Ringworm is also referred as dermatomycosis, tinea, or dermatophytosis which is caused by fungus that belong to the dermatophyte group. Human ringworm is mostly caused by Trichophyton species of the dermatophyte group. The fungi that affect humans and cause tinea are Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans.

Here are further information about ringworm:

1) Dermatomycosis is a fungal infection that affects the skin, hairs, and nails.

- Keratin is an essential element in the composition of the skin, hairs, and nails. The fungi feed on the nutrients in the keratin material found on them.

2) The fungal spores can be transmitted to humans in three different ways.

- Direct contact to an infected person or animals can spread the fungal spores which causes the dermatophytosis. Touching an infected person or cuddling an animal with ringworms can place you to a higher risk of fungal infection.

- Indirect contact can be a way of having the fungal infection. You can get the fungal spores from contaminated things such as towels, caps, and combs. You can also get the fungi through walking barefoot in public bathrooms.

- Contaminated soil is also a way of transmitting the fungi, especially to soil that contains enough nutrients that fungi can thrive. But it requires frequent exposure before you can acquire the fungi.

3) It takes 10 to 12 days before the symptoms of dermatophytosis can manifest.

4) Dermatophytes thrive best in warm and moist environment.

5) The symptoms of ringworm include red raised border, and usually the center looks dry, scaling, and pale in color. Some ringworm may include extreme itchiness which brings more discomfort to a person. The red border gradually advances as the ringworm grows. If you have ringworm on your scalp or on bearded areas of face and neck, bald patches may occur because the infected site causes the hair to become brittle thus falling off hairs easily.

6) The types of tinea are named after where it is located. The different types of tinea include: tinea capitis ( ringworm on scalp), tinea faciei (ringworm on face), tinea barbae also known as barber's itch (ringworm on bearded areas of face and neck), tinea corporis (ringworm on the skin of the body), tinea manus (ringworm on the palmar surfaces and spaces between fingers), tinea cruris also known as jock itch (ringworm in skin folds of genital area or groin), tinea pedis also called as athlete's foot (ringworm on the feet), and tinea unguium also termed as fungal nails or onchomycosis (ringworm on the nails).

7) It is important to seek for medical help if you experience ringworm so that you can prevent it from spreading to your skin and prevent transmission to other people and even to your pets. Diagnostic exams that physicians use to confirm fungal infection are direct visualization of the appearance and location of the infected area, using an ultraviolet light (Wood's lamp), scraping of lesions and microscopic examination, and fungal culture.

8) The treatment of ringworm may vary from one person to another. It actually depends on the extent and severity of the ringworm. The physician may prescribe a topical anti-fungal medication or systemic anti-fungal pills.

9) It is easier to prevent the occurrence of dermatophytosis than treating them because you will not experience any discomfort or symptoms involving the fungal infection. Here are some tips that you can follow to prevent acquiring the fungal spores:

- Keep yourself dry and clean at all times.

- Refrain from getting in contact with infected persons and pets.

- Avoid borrowing personal things; it might be contaminated with fungal spores.

- Always wear slippers or foot wear when using public shower rooms or any public clubs.

- If you have pets, make sure they stay on a clean and moist free environment.