What does ringworm look like

Ringworm is a fairly common skin disorder, especially among children, although it affects people of all ages. It's not caused by any worm, but by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. It commonly appears as reddish-colored circular lesions with scaly raised edges.

Below are pictures of ringworm, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their Public Health Image Library (PHIL):


Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) – this infection, which affects the scalp and the hair deep into the roots, is highly contagious and persistent. Ringworm of the scalp, almost exclusively, affects children between the ages of 2 to 10. Symptoms may include itching, flaking or scaling (dandruff), small infected bumps, and hair loss. The infected child may have areas that appear bald due to premature hair loss, and there may be small black dots on the exposed scalp.

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) is difficult to treat and may require several months of oral antifungal medication. Call your doctor if you or your child has ringworm of the scalp. Homecare ringworm treatment is not very effective in curing tinea capitis.


Ringworm picture above shows a large, tender, swollen, pus-filled lesion called "kerion." This is a complication in ringworm of the scalp believed to be caused by a child's hypersensitivity to the ringworm, may be associated with rash elsewhere in the body and tender lymph nodes in the neck. Ringworm of the scalp has been observed to disappears spontaneously at puberty.


The picture above shows a rare case of “Tinea faciei,” or ringworm infection of the face caused by a dermatophytic fungus, but not including infection of the bearded areas., which are called “tinea barbae”.

Tinea barbae or ringworm of the bearded area

Pictures above show ringworm of the body (tinea corporis) occurring in the am and leg


Ringworm of the feet (tinea pedis) or "athlete's foot." Ringworm symptoms may appear in the moist areas between your toes and sometimes on your foot itself.

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