DermaTechRx Research Center

Ringworm Athlete’s Foot Contagious

Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot, contagious rashes can all be contracted if you come into direct contact with someone who is infected.  Touching contaminated items can also spread the infection. Direct skin contact also raises the chances of Ringworm or other contagious skin infections. Humans are far more likely to contract Athlete’s Foot or Ringworm from places like a school, playground, gym, or shower facilities. Tinea corporis in medical terms, but Ringworm to most people, is the name used for minor skin afflictions of the trunk, legs or arms of a dermatophyte fungus. Dermatophytes are a group of related fungi that infect and live on the top layer of the epidermis.  Ringworm in the feet is a skin infection is called Athlete’s Foot and caused by this fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails or feet.

The term Ringworm refers to round or oval red scaly patches that appear on the skin.  They are often seen to be less red and scaly in the middle or can even look healed at the center.  It is typical for one ring to develop inside another preexisting ring. Acute Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot infections show up as itchy inflamed red patches that may be pustular.  Chronic Ringworm is more likely to be found in sweaty body folds.  Severe cases of Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot, contagious rashes and the like all have a tendency to be hard to treat and have a likely-hood of recurrence.  There are non-fungal conditions that look a lot like Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot and other contagious rashes.  They include impetigo, Seborrhoeic dermatitis, Psoriasis, Discoid eczema, Lichen simplex, Contact allergic dermatitis and Pityriasis rosea.

Athlete’s Foot symptoms may appear suddenly and then spread rapidly.  In chronic cases there is a slow growing area of a relatively mild, minimally inflamed, rash.  It will more than likely affect exposed areas and it is not uncommon that it could also spread from other infected areas.  Athlete’s Foot is most often treated with antifungal drugs topically applied. Topical therapy is adequate in most patients with Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot or other contagious rashes.   It is normal for creams containing anti-fungal agents to work by hindering the fungi from producing a substance called ergosterol. This is a necessary part of fungal cell membranes. If ergosterol synthesis is completely or partially blocked, an intact cell membrane can no longer be produced. This effectively kills the fungus. Keeping feet clean and dry, not sharing socks or contaminated articles and wearing shower shoes goes a long way to keeping Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot contagious as it is from spreading.

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