Ringworm is a highly contagious, fungal infection that occurs on the surface of the skin, displaying a thick, red, itchy, raised, circular rash. The center of the rash is usually clear or white, but the edges are dark, jagged, red, scaly and crusted over so that it resembles other common skin conditions. Ringworm is usually contracted in moist, high-traffic areas as a result of skin-to-skin contact with other infected persons, animals, and any items those infected have come in direct contact with.

People have misconceptions about ringworm pictures and when it’s actually ringworm you’re dealing with. When ringworm appears on the hands and extremities especially, it is easy to confuse a ringworm rash with that of eczema or psoriasis. An adult eczema rash looks very much like ringworm and it even occurs quite commonly on the hands. Seasoned doctors may not even be able to tell the difference by looking with their plain eyes. Instead, they may have to utilize a Wood’s lamp, which gives off a blue fluorescent light that does make diagnosing the condition possible just by looking or they may have to scrape the infected area and take a closer microscopic look to make a clear distinction.

All of these rashes are itchy, red and scaly, but what makes ringworm different is its usual ring-like shape, tendency to ooze pus, and spread so easily. Essentially, the ringworm fungi are attacking the keratin in the body, which is responsible for hair, nail and skin growth. As the fungi break down those layers of skin, nails and hair, patches of hair fall out, nails get discolored and fall off, and skin becomes a breeding ground for the fungi to thrive.

There are several different types of ringworm, relative to the fungus’s location on the body, including ringworm of the scalp (number one among children), groin (also known as jock itch), foot (also known as athlete’s foot), body (number one among adults), beard (also known as barber’s itch), hands, face and fingernails.

Treatment for ringworm is quite simple, unless the rash has begun to spread and has become resistant to regular treatments. You can purchase regular over-the-counter medicated creams that, when applied topically, can get rid of the rashes within a couple weeks. There are prescription pills that can also be taken to get rid of the rash. However, ringworm rashes sometimes begin to blister and can lead to bacterial infections when treatment methods prove to be ineffective. Doctors can then prescribe antibiotics to stop the infection from getting any worse.

To ensure that the rash doesn’t return soon after treatment, it is recommended that talcum powder is applied topically to the formerly infected area. This will keep the skin dry and fungus free while your immune system has a chance to rebuild its defenses so that you aren’t so easily affected in the future.

Since only ringworm of the scalp is undeniably a ringworm rash and people have misconceptions that the other types are eczema, psoriasis or another similar condition; care must be taken to get checked out by a physician who can determine for certain what type of skin rash it really is and provide the appropriate treatment. If the rash spreads or progresses, consult your physician immediately.