm can affect various parts of the body, and the symptoms may vary depending on the location of the infection. There is a growing worldwide problem of ringworm or tinea extensively affecting the body, tinea corporis. Unlike ringworm, eczema isn’t contagious and doesn’t spread from one area to another on your body. Oral antifungal medications appear to be safe to take during pregnancy. It’s a fungal infection that gets its name from its ring-like border.
If it’s not itchy and annoying, it’s very unlikely the ringworm is fungal. Sometimes several patches of ringworm occur over different parts of the body. In most cases, ringworm develops into a rounded, red, inflamed patch of skin. WHO fungal priority pathogens list to guide research, development and public health action