Tinea corporis: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is tinea corporis (body ringworm)?

Tinea corporis (also known as body or body ringworm) is a disease that affects the skin. Diseases that have other terms ringworm it is characterized by a small, circular or ring-shaped red rash on the affected body.

This condition is common in society and includes infectious skin diseases. Indeed, body ringworm is not a serious disease, but it can still cause other health complications.

In fact, ringworm can affect the skin on any part of the body, such as the scalp, or the palms of the hands and feet. These conditions have their respective names depending on where the infection occurs. Some of them are as follows.

• Tinea pedis (water fleas), ringworm that attacks the soles of the feet, is commonly called athlete's foot .
• Tinea cruris, ringworm that appears in the groin and around the genitals, is also known as jock itch .
• Tinea capitis, ringworm that affects the scalp.
  

How common is this condition?

Tinea corporis generally attacks anyone, especially people who do not keep their skin clean. However, this skin disease is thought to be more common in men than women. This condition is also prone to attack children at the age before puberty.

A person who often wears tight clothing, sweats a lot, or has an immune system disorder at a higher risk of developing tinea corporis or ringworm.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of tinea corporis (body ringworm)?

Signs and symptoms of this skin disease that can be observed are the appearance of red, scaly patches, or red, itchy bumps on the skin. Over time, the lump turns into a thick ring or circle shape.

Ringworm circles are usually white scaly. The outside of the ringworm may be wavy or streaked with skin scales.

In cases of ringworm on the scalp, symptoms generally begin with a painful lump on the head and tend to be small in size. These bumps on the scalp can turn scaly over time.

Also, your scalp may feel tender and sore to the touch. You also have to be vigilant if the hair around the lump has started to fall out.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have signs or symptoms of tinea corporis above, you should immediately consult a dermatologist. In addition, because of the different body conditions of people, it is possible that this disease can also cause other symptoms that have not been mentioned.

Therefore, consult your doctor to confirm the disease you are suffering from.

Cause

What causes body ringworm?

Tinea corporis appears on the skin due to a group of fungi called dermatophytes. This fungus inhabits the surface of the skin of many people. To survive, mushrooms use keratin or the protein that makes up the human skin layer as a food source.

There are three types of dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm, including Tricophyton, microsporum, and epidermophyton.

Tinea corporis is a contagious skin disease. You can also be affected if the ways below.

• Transmitted from other people. Ringworm is often spread by skin-to-skin contact.
• Is transmitted by your pet. Wash your hands after rubbing or scratching pets or other animals.
• Through objects. Dermatophyte fungi can stick and transfer on surfaces, clothes, towels, and on combs and makeup brushes.
• From the ground. If you walk or don't wear sandals while walking on soil infected with the fungus that causes ringworm, you may also be at risk for ringworm.

Risk factors and complications

What are my risk factors for getting tinea corporis?

According to the National Health Service of the United Kingdom, it is estimated that around 10 to 20 percent of people have a chance of getting ringworm at least once in their lifetime. Some of the factors that make these people susceptible to tinea corporis are as follows.

• The weather is hot and humid.
• The body sweats easily.
  
• Obesity.
• Often wear tight clothes.
• Rarely change clothes or underwear.
• Often wear unwashed clothes.
• Bathing rarely.
• Sharing towels or clothes with others.
• Frequent use of public bathrooms or locker rooms.
• The presence of an immune system disorder.

What complications can occur due to body ringworm?

Ringworm is actually not a serious infection that can be life threatening. However, in people with a weak immune system, such as people with HIV / AIDS, it may be difficult to cure tinea corporis.

As with other types of infections and skin conditions, skin that is itchy, irritated, or damaged can cause a secondary bacterial infection that may require treatment with antibiotics.

Diagnosis and treatment

How do doctors diagnose tinea corporis (body ringworm)?

First, a skin specialist will certainly check your skin condition and ask about your symptoms.

To confirm the diagnosis, you may also undergo further tests that involve taking a skin sample (biopsy) for examination in a laboratory. Later, a sample of scaly skin scrapings will be observed under a microscope to detect the presence of fungi.

Doctors can also diagnose the disease through a fungal culture test, which can show the type of fungus and growth when it infected the skin. However, this examination can take a long time so it is rarely performed.

What are the medications for tinea corporis (body ringworm)?

Body ringworm treatment will be carried out depending on where the tinea corporis or ringworm is located and how severe the condition is. In most cases, your doctor can recommend over-the-counter drugs that you can buy at a pharmacy.

Generally, the drugs that will be used are antifungal creams, lotions, or antifungal powders that can get rid of ringworm. Some of the drugs commonly used to treat ringworm are as follows.

• Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
• Miconazole (Micatin)
• Terbinafine (Lamisil)
• Tolnaftate (Tinactin)

In most cases, you will have to apply medication to your skin for 2 to 4 weeks to make sure the fungus that is causing tinea corporis has been completely killed. This will also reduce the chances of the infection recurring.

If your body ringworm is widespread and severe, or your body doesn't respond to the above medicines, your doctor may prescribe other stronger medications.

Usually, you will also be given drinking medication. Griseofulvin is one of the most commonly prescribed oral medications for fungal infections, including tinea corporis.

Home care

What are the lifestyle changes or treatments that can be done to treat tinea corporis?

Body ringworm is difficult to prevent. This is because mold is the main culprit. Tinea corporis can even be contagious before symptoms appear.

Below are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you deal with ringworm or tinea corporis.

Maintain cleanliness

Always keep clean by showering and washing your hands thoroughly, especially if you are doing activities that make your body sweat, such as exercising.

Also make sure to keep the environment around you and the objects you use clean.

Wear loose clothing

Tinea corporis is caused by a fungal infection. The fungus itself will be easier to grow on sweaty skin. This will certainly worsen your condition, which is already affected by the disease.

Therefore, do not wear clothes that are too tight and made from too thick for a long time, especially when the weather is warm. Use clothes with materials that absorb sweat easily.

Avoid infected animals

Infection is often seen on the skin of animals where there is no fur. If you have pets, check with your doctor regularly about the risk of ringworm on the animal's body.

Do not share personal equipment

Don't let other people wear your clothes, towels, combs, sports equipment. Later, the fungus that sticks to it can infect the skin of other people who use the item.

You are also not advised to borrow other people's personal items.

Apart from some of the things above, you can also follow these easy tips to deal with tinea corporis.

• Keep the affected area clean and dry.
• Apply an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream, or ointment, according to the directions on the package.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.