What are the symptoms of ringworm?

Despite its creepy-crawly name, ringworm isn’t caused by something you might find under a rock in your garden, the name instead refers to the ring-shaped rash that appears as part of the condition. It’s important to know the symptoms of ringworm so you can get on top of it early.

What is ringworm?

Also known as dermatophytosis, dermatophyte infection, or tinea, ringworm is a highly contagious infection found on the skin and scalp and can infect both humans and animals. It is caused by common mould-like parasites that live on the cells in the outer layer of skin. 

Many areas of the body can be impacted once someone is infected with the condition. 

The following areas are the most common:

• Feet (tinea pedis also known as ‘athlete’s foot’)
• Beard (tinea barbae)
• Hands (tinea manuum)
• Scalp (tinea capitis)
• Groin (tinea cruris also known as ‘jock rot / itch’)
• Toenails or fingernails (tinea unguium)
• Torso, arms, or legs (tinea corporis)

How do you get ringworm?

Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread from human to human as well as from animal to human through skin-to-skin contact. The ringworm fungi that cause the infection can also live on bedding, towels, clothes, and surfaces as well as on skin. Once treatment begins humans are still contagious for the first 48 hours and in animals for about three weeks. The actual fungal spores can live for up to 20 months.

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

Typically, ringworm will present as red and scaly on the skin, it can darken the skin, cause peeling, raised ring-shaped rashes, fissures, in some cases hair loss and can be incredibly itchy. Some of the symptoms depend on where the infection is for example

• Scalp – ringworm in the scalp is more common in children than adults. It is itchy, red, scaly and leaves circular bald spots
• Feet – peeling, red swollen itchy skin between the toes
• Groin – red spots, scaly, itchy, and usually in the folds of the skin and thighs
• Beard – red spots in the beard and on the chin, cheeks, and upper neck. May cause the hair to fall out.

How to treat ringworm

If you are experiencing symptoms, you should speak to a doctor to find out the right treatment for you. You can request a telehealth consultation with one of our Australian-registered doctors from anywhere in Australia, seven days a week.