What is Tinea Corporis?
Tinea corporis is a fungal or a ringworm infection of the skin of the neck, body, arms, and limbs. Tinea corporis will cause a circular rash that feels itchy. The condition can be transmitted through direct contact with tinea corporis sufferers.
Ringworm can occur in all areas of the skin. The naming will be adjusted to its location, for example, ringworm in the legs called tinea pedis, in the folded thighs or groin called tinea cruris, and on the scalp called tinea capitis. Tinea corporis is generally not a dangerous disease and can be cured.
Causes of Tinea Corporis
The main cause of tinea corporis is dermatophytes fungal infection, Trichophyton. This fungus can multiply in keratin tissue, which is hard and waterproof tissue found in the skin, hair, or nails.
Fungal dermatophytes can be transmitted in several ways, namely:
- Contact or direct contact with the skin of tinea corporis sufferers
- Contact or direct contact with the skin of an infected animal
- Come into contact or come into direct contact with these fungi-contaminated items, such as clothing, sheets, and towels.
In addition to the above conditions, there are several factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing tinea corporis, including:
- Live in an area with a warm or humid climate
- Have excessive sweating
- Wearing clothes that are too narrow or tight
- Using clothes, sheets, or towels with tinea corporis
- Doing sports that involve direct physical and skin contact, e.g. wrestling
- Have a weak immune system
- Suffering from diabetes
Tinea Corporis Symptoms
Symptoms of tinea corporis usually begin to appear 10 days after the body comes into contact with the fungus, with common signs and symptoms such as:
- The appearance of a circular rash of redness or silvery on the skin.
- Scaly skin.
- Itching and inflammation.
- Blisters and pus-filled wounds appear around the rash.
In fairly severe cases, the circular rash that appears will multiply, grow large and possibly fuse. Not only that, blisters and festering wounds can appear around a circular rash. The skin with a rash will lift slightly and the skin underneath itches.
Tinea Corporis Diagnosis
Doctors can do two ways to diagnose tinea corporis, among others:
- Physical examination. The doctor will examine the infected skin, as well as ask questions related to the symptoms.
- Sampling and examination of skin tissue samples with tinea corporis. The doctor will take a sample of the result of infected skin scraping to be further examined under a microscope.
Tinea Corporis Complications
Actually ringworm is not a serious infection that can put lives at risk. However, in people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS sufferers, it may be difficult to cure this tinea corporis disease.
Like other types of infections and skin conditions, itchy, irritated or damaged skin can lead to secondary bacterial infections that may require treatment with antibiotics.
Tinea Corporis Treatment
Treatment of ringworm will be done depending on where tinea corporis or ringworm is located and how severe the condition is. In many cases, the doctor can recommend over-the-counter medications that you can buy at the pharmacy.
Generally the medicine to be used is antifungal cream, lotion, or antifungal powder that can get rid of ringworm. Some of the drugs commonly used to treat ringworm are as follows.
- Clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF)
- Miconazole (Micatin)
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Tolnaftate (Tinactin)
In most cases, you should use medications on your skin for 2 to 4 weeks to ensure the fungus that causes tinea corporis has been eradicated entirely. It will also lower the chances of infection to occur again.
If the body ringworm has been widespread and severe, or the body is not responding to the above medications, the doctor may prescribe other, stronger medications.
Usually, you will also be given medications. Griseofulvin is one of the commonly prescribed oral treatments for fungal infections, including tinea corporis.
Read also:
How To Cure Ringworm In Humans
Source:
- Image: See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- Video: Dr Aishwarya Kelkar
