Tinea ringworm is a condition on the skin that is due to a type of a fungus on the skin, nails, hair and fur. ‘Tinea’ is the scientific name for ringworm and it means ‘growing worm’. This however, should not drive you into thinking that tinea ringworm is due to worms in the body. On the contrary, there is no connection whatsoever between ringworm and general body worms like ringworm and tapeworm.

Tinea ringworm is common in human beings and animals. In fact, a human being can obtain the condition from a fellow human being or from an animal like a cat or a dog. Once you have been infected by the causative fungi it will take about two to three weeks before you start noticing the symptoms associated with this disease. Ringworms are characterized by dark or red rounded spots and rashes that appear on any part of the body. The causative fungi mainly thrive on the keratin part of the body, and that is why the ringworms normally appear on the epidermis part of the skin. These rashes, if left untreated constantly increase in size. Therefore, it is very important for one to seek immediate medical attention after noticing ringworms on the body.

The symptoms for tinea ringworm in the hair or fur are different. . Tinea ringworm that is on the scalp is causes the hair or to fall off leaving a rounded hairless patch. The hairless patch always appears scaly and red in light complexioned individuals. As the causative fungi spread, the size of the patch increases and if left untreated, one risks being completely bald courtesy of several ringworms. This is also the case in tinea ringworm that appears on the fur of animals. Tinea ringworm in the nails, on the other hand, causes the nails to be brittle, dark and thick.

Once you notice tinea ringworm on any part of the body, it is important consult a doctor immediately to avoid any further spreading. A doctor would be in the best position to advise you accordingly on the treatments you should take and also carry out the proper diagnosis. Tinea ringworm diagnosis is usually carried out with the help of a ultra-violet ray that helps in examining the fluorescent appearance of the skin. If this examination is not effective in determining the skin condition, a doctor may opt using a microscope to study the blotches on the skin after scrapping off some of it into a microscope slide.