10 Signs and Symptoms of Ringworm.
After reading the word ‘ringworm,’ does your mind imagine a swarm of tiny little worms,
wiggling and slithering around under your skin?
It’s quite possible and you certainly wouldn’t be alone.
For ringworm, along with a multitude of other medical terms can be misleading, if ever so
slightly.
Ringworm, or dermatophytosis, is not a worm, nor is it associated with worms of any kind.
In fact, there is a good chance you might have had a type of ringworm and not even known
it.
In reality, ringworm is a skin infection that is caused by a fungal infection on the surface
of the skin.
The name ‘ringworm’ was originally derived from an early belief that the infection was
caused by worms as a result of the common ring like rashes that appear on the body.
Once again, and for the last time – ringworm has nothing to do with worms.
So how might you already have had ringworm and not known it?
Well, many people get ringworm in-between their toes – or as it is also known as athlete’s
foot.
And if it spread to your groin; you might be familiar with the term jock itch.
Both are very common, and both are a type of ringworm.
Ringworm is very communicable, meaning that it can easily spread from one person to another.
This can occur in a multitude of ways including:
From person to person by touching a person who has the infection.
From touching items which have been in contact with an infected person.
For example, towels, clothes, bed linen or chairs which have been used by somebody who
has ringworm.
From animals such as dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and cattle have fungal infections on their
skin.
They can pass on the infection, especially to children.
(Animals can be treated too if you suspect a pet is the cause) Farm animals can also
be a source.
Touching a farm gate where infected animals pass through may be enough to infect your
skin.
From soil.
Although this rarely occurs, fungi can be present in soil, and you can get the infection
from contact with soil.
So now that we know how you can potentially catch ringworm, the next important question
is how would you know if you did?
While the name ‘ringworm’ is one that you might not be too keen on using, especially
given its heavily misguided understanding, the fact remains it is very treatable and
nothing to be ashamed off.
However, you need to know you have it before you can treat it, so with that in mind, allow
us to present to you the 10 most common signs of ringworm.
1.
Dry Skin.
If you are a male suffering from ringworm you might notice that some of your facial
hair begins to fall out.
While this doesn’t happen in every case of ringworm, and obviously in women, it can
be a rather shocking symptom to witness, especially if you haven't already been diagnosed.
If you notice that the skin on your face, neck, and surrounding areas are becoming more
dry, despite your best efforts at moisturizing, it can also be an indicator of a ringworm
infection.
And while dry skin is certainly not the most alarming of symptoms, it is important to note
that sometimes the most common symptoms, the rash, might be covered by hair, making it
less visible.
2.
Cracked and Burning Skin on the Foot.
Although incredibly common, but often overlooked, ringworm of the foot, also known as athlete’s
foot, or tinea pedis, is actually a result of the same strand of fungal infection.
The main cause of it is not drying one's feet thoroughly after taking a shower or bath,
or by not removing sweat build up after working out.
When this occurs, the skin on the side of your feet can begin to crack.
You might also notice small sores developing between your toes, and it will appear as though
the skin has worn away, exposing a red, irritable and burning infection.
3.
Loss of Hair in Patches.
While the loss of facial hair as a result of ringworm is typically an unwanted side
effect that impacts men, it is prudent to remember that facial hair isn’t the only
type of hair loss that can result from a ringworm infection.
Much like with the facial hair loss, ringworm on the scalp can cause you to lose hair in
patches.
This is likely to be far more noticeable than with facial hair as you will notice large
strands of hair falling away during the daytime.
It will also occur when you brush or comb your hair, pulling away flaky skin as well
as hair.
Not only is hair loss a general symptom of ringworm, but it is a symptom that can in
and of itself lead to other sub-symptoms, such as low self-esteem, mood swings, and
irritability.
What's the connection you might ask?
Well, if you found yourself suddenly losing your hair, how good of a mood would you be
in?
4.
Scaling Patterns on Feet.
When a ringworm infection is present on someone's feet, a common symptom is the appearance of
a scaling pattern on the skin.
This usually occurs on the sole of the foot, as well as the side and in between the toes.
While an infection of ringworm on the hand will usually limit itself to one side, when
it affects the feet it is common for both feet to be infected, especially if both feet
have been exposed to similar conditions.
5.
Itchy and Scaly Skin.
If a person has a ringworm infection on their scalp, there is a very good chance that they
will not notice the rash, if in fact, it is even present.
However, that person will probably still be aware of something that is a little off, especially
considering all the other symptoms associated with it.
A person with ringworm will likely notice that their scalp is incredibly itchy and feel
scaly to the touch.
This condition is called tinea capitis, and it is often accompanied by crusting and blisters
that often ooze with pus.
This occurs in the most serious instances of the infection, but it is by no means an
uncommon symptom.
In the worst case scenario and if the infection is severe enough, the sufferer might notice
a large and swollen sore on their scalp.
This is known as a keroin, and it will be pus-filled and can result in swollen lymph
glands and a high fever, simulating some of the symptoms of the flu or a cold.
6.
Thickening of Skin on Hands.
Depending on your age, where you are from, and what your background is, being told that
you have ‘a thick skin,’ can often be taken as a compliment.
It means that you are tough, strong, and don’t let the little, unimportant things bother
you.
However, if we are talking about ringworm and thick skin, what was once a compliment
can quickly turn into something uncomfortable.
For sufferers of ringworm with an infection on the hand, it is a common occurrence to
experience a thickening of the skin around the affected area.
Some parts of the skin on the hand will mysteriously get thicker and tougher and can become quite
uncomfortable, without any initial itch or pain.
Usually, this will occur between the fingers, making it uncomfortable to move the fingers
around too much or perform regular tasks.
Although not as common, this symptom may also occur on the palm of the hand.
7.
Facial Hair Loss.
If you haven’t noticed the stereotypical rash associated with ringworm, you might find
that your facial hair begins to fall out in patches, either on its own or when grooming.
It is the reason, among others that we will discuss shortly, that further demonstrate
the point that these symptoms, like any other ailment, should be viewed holistically and
not taken as secular occurrences.
8.
Red or Brown Spots on Groin Area.
As we mentioned at the top of this article, ringworm can take many forms, some of which
you, in all likelihood have experienced in one form or another.
When ringworm is present around the groin, it is what is known as jock itch or tinea
cruris.
Sufferers will begin to notice small red or brown sores around their groin, usually affecting
the boots and inner thighs, although it will not affect one's genitalia.
9.
Oozing Blisters.
Much like the name implies, oozing blisters are as unsightly as they are uncomfortable.
In many cases of ringworm, more specifically, athletes foot, the sores and scaly skin of
the feet can be accompanied by blisters that ooze with pus, or later, might possibly crust
over to create a layer of skin that is flaky, itchy and incredibly sore.
These blisters normally occur between the toes, but aren’t limited to that location;
they can also form on the bottom and sides of the feet.
An evident sign that you are dealing with ringworm and not another type of infection
is in the case ringworm, the top of the foot is usually left relatively unaffected.
10.
Rash But Only on One Side.
Following the typical chronological order of things, often proceeding the thickening
of the skin, a ringworm infection can then be accompanied by an itch, redness, and swelling.
When these occur, they will typically look like the ring type rashes that we discussed
earlier, although that doesn’t always have to be the case.
It is also worth mentioning that usually, this type of rash will only occur on one side,
a fact in which doctors are not too sure as to the reason.
And while it is possible for the rash to occur on both sides, it is much less common.