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Summary
Tinea is the name of a group of diseases caused by a fungus. Types of tinea include ringworm, athlete's foot and jock itch. These infections are usually not serious, but they can be uncomfortable. You can get them by touching an infected person, from damp surfaces such as shower floors, or even from a pet.
Symptoms depend on the affected area of the body:
- Ringworm is a red skin rash that forms a ring around normal-looking skin. A worm doesn't cause it.
- Scalp ringworm causes itchy, red patches on your head. It can leave bald spots. It usually affects children.
- Athlete's foot causes itching, burning and cracked skin between your toes.
- Jock itch causes an itchy, burning rash in your groin area.
Over-the-counter creams and powders will get rid of many tinea infections, particularly athlete's foot and jock itch. Other cases require prescription medicine.
-
Fungus Infections: Tinea
(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Diagnosis and Tests
-
Fungal Culture Test
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
-
Fungus Infections: Preventing Recurrence
(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- What Causes Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Specifics
- Jock Itch (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm (Body) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections Basics (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Images
- Beard Ringworm (Tinea Barbae) (VisualDX)
- Facial Ringworm (Tinea Faciei) (VisualDX)
- Ringworm (Tinea Corporis) (VisualDX)
- Tinea Cruris (VisualDX)
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Tinea
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The Rise of Antifungal-Resistant Dermatophyte Infections: What Dermatologists Need to Know.
- Article: Genome characterization of Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII strain PG12DES from Italy.
- Article: Zoonotic and Anthropophilic Trichophyton mentagrophytes Complex Infection in Human: An Update...
- Tinea Infections -- see more articles
Find an Expert
- Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
-
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Children
- Ringworm, Scalp (Tinea Capitis) (VisualDX)
- Tinea Infections (Ringworm, Athlete's Foot, Jock Itch) (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
- What to Do About Ringworm (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Teenagers
- Jock Itch (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm: Signs, Causes and Treatment (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Jock itch (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm of the body (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Ringworm of the scalp (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Skin lesion KOH exam (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.