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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour family doctor or a skin specialist (dermatologist) can diagnose ringworm of the body. Because appointments can be brief and there's often a lot of ground to cover, it can help to be well prepared. Here are some tips to help you get ready for your appointment and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions helps you make the most of your appointment. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For ringworm, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:
- What might be causing the signs and symptoms?
- Are tests needed to confirm the diagnosis?
- What is the best course of action?
- Is this condition temporary or chronic?
- Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
- Can I wait to see if the condition goes away on its own?
- What can I do to prevent the infection from spreading?
- What skin care routines do you recommend while the condition heals?
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions, such as:
- When did you first notice your symptoms?
- What did the rash look like when it first started?
- Have you had this type of rash in the past?
- Is the rash painful or itchy?
- What, if anything, makes it better?
- What, if anything, makes it worse?
- Does a pet or family member already have ringworm?
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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