Tinea Corporis
An assortment of bacteria and fungi live on the skin. Normally these entities don’t cause problems. However, the right conditions can lead to the development of infections and diseases. Tinea corporis (ringworm of the body) is a common skin infection caused by a fungus called dermatophytes. The fungus causes a red, raised rash to form on the skin, which may be in the shape of a ring but not always. The rash may be accompanied by pimples and pustules with a scaly border.
Causes of Tineas Corporis
Ringworm can form any place on the body including the chest, face, hands, feet, and genitals. It is highly contagious and the infection can be passed via skin to skin contact with or by handling contaminated items used by an infected person. The infection is also passed between animals and humans, and cats are the most common carriers.
The fungi that causes tineas corporis thrive in warm moist areas. Your chances of getting ringworm increase if your skin is wet for a long time (such as from sweating), if you have poor hygiene, or minor injuries to the skin and nails. The fungi can also live in warm moist surfaces like shower floors and walls, pool surfaces, and even dirt.
Diagnosing Tineas Corporis
Typically a medical professional will diagnose tineas corporis by visual evaluation of the rash. Some types of dermatophytes look fluorescent under ultraviolet light (UV), so your doctor may shine a UV light on the affected areas to confirm his or her diagnosis. In some cases, the doctor may perform a potassium hydroxide test. This is where they take a scraping of the affected area, bathed it in potassium hydroxide, and look at it under a microscope. If the test comes back negative and there is still a suspicion the infection is ringworm, the doctor may send the scrapings away for a culture. However, confirmation can take several days.
Tinea Corporis Treatment
Tinea corporis can be treated using prescription drugs, over-the-counter (OTC) medication, or home remedies. The most common way to treat ringworm is to use an antifungal cream. Your doctor may write a prescription or recommend an OTC product to use. It usually takes about two weeks for the infection to go away completely, so you should use the medication for the entire recommended time even if you start seeing improvement within a few days.
If the infection resists treatment with topical products, spreads to other parts of the body, or if you have a weak immune system due to another disease, you may be prescribed an oral medication such as griseofulvin or fluconazole. While these drugs can be effective at treating ringworm, it is important to remember that prescription medications do carry the risk of causing side effects.
For those that prefer to treat ringworm using natural remedies, there are a few things you can try. Applying apple cider vinegar, Aloe Vera, or tea tree oil to the affected areas has been known to clear up ringworm. Another home remedy is to form a paste from salt and vinegar and let it sit on the site for five minutes per day. You should start seeing improvement within 7 days. Whatever treatment option you use, it is important to keep the affected area dry at all times. Moisture will only encourage the fungus to hang on to life.
Although there are numerous treatments for tinea corporis, we have found a few that will clear the infection quickly without the side effects associated with prescription drugs and other OTC medications. To find the best treatment option for you, read our reviews of tinea corporis remedies.