| Ringworms" refers to fungal infections that are on | | | | Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily. |
| the surface of the skin. Ringworm is a skin infection | | | | Occasionally, yellowish cuplike crusty areas are seen. |
| caused by a fungus. Ringworm can affect skin on | | | | With ringworm of the nails, the affected nails |
| your body (tinea corporis), scalp (tinea capitis), groin | | | | become thicker, discolored and brittle, or they |
| area (tinea cruris, also called jock itch), or feet. | | | | become chalky and disintegrate. Ringworm of the |
| Ringworm is a skin and scalp disease caused by | | | | body appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. |
| several different kinds of fungi. Ringworm on the | | | | Heat and moisture help fungi grow and thrive, which |
| scalp usually makes a bald patch of scaly skin. People | | | | makes them more common in skin folds such as |
| with ringworm on other parts of their skin can have | | | | those in the groin or between the toes. This also |
| a ring-shaped rash that is reddish and may be itchy. | | | | accounts for their reputation as being caught from |
| The rash can be dry and scaly or wet and crusty. | | | | showers, locker rooms, and swimming pools. Topical |
| Ringworm is easily transmitted to humans. About | | | | shampoo therapy is used in almost every case, |
| 50% of people living with a ringworm-infected cat will | | | | especially in longer haired pets. It is common to clip |
| develop the infection. Children and young animals are | | | | some or all of the hair in some pets to make it more |
| most susceptible to infections. Ringworm in animals | | | | effective. Specific anti fungal cremes are also used |
| usually appears as a rapidly growing circular patch of | | | | when a pet is infected in an area that already has |
| broken hair. A 'cigarette ash' dandruff appears on the | | | | sparse hair growth, or there are small, discrete |
| lesion and sometimes the patch has an inflamed | | | | lesions. |
| margin. The infection is more common in young | | | | Ringworm Treatment Tips |
| animals. In kittens, the patches usually occur on the | | | | 1. Keep your skin clean and dry. |
| head and feet. Ringworm of the body appears as | | | | 2. Apply over-the-counter antifungal or drying |
| flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. The edge is reddish | | | | powders, lotions, or creams. |
| and may be either dry and scaly or moist and | | | | 3. Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while |
| crusted. | | | | infected. |
| The term ringworm is a misnomer. It has nothing to | | | | 4. Topical shampoo therapy is used in almost every |
| do with worms. It is a fungus, or more correctly, one | | | | case, especially in longer haired pets. |
| of several fungi that can affect animals and humans. | | | | 5. Do not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, combs, |
| Today, many children, and pet owners get ringworm | | | | headgear, or other personal care items. |
| through direct or indirect contact with the infected | | | | 6. Wear sandals or shoes at gyms, lockers, and pools. |
| hairs or skin of pets. Ringworm of the scalp usually | | | | 7. Avoid touching pets with bald spots. |
| begins as a small pimple which becomes larger in size | | | | 8. Antifungal creams are readily available and may be |
| and leaves scaly patches of temporary baldness. | | | | efficient for small lesions. |