Ringworm: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Images, and More

If you’ve been diagnosed with ringworm, you may be wondering how you got infected with a worm. The answer: You didn’t. Ringworm isn’t actually a worm. It’s a fungus.

Ringworm is very contagious and spreads easily. But the good news is that treating ringworm is usually easy. Here, we cover everything you need to know about ringworm and how to get rid of this itchy rash fast.

What is ringworm?

Ringworm is a common skin infection. It’s caused by a fungus, not a worm. Ringworm gets its name from the fact that it causes an itchy rash that appears red, violet, or brown and in the shape of a circular ring. You can get ringworm anywhere on your body.

How do you get ringworm?

Ringworm is caused by a fungus that infects the skin. You can get ringworm through direct contact with:

• Other people: Touching someone’s ringworm rash can spread the infection.

• Pets: Dogs and cats can transmit the infection to people. And puppies and kittens are more likely to carry it.

• Contaminated objects: Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments and can spread through items like towels, shower floors, and gym equipment.

• Soil: Ringworm fungi can survive in soil and spread through contact with contaminated dirt. 

• Yourself: If you have ringworm on one part of your body, you can spread it to another part. 

What are the symptoms of ringworm?

The most common symptom of ringworm is an itchy, ring-shaped rash. Depending on your skin tone, it may be red, violet, or brown. The rash often has a scaly, raised border and may spread over time. It can look different, depending on which part of the body is affected (see below for more information and photos).

Other symptoms may include: 

• Scaly, flaky, or peeling skin

• Burning or stinging 

• Blisters or painful skin cracks (especially with athlete’s foot)

• Hair loss on the scalp or beard

• Thickened, discolored, or misshapen nails 

• A foul odor from the feet

What are the best treatments for ringworm?

Most cases of ringworm can be treated with an over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal cream.

Common options include:

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF, Clotrimazole 3)

• Miconazole (Monistat)

• Terbinafine (Lamisil AT)

• Tolnaftate (Tinactin)

• Butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra)

These creams are applied directly to the ringworm twice a day until the rash goes away. There’s no clear best choice among these options, so any of them are reasonable to try. 

It’s important to keep in mind that nystatin, which can treat other types of fungal infections, doesn’t work against ringworm.

Ringworm of the scalp or nails usually requires prescription oral antifungal medication. This treatment is taken by mouth, since creams don’t work well in these areas. 

If your rash isn’t improving after 2 weeks of treatment, see a healthcare professional. You may need prescription-strength medication. Or a different diagnosis should be considered. 

How can I prevent ringworm?

To help prevent getting ringworm, here are some tips to follow:

• Avoid walking barefoot in public spaces (especially showers).

• Avoid sharing items with someone who has ringworm.

• Wash your hands with soap and running water immediately after contact with animals.

• Shower immediately after contact sports.

• Keep sports gear clean.

• Avoid sharing helmets or combs.

What does ringworm look like?

Ringworm can vary in appearance, depending on where it occurs. It also goes by different medical names based on the affected body part. 

Tinea corporis (ringworm on the skin)

On the skin of the chest, back, arms, and legs, ringworm usually looks like a raised, ring-shaped rash. Depending on your skin tone, it can be: 

• Red or pink (in lighter skin) 

• Brown, violet, or gray (in darker skin)

The skin is often cracked or scaly, and you may notice some bumps inside the ring.

Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)

On the feet, ringworm causes a scaly rash that may appear red, brown, or gray. It often affects the bottom and sides of the feet and in between the toes. Some people develop blisters or painful skin cracks.

Tinea cruris (jock itch) 

Ringworm in the groin causes skin color changes, scaling, and small bumps. The rash may also spread to the upper thighs. 

Tinea capitis (scalp ringworm)

On the scalp, ringworm can have a red, brown, or gray scaly rash. It can also cause patches of temporary hair loss.

Tinea barbae (beard ringworm)

In the beard area of the face, ringworm causes a scaly rash and may lead to patches of temporary hair loss, similar to ringworm of the scalp.

Tinea faciei (face ringworm)

Ringworm on the face usually appears as a round, scaly rash. Depending on your skin tone, it may be red, brown, violet, or gray.

Tinea manuum (hand ringworm)

On the palms of the hands, ringworm often causes dryness, scaling, and peeling. On the back of the hand, ringworm can look like tinea corporis.

Tinea unguium or onychomycosis (ringworm of the nails)

When ringworm affects the nails, it can cause thickening, discoloration, and changes in nail shape.

Frequently asked questions

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Written by:

Shiv Sudhakar, MD

Shiv Sudhakar, MD, is a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America and works as a physician in California. He has co-authored over 10 peer-reviewed research articles and given 20 scientific presentations.

Edited by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.

Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.

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Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).