Here are some of the top ways you can get ringworm: Touching, touching, and touching.
So yeah, by touch.
And summer means more opportunities to touch things that might infect you with ringworm,
because ringworm thrives in warmer weather that’s often damp, wet, some might say…
Contrary to its name ringworm isn’t a worm.
It's actually a skin infection that’s caused by a fungus.
And there are dozens of different fungal species that can cause it, typically from one of these
three genera.
In the United States, the species Trichophyton rubrum has more recently stole the spotlight,
now causing the majority of ringworm cases.
They can infect different parts of your body.
So...this is ringworm.
But so is this.
And this.
And also jock itch.
The goodish news is that although ringworm is easy to spread it’s less harmful than
a lot of other highly transmittable diseases, like measles or ebola.
That’s because the fungal species that cause ringworm eat keratin and keratin is on the
outside of you: it makes up much of your hair, nails, and skin cells.
Because it’s limited to these areas ringworm thankfully can’t get more than skin deep
and, say, start eating your internal organs!
But could you imagine how crazy that horror film would be?
Sorry, got off track.
Anyway...
Keratin is a structural protein that contains a lot of cysteine.
These cysteine molecules link keratin molecules together via strong disulfide bonds.
But they’re still no match for ringworm-causing fungi.
The fungi produce enzymes that break apart the disulfide bonds, cutting keratin into
peptide bits and amino acids that the fungi snack on.
So what do you do if you are unlucky enough to contract this gross looking fungus?
If you go to your doctor for a suspected case of ringworm, here’s what you can expect:
For starters, your doctor might shine a totally harmless blacklight on you for diagnosis.
Some fungi that cause ringworm naturally fluoresce, thanks to the compound pteridine, so they’re
easy to spot.
But many of the fungal species that cause ringworm don’t, so your doctor might decide
to scrape the skin from your infection and mix it with a solution of a potassium hydroxide.
The potassium hydroxide dissolves skin cells, but won’t mess with fungal cells.
That’s because fungal cell walls are made of chitin and other complex carbs that it
can’t break down.
With the skin cells gone, it’s easier for your healthcare provider to spot the remaining
fungal cells under a microscope.
If you do have ringworm, don’t stress---there are many safe, lowkey treatment options.
Depending on how bad your infection is, your doctor might have you use an over-the-counter
lotion, like clotrimazole.
Clotrimazole is a fungistatic drug--it doesn’t kill the fungus but stops it from growing
and the fungus will eventually slough off as you naturally shed skin cells.
If your infection is really bad, like this, your doctor might prescribe something more
hard-core, like the oral version of the fungicide terbinafine, which quickly kills the fungus.
Terbinafine works by blocking an enzyme responsible for making the molecule ergosterol.
Ergosterol is essential for fungi, because it stabilizes their cell membranes.
Terbinafine blocks the enzyme which means no ergosterol, which means an unstable cell
membrane, and, before you know it, BOOM fungal cells bursts.
They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
So, how do you avoid ringworm?
You need to have direct contact with the fungus to get ringworm, so avoid sharing towels,
bedding, combs, hats, and other articles of clothing.
Keep your skin dry and clean and wash your hands after petting fluffy.
If you start to see a red, rashy, scabby… yeah, seriously just go get it checked out.
And, it’s very important to follow the treatment your doctor prescribes to the bitter end.
Why?
Well, maybe you’ve heard of hospital “superbugs.”
These are bacteria that have built up resistance to multiple antibiotics.
Fungi can do the same thing.
Antifungal resistance is a thing, and although resistance to ringworm fungi is rare and nowhere
near as scary as antibiotic resistance, it’s not something to be messed with.
So, this summer before you walk barefoot across a pool deck or sit down to play video games
in your sweaty clothes after football practice, just...don’t.