Tinea Corporis - Symptoms & Treatment

Tinea corporis is commonly known as "ring worm." Tinea corporis is the term used for fungal infection of the skin. It is characterized by a pink to red rash and often considerable itching, and usually caused by species of Trichophyton or Microsporum; ringworm of the body. The infection is limited to the stratum corneum of the epidermis. Vellus hair may be invaded, and the hair follicle may serve as a reservoir for the fungus. The lesions vary in size from very small circular patches to very large patches. Tinea corporis is common among children and is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, as well as via contact with contaminated items such as hairbrushes. Tinea corporis is an infection of the body surface by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes.

Tinea corporis is an infection of the skin that can occur at any age. In common terms this disorder is known as "ringworm". Typically it appears as a large, red, ring shaped or circular rash on the skin. Ringworm is a skin infection that may appear anywhere on the body except the scalp (head), feet, or hands. This infection happens most often in school children and athletes, but anyone can get it. Ringworm can be treated by taking a special medicine and keeping your skin clean and dry. With medicine, your ringworm infection may be gone in 1 to 2 weeks. Tinea corporis may be passed to humans by direct contact with infected people, infected animals, contaminated objects (such as towels or locker room floors), or the soil. 

Causes of Tinea Corporis

This infection is not caused by a worm. Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin, and it can be caused by many different types of fungi. Although the fungus can be "caught" from many sources, puppies and kittens are very common carriers of the infection. Contact with animals such as cats, dogs, hamsters, calves and guinea pigs causes Tinea Corporis. Children are quite prone to ringworm and they can easily pass them to other children. Farmers and people with animals are at an increased risk of contracting ringworm.

Find common causes and risk factors of Tinea Corporis :

• Keratin is one of the main cause of tinea corporis, found in cornified human epidermis.
• The fungi that cause ringworm thrive in warm, moist areas.
• The most common cause of tinea corporis is T rubrum and Microsporum canis
• It may be spread by touching a contaminated surface .Some common high-risk surfaces include floors in bathrooms, showers and locker rooms.
• The dampness, humidity, and dirty, crowded living conditions, increases the chances of the person to get affected by tinea corporis.

Signs and Symptoms of Tinea Corporis

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• The Itching at the affected area.
• There may be skin lesion or rash on the arms, legs, face, trunk of ring shaped.
• Inflammation and scaling of the infected area may also present.

Treatment for Tinea Corporis

Treatment may include:

• Topical therapy is useful in cases of non inflammatory lesions.
• Use the antifungal cream and oral medication for one week after the lesions have cleared because there may be fungus under the skin which is not visible with the unaided eye. Most treatment failures occur because patients stop the medication too early.
• Systemic therapy with griseofulvin , terbinafine , ketoconazole , itraconazole or fluconazole is very beneficial for the treatment of tinea corporis.
• Tinea corporis usually clears up quickly when antifungal medicines are applied twice daily to the skin.