Fungal
Ringworm
Ringworm
Characteristics
- Medical term as tinea corporis
- Ringworm is a lesion that starts as a flat, scaly spot which then develops a raised border that advances outward in a circle.
- Red, raised, and scaly
- Ringworm is a dermatophyte infection.
- Fungi that infect and survive on dead keratin
Symptoms
People may experience:
Skin: darkening of the skin, peeling, flakiness, fissures, red rashes, or scaly patches
Also common: hair loss or itchy scalp
- 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.
Treatment
Antifungal: Itraconazole (Sporanox), Terbinafine by mouth (Lamisil), Fluconazole
Antifungal to the affected area: Butenafine, Oxiconazole (Oxistat), Sulconazole, Naftifine (Naftin), Terbinafine (Lamisil), Econazole (Spectazole)
Other treatments: Ciclopirox to the affected area (Ciclodan), Griseofulvin (Gris-Peg)
Self-treatment
Antifungal: Clotrimazole to the affected area (Lotrimin), Miconazole to the affected area (Zeasorb), Ketoconazole
Other treatments: Pyrithione zinc to the affected area, Tolnaftate to the affected area, Selenium sulfide to the affected area
Also common
Preventive: Hygiene
History
The following are the most common fungi responsible for ringworm:
- Trichophyton rubrum
- Microsporum canis
- Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Ringworm is a fairly common skin problem throughout the world.
Bibliography
Works Cited
Brannon, MD Heather. "Ringworm - Tinea Corporis." Web. 14 Mar. 2015. <http://dermatology.about.com/cs/fungalinfections/a/ringworm.htm>.
"How Common Is Ringworm?" Health Blog Atom. Web. 14 Mar. 2015. <http://healthyone.org/how-common-is-ringworm/>.