{"id":959,"date":"2017-06-28T07:33:40","date_gmt":"2017-06-28T07:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=959"},"modified":"2021-03-12T16:34:02","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T16:34:02","slug":"13-common-symptoms-ringworm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/13-common-symptoms-ringworm\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Most Common Symptoms of Ringworm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The name \u2018ringworm\u2019 is a particularly unpleasant choice for a rash. This conjures images of an infestation or parasites and the imagination does all kinds of vulgar things with these imaginary, ring shaped critters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The good news? Ring worm is actually not caused by microscopic parasites. Rather, this is simply a rash that might appear a little like it is caused by worms. That\u2019s because it creates small rings around the skin which with a little imagination, could resemble the outlines of worms living just underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while this might not be quite as horrible a condition as you at first imagined, don\u2019t be fooled into thinking that it is harmless either. The most upsetting part of ringworm is the fact that it is highly contagious to the point that direct skin-to-skin contact can cause others to get the same condition. Making matters worse, it can also spread via your clothing or bedding, meaning you\u2019ll need to wash them very thoroughly on a very high heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It gets worse though, as of course this also means you have to be incredibly careful touching other people \u2013 you\u2019ll become Rogue from the Xmen (an obscure reference for the comicbook fans there). This means you can\u2019t ask for a hug or a massage and generally, you may lack intimacy for a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And on top of all that, coming into contact with others on the train or the bus is just as bad \u2013 meaning that you\u2019ll need to wear long sleeves or pants to cover the affected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a sad existence but there\u2019s yet another wrinkle making life more difficult still: ringworm can spread around your own body very quickly too. That is to say you will now be contagious to yourself. Reach down to scratch the mark and you can end up getting it on your hand! Touch your face and now you have it on your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are ways around this, most of which involve covering the offending areas and employing a lot of self-control. But it\u2019s really no fun and it can last a long time. So how do you know if you\u2019ve got it and you need to start being super careful? Let\u2019s take a look at some of the warning signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  Rings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most obvious symptom of ringworm<\/a> is the rash itself. This is a ring-like rash that appears on the skin and that is essentially the \u2018calling card\u2019 of this particular condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this rash to be ringworm, it will need to be red and irritated but with a light, healthy looking patch of skin in the center. This can vary in size and redness but it is that ring shape that you should look out for. Of course other things can cause a ring-shaped rash, including spider bites and tick marks, so you should check in with your doctor to get a proper diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.  Scalyness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You might find that the rings and the rash are \u2018scaly\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that the skin can become broken and flaky and that the rash<\/a> might be uneven. This is particularly noticeable when you itch, as the scales might come lose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one reason you need to be so careful, as it is through this process that the condition can spread when those scales end up in your bed or touching another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.  Blisters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Making life slightly more complicated is the fact that ring worm won\u2019t always appear as rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, ring worm can appear as a generally crust red rash, or might even look a little like acne<\/a>. In others, it can cause a blister on the skin or general lesions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These can become uncomfortable or even painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>4.  Hair Loss<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the more unpleasant side effects of ringworm is that it can cause hair loss. This isn\u2019t likely to occur in every case but rather is a result of the ring worm affecting the scalp<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This then cause the skin on the scalp to flake away, which can in turn also cause the hair to fall out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>5.  Dandruff<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On top of this, you might also notice that you have the appearance of what looks like dandruff<\/a> in the hair. This is caused by the skin flaking away and will likely get worse when you itch it. You can ease this discomfort and combat the appearance with a little tea tree oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This healthy, natural product is a natural antimicrobial and disinfectant, meaning it is able to kill off the tiny fungi (this is a fungal infection) that causes the symptoms. Tea tree oil is also moisturizing and nourishing for the skin and so can help to repair the damage done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.  Bleeding Feet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The technical name for ringworm is tinea <\/a>and the type of ringworm can be denoted with a word to identify the area being affected. For instance, ringworm is actually responsible for athlete\u2019s foot, which is known as \u2018tinea pedis\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of athlete\u2019s foot include itching, discomfort and eventually bleeding and flaking around the toes and particularly in between them. This is common as the moist, dark and warm environment that your shoes present can provide the perfect habitat for the fungi that causes tinea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to make sure you dry your feet thoroughly following swimming and to give them time to breathe out of your shoes in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.  