What is Ringworm? Anything with the word worm in it sounds bad, right? It’s actually a pretty common fungal infection of the skin and has nothing to do with worms. Ringworm, or Tinea can be spotted on the following areas:
- Body – typical ringworm or Tinea Corporis
- Scalp – Tinea Capitis
- Feet – Athlete’s foot or Tinea Pedis
- Groin – jock itch or Tinea Cruris
Ringworm is mildly contagious but can be passed from a human – or even cats. So if your little one has Ringworm be sure to inspect the rest of the family as well as your furry friends. It’s treatable but like Athlete’s foot it is a fungus and needs to be kept clean and dry and like anything contagious the clothing and bedding your child touches needs to be washed so they can recover from it and not re-infect themselves.
What does Ringworm Look Like
- Scaly, crusted rashes that are itchy
- The rashy-patches usually have sharp, defined edges
- Red patches are often redder around the outside and have a normal skin tone in the center, which looks like a ring
How to Treat Ringworm
- Over the counter anti-fungal medications that are either administered topically or orally
- Make an appointment with your doctor, as Ringworm is often misdiagnosed
- Wash sheets and pajamas every day for the duration of your child’s infection
- Make sure your child wears looser-fitting clothing
How to Prevent Ringworm
- Make sure your child’s body is clean and dry
- Shampoo regularly, especially after haircuts
- Children should not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, or other personal care items
- Remind your child to wear flip flops at pools
- Avoid touching pets with bald spots
