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Athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworms causes and home remedies
Ringworm has nothing to do with worms and it is nothing but a fungal infection. The reason why that name exists is because of the way it looks like. It appears like a round circle or ring on the skin of the patient.
This is very closely related to Ringworm. This is a condition which is called Jock Itch where there is a fungal infection in the groin.
The common name for ringworm is called tinea. Depending on the body, the ringworm appears. This will also indicate its precise name. For example, if the ringworm appears on the head or scalp, it is called as tinea capitis. If the ring worm is on the body, it is called as tinea corporis. If the ringworm is found on the feet, it is called as tinea pedis or more commonly known as athletes foot. Ringworm is mostly found in children. It can be caught by people of any age.
The ringworm looks like a round ring shaped patch on the skin. This part of the skin will be red and silvery with scales. This could also prove to be quite itchy. The ring spreads outwards. Then eventually the centre will heal. It will then look like normal skin, leaving a red ring. Scalp and head ringworm infections can lead to baldness where the ringworm is.
What causes Ringworm?
The fungal spores cause ringworm. They are present around all of us everyday. These spores are found in the soil, and some on many animals. They enter through a break in the skin. Then they infect the patient. The environment where ringworm thrives best is warm damp areas. In such places, you tend to sweat a lot. These places are absolutely perfect for the fungal spores to thrive. There are many ways how ringworm can infect you. They can be passed to you from other people or animals. This can happen very easily due to its high contagious level. Any high levels of contact from pets or livestock can attack people. When it comes to individual contamination as in passing from one person to another person, it usually happens when people share combs or unwashed clothes. Even unwashed surfaces in swimming pools are places more prone to catch ringworm.
Diagnosing Ringworm
Ringworm is usually easy to diagnose and usually the characteristics of ringworm are enough just on their own to diagnose. But some doctors can also take a scraping off the affected skin. In the case of head or scalp ringworm, you can take a hair off the patient. You can then take a look at it under a microscope. Then you can confirm the diagnosis.