When people are asked, what is ringworm, they often think the condition has something to do with some kind of a worm. Of course, nothing could be more from the truth, although the early belief many years ago was that the condition that created the ring was caused by a worm. Ringworm actually got its name for the rings it can create and has nothing to do with a worm. So, what is ringworm then, and what are the symptoms?



Ringworm is a very contagious fungal infection that can affect the scalp, feet, nails, and body. A ringworm picture is shown below. What is ringworm called? The common term is Tinea, but it has several different names under that same term. For example; On the scalp it is called Tinea Capitis, on the feet it is termed Tinea Pedis, and on the body it is called Tinea Corporis.

What Is Scalp Ringworm?

Ringworm begins from organisms called dermatohytes, which all have various different effects on the body. What is scalp ringworm and what are the symptoms? Scalp ringworm looks like a kind of crusty little bump. It can even cause baldness where the ringworm spot is. Below is a picture of scalp ringworm. The good news in all this is that there is a home cure for ringworm.

What is ringworm on the body?

It is a round shaped, flat ring that is reddish in color. More than one patch can appear, and it can also have scales. The symptoms will certainly be itchy and make it difficult to not itch and spread. Anyone who has had the condition before can attest to that. Here is a ringworm disease picture.

What is ringworm on the feet?

It is commonly referred to as athletes foot and the condition causes cracking of the skin between your toes. The symptoms can be quite painful and itchy at the same time. Finally, ringworm in the nails will cause them to become thick, discolored and brittle.

The most common area of the body for ringworm is the groin. It takes anywhere from 4-10 days after contact for you to develop once you are exposed. Once you are diagnosed, it will usually last anywhere from 10-14 days or more. It appears mostly in children between the ages of 4-14. Doctors have no idea why that is, although it most certainly does appear in adults as well.

Now, the next time someone asks you, what is ringworm, you have enough information to let them know. As you can tell from the ringworm picture above, it is an infection that needs to be taken seriously. Fortunately though, it can be cured quickly.