Body ringworm is a dermatophyte (fungal) infection of the face, trunk, arms, and legs.
Symptoms of tinea corporis include pink-to-red, round patches on the skin that sometimes itch.
Doctors examine the affected area and sometimes view a skin scraping under a microscope to make the diagnosis.
Treatment includes antifungal medications applied directly to the affected areas or sometimes taken by mouth.
(See also Overview of Fungal Skin Infections.)
Tinea corporis is a type of dermatophytosis. Tinea corporis is usually caused by the fungus Trichophyton or Microsporum.
Tinea corporis can develop anywhere on the skin and can spread rapidly to other parts of the body or to other people with whom there is close bodily contact.
The infection generally causes pink-to-red, round patches with raised scaly borders that tend to be clear in the center. Sometimes the rash is itchy.
Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.
© Springer Science+Business Media
Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.
© Springer Science+Business Media
Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.
© Springer Science+Business Media
© Springer Science+Business Media
Diagnosis of Body Ringworm
A doctor's examination
Sometimes examination of a skin scraping
Doctors base the diagnosis of tinea corporis on an examination of the skin.
Sometimes doctors analyze skin scrapings under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment of Body Ringworm
Antifungal medications applied to the skin or taken by mouth
after the patches completely disappear, which usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks. If the medication is discontinued too soon, the infection may not be eradicated, and the patches will return. Several days may pass before antifungal creams, lotions, or gels reduce symptoms. (See also table Some Antifungal Medications Applied to the Skin (Topical Medications).)
Infections that are difficult to treat and relatively widespread can occur in people infected with the fungus Trichophyton rubrum
