How do humans get ringworm

Depending on the type of fungus, it may sometimes fluoresce glow under black light. Your doctor may prescribe various medications depending on the severity of your ringworm infection. Ringworm of the scalp or nails may require prescription-strength oral medications such as griseofulvin Gris-PEG or terbinafine. Over-the-counter OTC medications and antifungal skin creams may be recommended for use as well. These products may contain clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine, or other related ingredients.

Find antifungal treatments online. In addition to prescription and OTC medication, your doctor may recommend that you care for your infection at home by:. Take an in-depth look at ringworm treatments here. People have used home remedies for ringworm for many years before researchers invented antifungal treatments. Support for use of these remedies is mostly anecdotal. There is no scientific data to support their use over OTC antifungals. Some people apply apple cider vinegar-soaked cotton balls over affected areas of skin three times a day to treat ringworm.

If you want to try this remedy, apply coconut oil one to three times a day. Turmeric is a spice you can mix with water to make an antifungal paste.

Apply the paste directly to your skin and allow it to dry. Instead, discuss any you might like to try alongside proven treatments with your doctor. Learn more about home remedies for ringworm, including powdered licorice. It can take up to 2 weeks before you start noticing symptoms. Some of the stages you may see include:. Anyone can develop ringworm.

However, the infection is very common among children and people who own cats or dogs. Both cats and dogs can catch ringworm, and then pass it on to humans who touch them. You may be more likely to develop dermatophytosis if you come into contact with the fungi when your skin becomes soft and wet from prolonged water exposure macerated or if you have minor skin injuries or abrasions.

Using a public shower or public pool may also expose you to the infective fungi. Those who often share items such as hairbrushes or unwashed clothing also have an increased risk of developing the infection. Learn more about how long you, a loved one, or a pet could spread ringworm to another person.

Ringworm can closely resemble another condition, nummular eczema. Doctors also call nummular eczema discoid eczema or nummular dermatitis. The lesions are often itchy and scaly. A person with ringworm usually has fewer ring-like patches than a person who has nummular eczema.

Sometimes the two conditions look so much alike that the only way to tell the difference is to see your doctor. A doctor can take samples of the skin cells and send them to a laboratory for testing. Doctors treat nummular eczema in different ways from ringworm. They use topical steroids, which if used for ringworm infections, can mask as well as worsen the infection. Ringworm can easily transfer from animals to humans. Please click here for more information about pets and ringworm. Please click here for information about how to stay healthy at petting zoos and other animal exhibits.

Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. Fungal Diseases. Section Navigation. They may include diarrhea and nausea. People with a history of liver disease should not take terbinafine. Griseofulvin Grisovin : The side effects, which usually go away fairly quickly, may include headache , indigestion , and nausea.

Anti-fungal shampoos : These help prevent the spread of ringworm and may speed up recovery, but they do not cure it. Various anti-fungal shampoos are available for purchase online. Most cases are treated with anti-fungal creams. Individuals should read instructions carefully — anti-fungal creams do not all have the same instructions. These can be purchased over-the-counter or online. If symptoms are severe, or if they cover a large area of the body and do not respond to OTC medications, the doctor may prescribe a prescription-strength topical medication.

The doctor may prescribe an oral medication taken by mouth. Oral medications can have some side effects, including stomach upset , rash, or abnormal liver function. Different types have different symptoms.

This can involve :. Fungal infections rarely spread below the surface of the skin. The risk of any serious illness is very small. However, without treatment, ringworm can spread from one part of the body to another. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. About Ringworm. April 9, Symptoms of Ringworm Infections.

December 6, Ringworm: Signs and Symptoms. Ringworm Body : Symptoms and Diagnosis. September 13, Ringworm of the Body. February 7, Healthy Pets Healthy People: Ringworm.

April 30, Ringworm: Who Gets and Causes. Ringworm Body : Diagnosis and Treatment. Diagnosis and Management of Tinea Infections. American Family Physician. November 15, April 19, Treatment for Ringworm.

Ringworm Information for Healthcare Professionals. Ringworm: Diagnosis and Treatment. Hong Kong Medical Journal. February Mugnaini L, Nardoni S, et al. May