Dermatophytid; Tinea

Symptoms of ringworm include:

• Itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze.
• The patches tend to have sharply-defined edges.
• Red patches are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center. This may look like a ring.

If ringworm affects your hair, you will have bald patches.

If ringworm affects your nails, they will become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

Most of the time, your health care provider can diagnose ringworm by looking at your skin. The fungus may glow when your skin is examined with a blue light (called a Wood's lamp) in a dark room.

Tests to confirm the diagnosis may include:

• KOH exam
• Skin biopsy
• Skin culture

Images

Ringworm, tinea corporis on an infant's leg

Ringworm, tinea capitis - close-up

Tinea (ringworm)

Ringworm, tinea corporis on the leg

Ringworm, tinea on the hand and leg

Ringworm, tinea manuum on the finger

Dermatitis, reaction to tinea

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Ringworm Overview

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Ringworm Treatment

Review Date: 05/24/2011
Reviewed By: Kevin Berman, MD, PhD, Atlanta Center for Dermatologic Disease, Atlanta, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)