Exactly What Is Ringworm

What Is Ringworm?

Many People believe that ringworm has an association with an actual worm invading or piercing the body or skin but this is in fact not true, despite the suggestive nature of the name. The medical term for ringworm is dermatophytosis and it is a clinical condition caused by an area of the body having a fungal infection. The dermatopyhtes feed on a substance known as keratin, which is found on the outer layers of our skin, hair and nails. They particularly like skin that is warm and moist and will thrive if presented with those conditions. It can occur in humans, domestic pets and animals such as horses, sheep and cattle.

Ringworm has existed for a long time and back in the early 1900s was treated rather harshly with various compounds of mercury, sulphur and iodine. The latest medical statistics would show that at any given point in time almost 20% of the population is infected by some variant of ringworm. The groups most at risk are among people who regularly play sports and children with small pets. Outbreaks of ringworm in schools are still a common occurrence.

What Is Ringworm? "" The Various Types

Face Fungus (Tinea Faciei)
Facial Hair Fungus (Tinea Barbae)
Scalp (Tinea Capitis)
Groin (Tinea Cruris) often known as jock itch
Feet (Tinea Pedis) often known as athlete"s foot
Body (Tinea Corporis)
Palms of Hands (Tinea Manuum)
Toe and Finger Nails (Tinea Unguium)

So as you can see, there are different variants of this contagious fungus. They appear in different formats on the human body depending on the type. On the body and skin it is usually a slightly raised red ring which is clear in the centre and hence the word "ring." On the feet it is usually a flaking or cracking of skin between the toes. Nails is probably the most severe as nails will discolour, become chalky and eventually disintergrate altogether.

There is no actual prevention to getting ringworm, but if one has it, the following hygiene suggestions will reduce the risk of infecting anyone else. Do not share any type of personal clothing, sport"s equipment, towels etc. The same applies to any bed linen and avoid direct contact with anyone. Washing all clothes in very hot water with some type of fungicidal soap is highly recommended. Keep the feet covered at all times and never walk barefoot on anything. Always stay well away from any pets or animals as they are very good carriers of ringworm.

What is ringworm in animals is slightly different to ringworm in humans. Animals don"t carry foot ringworm but will carry the other variants.


There are a wide variety of treatments for the various type of ringworm and if in any doubt you should consult your doctor. This is especially true if there is any history of liver disease or lupus in the family. It typically takes around two weeks to see an improvement and a further two week"s treatment is recommended to ensure there is no futher re-infection. Scalp, feet and nail ringworm are usually treated with tablets or pills and can take much longer, up to as long as two years, so this is not something that should be taken lightly.

What is Ringworm in Pets?

Usually impacts on the skin and in the hairs and is usually visible through baldy patches on the skin. You should consult your vet for proper testing and treatments and it can be expensive to have this treated properly. Usually the pet does have to be clipped but not shaved. The pet usually has to be dipped in some form of lime sulphur solution a few times each week. Again typically this lasts for up to eight weeks and is both time consuming and difficult. If the animal is in the house you must be very ruthless about ensuring that all surfaces are scrubbed clean and bleaching is recommended to prevent the spread of ringworm.

Ringworm is not something to be taken lightly and it involves a lot of work and care to ensure the disease does not spread, or re-infect over and over again.