Tinea (ringworm) is a fungal infection that causes itchy skin, circular-shaped scales, flat patches with round borders, and hair loss in the affected area. Tinea is caused by a fungus that naturally lives on the skin, hair, and nails. Tinea is a condition that is highly contagious and spreads with skin-to-skin contact, contact with infected surfaces, etc.
For expert care and advanced treatment options, consult with the best dermatologists for tinea treatment at the CK Birla Hospital in Delhi.
Tinea is a ring-shaped red patch that causes patchy hair loss and leads to nail changes like thickening or discolouration of nails, rashes on the skin, etc. Tinea (ringworm) is most common among children, people with weakened immunity, and individuals who live in humid environments.
Prescribed Creams & Powders: Treatment for mild cases through ointments, antifungal creams, and lotions.
Medication: Oral antifungal medicines may be prescribed by the doctor for treating tinea in different parts of the body.
Prescribed Antifungal Shampoo: For ringworm on the scalp antifungal shampoos may be recommended by the physician that stop scalp ringworm from spreading.
Steroid Creams: For advanced cases or cases where OTC medicines are not effective, stronger creams or steroid creams may be prescribed to reduce inflammation.
These figures are approximate and can vary based on individual circumstances, hospital facilities, and additional services required.
Cellulitis: Growing tinea may lead to cellulitis, a bacterial infection of the skin causing redness, swelling & pain.
Onychomycosis: Untreated tinea may spread to the nails leading to thickened, discolored & deformed nails.
Lymphangitis: The infection may worsen & lead to inflammation of the lymphatic vessels transporting lymph fluid in the body.
Spread of Infection: Untreated tinea can rapidly spread to other unaffected parts of the body i.e. skin, hands, legs, scalp, etc. It may also spread to other people.
Diagnosis of tinea can be done by a thorough physical examination by a dermatologist. The doctor may scrape the area to look at the skin cells under a microscope to confirm ringworm.
Keep the affected area clean & dry.
Avoid scratching as it can lead to the spreading of infection.
Wear loose - breathable clothing to refrain from moisture buildup.
Follow a healthy diet to fight fungal infection effectively.
Follow the doctor’s instructions for medication.
Complete the full course of medication.
Keep the affected area clean, and dry, and avoid scratching.
Avoid wearing tight and synthetic clothing.
Disinfect personal items like towels, clothes, bed sheets, etc.
Check for signs of recurrence - rashes, itching, etc.
Mild tinea cases may take a few weeks to clear up.
Severe infection cases might take between 6 - 12 weeks to fully recover.
Ringworm is usually not considered dangerous, though if left untreated it can rapidly spread and cause complications like hair loss, nail deformity, etc.
Yes, ringworm is highly contagious.
Yes, ringworm is highly contagious and can spread through skin-to-skin contact.
Ringworm can go away itself though it is not common and requires medical intervention and doctor supervision.
Mild ringworm cases may last a few weeks while severe ringworm cases can last between 6-12 weeks.
Yes, ringworm is a communicable disease.
Yes, ringworm can cause hair loss, it can lead to patchy bald spots on the scalp.
Yes, ringworm can itch and is characterised as an itchy, ring-shaped rash.
