Ring worm

Your doctor will diagnose ringworm by examining your skin and possibly using a black light to view the affected area. Depending on the type of fungus, it may sometimes fluoresce (glow) under black light.

Your doctor may confirm a diagnosis of ringworm by requesting certain tests:

If you’re getting either a skin biopsy or fungal culture, your doctor will take a sample of your skin or discharge from a blister and send it to a lab to test for the presence of fungus.

If you’re getting a KOH exam, your doctor will scrape off a small area of affected skin onto a slide and place drops of a liquid called potassium hydroxide (KOH) on it. The KOH breaks apart typical skin cells, making the fungal elements easier to see under a microscope.

Your doctor may recommend both medications and lifestyle adjustments to treat ringworm.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribe various medications depending on the severity of your ringworm infection.

Jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm of the body can all typically be treated with topical medications, such as antifungal:

creams

ointments

gels

sprays

Some severe cases may be treated with oral medications.

Ringworm of the scalp or nails may require prescription-strength oral medications, such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG) or terbinafine.