Ringworm

Ringworm is a common fungal infection that can cause a red or silvery ring-like rash on the skin. It most often affects the arms and legs, but it can show up almost anywhere on the body. And despite the name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms.

The main sign of ringworm is a red or silvery rash shaped like a ring. The skin around the ring looks red and irritated, but the skin inside it looks healthy. You may also have skin that is scaly, itchy or inflamed.

You can have just one patch of ringworm or several. The rash may spread outwards.

In more serious cases, your skin may become raised and blistered.

Ringworm on the face and neck doesn't always show up as a ring. It can still cause problems, though. The skin may:

• be itchy
• be swollen
• become dry and crusted

If you have a beard, you may notice patches of hair breaking away.

Ringworm on the hands often makes the skin thicker on the palm and between the fingers. It can affect one hand or both, but it normally shows up on one side only.

Speak to a pharmacist about treatments for ringworm. A pharmacist can:

• offer advice on how to treat your symptoms
• suggest which medicine to take
• tell you whether you need to see a doctor about your symptoms

• the ringworm hasn't got better after you've used an antifungal medicine that a pharmacist recommended
• you have ringworm on your scalp (you'll usually need antifungal tablets and shampoo, which a doctor has to prescribe)
• you have a weakened immune system, for example from chemotherapy, steroids or diabetes

If you think you have ringworm, a pharmacist can help. They'll look at the rash and suggest the treatment that suits you best. If they feel you should see a doctor, they'll tell you so.

When you do see a doctor, they'll examine your skin and ask about your symptoms. Other tests are usually only needed if your symptoms are severe or don't get better with antifungal treatments.

If you do need more tests, the doctor may take a small scraping of the affected skin. This is sent to a laboratory to be analysed, which helps find out what's causing your symptoms.

Ringworm is usually mild, and you can treat it with an antifungal medicine from a pharmacy. It might come as tablets, cream, gel or spray, depending on where the rash is.

You may need to use the antifungal medicine every day for up to 4 weeks. Use it for the full time, even if the rash goes away.

If your symptoms don't improve after using treatments from a pharmacy, see a doctor. You may need to take other antifungal tablets.

If the skin is irritated or broken, other bacterial infections can set in. These may need to be treated with antibiotics.

Anyone can get ringworm, but children are more likely to be affected.

Ringworm can spread through contact with an infected:

• object, like clothing, towels and bedsheets
• person
• animal
• soil (though this is less common)

If someone in your family has a fungal infection, they can still go to work or school. But they should start treatment as soon as possible.

• get treatment for ringworm as soon as possible
• check for signs of infection if you've been in contact with someone who has ringworm
• take your pet to the vet if you think they might have ringworm, for example, if they have patches of missing fur
• wash your hands after touching animals or soil
• wash towels and bedsheets regularly
• keep your skin clean
• wash your hands regularly to help prevent the spread of infection

• don't share personal items such as a hairbrush, towel, clothing or bed linen if someone has ringworm
• don't scratch the affected area, because you could spread the infection to other parts of your body