Although the term ringworm sounds like just a worm and a ring, it is very far from that. Ringworm is a serious skin disease that can also affect the nails and scalp too.
Ringworm first starts out as a red rough patch or a bump. It becomes very itchy and uncomfortable, and over time it may start forming into a ring shape with itchy, red bumps surrounding it. But, not every person who is infected develops the rings.
Ringworm can also be known as athlete's foot, once it affects the feet. Athlete's foot usually doesn't involve the rings like in ringworm on other areas of the body, instead, usually there are scaly, itchy patches between the toes. Ringworm can also be found on the scalp, in this case, it begins resembling a pimple, before becoming patchy, flaky, or scaly. This can cause the hair on the infected area to fall out, or cause the scalp to become tender or swollen. Ringworm can also affect the nails on the the hands or feet. The nails might become very thick and become a deep yellow or white color. It is also very common that the nails become very brittle.
Ringworm is very difficult to prevent. The fungi that cause it are extremely contagious, they easily spread from one person to another, you can also become infected from contact with animals.
The best you can do to protect yourself from the infection, is to just basically cover areas of your body that come in contact with public areas. Such as wearing flip flops in public showers and locker rooms, and to wash sports clothing very regularly. It is also important to shower and wash your hands every day, and especially after touching animals.
Ringworm is fortunately very easily treated. If ringworm is ever a problem for you, your doctor will recommend an anti fungal medication. Also, an ointment or cream will do the job for a skin infection but if the nails or scalp are infected the anti fungal medicine is the way to go.
by LT
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