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.
This photo shows a scaly, red patch characteristic of tinea corporis. The center appears less clear than on light skin because the infection has caused inflammation.
Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.
The center of this patch is dark (called central hyperpigmentation) because the infection has caused inflammation in it.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows a pink-to-red, round patch of body ringworm. The patch has raised borders, some scaling, and some clearing of the center at the bottom of the patch.
Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.
Both patches seen in this photo are caused by tinea corporis. A scaly border can be seen in the patch on the right.
© Springer Science+Business Media
The round patch of body ringworm seen in this photo has a raised border and a mostly clear center.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows a scaly, red patch characteristic of tinea corporis. The center appears less clear than on light skin because the infection has caused inflammation.
Image courtesy of Karen McKoy, MD.
The center of this patch is dark (called central hyperpigmentation) because the infection has caused inflammation in it.
© Springer Science+Business Media
This photo shows a pink-to-red, round patch of body ringworm. The patch has raised borders, some scaling, and some clearing of the center at the bottom of the patch.
Image provided by Thomas Habif, MD.
Both patches seen in this photo are caused by tinea corporis. A scaly border can be seen in the patch on the right.
© Springer Science+Business Media
The round patch of body ringworm seen in this photo has a raised border and a mostly clear center.
© 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
