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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffFungal infections, such as ringworm, are caused by microorganisms that become parasites on your body. These mold-like fungi (dermatophytes) live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin.
Ringworm is contagious and can be spread in the following ways:
- Human to human. Ringworm often spreads by direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
- Animal to human. You can contract ringworm by touching an animal with ringworm. Ringworm can spread while petting or grooming dogs or cats. You can also get ringworm from ferrets, rabbits, goats, pigs and horses.
- Object to human. Ringworm can spread by contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or animal has recently touched or rubbed against, such as clothing, towels, bedding and linens, combs, and brushes.
- Soil to human. In rare cases, ringworm can be spread to humans by contact with infected soil. Infection would most likely occur only from prolonged contact with highly infected soil.
References
- Berger TG. Dermatologic disorders. In: McPhee SJ, et al. CURRENT Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. 49th ed. New York, N.Y. The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2010. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=955&searchStr=tinea+corporis. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Ringworm and animals. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/ringworm.htm. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Goldstein AO, et al. Dermatophyte (tinea) infections. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Habif TP. Tinea. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier. 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0890&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0915&uniq=212344290&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1032534496#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0355%3Bfrom%3Dcontent%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9%3Btype%3DbookPage. Accessed July 29, 2010.
- Wolff K, et al. Fungal infections of the skin and hair. In: Fitzpatrick's Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y. The McGraw-Hill Companies. 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5194241&searchStr=tinea+corporis#5194241. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Dermatophytoses. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manuals for Healthcare Professionals. https://merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch120/ch120c.html. Accessed July 29, 2010.
- Options for treatment of fungal infections. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manuals for Healthcare Professionals. https://merck.com/media/mmpe/pdf/Table_120-1.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Habif TP. Treatment of fungal infections. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier. 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0890&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0915&uniq=212344290&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=1032534496#lpState=open&lpTab=contentsTab&content=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00022-5--s0570%3Bfrom%3Dtoc%3Btype%3DbookPage%3Bisbn%3D978-0-7234-3541-9. Accessed July 31, 2010.
- Dr. Lawrence Gibson (expert opinion), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. July 31, 2010.
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