Ringworm (tinea) is a contagious fungal skin infection that can affect any region of your skin including the scalp, body, groin or feet. Though ringworm occurs more commonly in children, people of any age can be affected by this condition. Talk with your doctor or pediatrician if you develop any of the symptoms of ringworm.
Skin Rash
The extent of ringworm symptoms varies based upon the infection location on the body. The most prominent symptom of ringworm is a severe skin rash. If you have a ringworm infection on the skin of your body, scalp, groin or feet, you can develop dry, scaly, crusty patches of skin that can be extremely itchy. The skin rash can emerge in the shape of a ring on your skin, explains Medline Plus, a medical website established by the National Institutes of Health. The center of the skin rash can appear healthy while the outside edge of the rash can appear dark red in color. Depending upon the location of the rash, it may appear as a flat or raised patch of skin that may begin to form blisters that leak pus or fluid. An infection of the feet--also called athlete's foot--can cause the skin between your toes to begin to crack or bleed, say health officials at the South Dakota Department of Health in Pierre. Skin rash symptoms of ringworm will continue to worsen until you receive antifungal treatment to resolve your infection.
Bald Patches
If you develop a ringworm infection of the scalp (tinea capitis) you can develop temporary bald patches of skin at the site of infection. When the fungus infects the scalp skin, the hair becomes fragile and breaks off or pulls out easily, explain doctors at the Mayo Clinic. These infected scalp patches can be painful to the touch and may appear scaly, dry or irritated. If left untreated, the scalp patches caused by the ringworm infection can expand across the scalp, leading to more extensive hair loss.
Nail Discoloration
Ringworm that infects the nails can lead to nail discoloration in certain patients. You might notice that your nails appear abnormally yellow or cloudy. Infected nails can also become thick and brittle, causing them to easily break or crumble, warns Medline Plus.