Bleeding Palms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While your hands aren\u2019t quite as warm, dark and moist most of the time (hopefully!), they can still offer a good place for ringworm to spread. In particular, the crevices offered by the cracks on the palm of the hands can be a handy place for the fungi to set up shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might notice that the appearance here is very similar to Athlete\u2019s foot<\/a>, so you might find that you have bleeding and flaking from the hands and that it can be painful and uncomfortable to make a fist or cup the hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.  Jock Itch<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When ringworm affects the crotch area, it is known as \u2018jock itch\u2019<\/a> or more technically \u2018tinea cruris\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, the folds around the crotch area offer a perfect place for the fungi to grow and thus you might find yourself constantly scratching and itching the crotch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9.  Contagion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can tell if you have ringworm if the condition spreads very quickly to other people you know. Perhaps both you and your partner notice that you have a similar looking rash?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ringworm is one of the more contagious types of rash and this can rule out other potential causes of rashes, flakiness or bleeding such as psoriasis<\/a> or allergic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is also why it is so important to be considerate toward others, to keep yourself covered and to avoid unnecessary contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10.  Pets<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s another sign it might be ringworm: your pet has the same condition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Animals can also be affected by ringworm and are able to transmit the condition to humans. This makes ringworm an example of a \u2018zoonotic disease\u2019, which means it can be spread between animals and humans<\/a> alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This condition affects cats more often than dogs but both can be affected. In animals, the condition causes raised, crusted circular areas surrounding by hair loss. If you don\u2019t have a pet or don\u2019t notice these symptoms in your own pets, then think back to whether you remember petting a stray animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11.  Spreading<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Ringworm spreads between people rapidly and as mentioned, it can also spread around your own body. If you started out with jock itch and now you notice that you are losing clumps of hair or that you have a rash on your face, then there is a good chance that ringworm is responsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be a useful way of ruling out other kinds of rashes such as eczema<\/a> that do not travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12.  Nails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The same fungi responsible for ringworm can also cause a fungal nail infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can lead to a whitish thickening of your nail along with discoloration. The nail might feel brittle and soft, while the skin surrounding the area can become sore and irritated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, it is the nail bed rather than the nail itself that is the site of the infestation<\/a> but this results in changes to the nail that leave it brittle and weak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13.  Responsiveness to Treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many other causes of ringworm and even a doctor might make an incorrect diagnosis when trying to treat this condition. Ringworm should respond successfully to a topical or oral treatment or antifungal<\/a> medications. These can be somewhat unpleasant in some cases and leave you unable to drink alcohol and potentially cause other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you treat the condition with this medication and it improves rapidly, then chances are that you had a fungal infection such as ringworm. Failing that, the issue might be eczema or another kind of rash, in which case you\u2019ll need to look into other treatment options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, seeing your doctor quickly is the fastest way to find out for sure and to solve the problem once and for all!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Excessive itchiness.<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter what part of your body is affected by ringworm, you will definitely experience itchiness. The itching<\/a> can become nagging and extremely severe. Though your first reaction will likely be to scratch the itching, try to avoid it as much as possible. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scratching ringworm can spread the infection, not only to other people, but to other parts of your body. For example, it could spread under your fingernails, or you could pass it from your fingers to your groin. You could also pass the infection to other people if you make contact with someone else without washing your hands, or place your hand on an object that others will touch.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Weeping skin.<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When ringworm leads to the development of sores and blisters,<\/a> they can ooze and weep with pus. This ooze is concerning, as it contains the infection and can make it easier to spread. Once the skin stops oozing, the blisters can crust over, creating skin that is hard, flaky, itchy and tender. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These weeping blisters often appear between the toes and the fingers; however, they can also develop on the scalp. If you notice that your are developing blisters and they start to weep, make sure to wash your hands immediately in the event that you touch them. Doing so will help to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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