Despite the name, ringworm is caused by a fungus\u2014not a worm.<\/p>\n
Q: What does ringworm look like?<\/h3>\n
A: On the body, ringworm often forms a round or oval scaly patch with a more active raised border. The center may begin to clear as the edge expands. It can be intensely itchy.<\/p>\n
On lighter skin, the rash may look pink or red. On darker skin, it may appear brown, gray, red-purple, or darker than the surrounding skin.<\/p>\n A: Athlete\u2019s foot can cause itching, burning, scaling, peeling, or cracking between the toes or along the soles and sides of the feet. The skin between the toes can become soft and white from moisture. Some people develop small blisters or painful fissures.<\/p>\n Warm, sweaty shoes and damp communal areas such as locker rooms and pool decks make it easier for the fungus to thrive.<\/p>\n A: Jock itch usually affects the groin folds and upper inner thighs. The rash can be itchy and scaly with a defined border. Heat, friction, tight clothing, and sweating can all contribute.<\/p>\n Keeping the area dry is an important part of both prevention and treatment.<\/p>\n A: Yes. This is a common summer mistake. A topical steroid may temporarily reduce redness and itch without eliminating the fungus. The rash can then expand or become less typical in appearance, sometimes called tinea incognito.<\/p>\n If a rash is spreading despite hydrocortisone or keeps returning after temporary improvement, it is worth having the diagnosis confirmed.<\/p>\n A: Many limited fungal infections of the skin can respond to topical antifungal medication. The exact treatment depends on the location, extent, and diagnosis.<\/p>\n Scalp infections, extensive disease, recurrent infection, certain nail infections, or cases that do not respond to appropriate topical treatment may require prescription therapy and sometimes oral medication. Dermatologists may also perform a skin scraping or other test when the diagnosis is uncertain.<\/p>\n If an itchy summer rash is expanding, recurring, or not responding to over-the-counter treatment, Borealis Dermatology can help determine whether it is fungal or something else. Our medical dermatology services<\/a> include evaluation and treatment of tinea and other common skin infections.<\/p>\n Borealis Dermatology sees patients in Garden City, Syosset, and Bellerose, NY.<\/strong> Book Appointment<\/a>.<\/p>\n Continue reading about when a rash needs a dermatologist<\/a> and recognizing and managing heat rash<\/a>.<\/p>\n Related care:<\/strong> Fungal skin and nail infections<\/a> \u00b7 Ringworm in children<\/a><\/p>\n Ringworm, athlete\u2019s foot, and jock itch thrive in warm, moist environments. Learn how these fungal skin infections spread, what they look like, and when to get checked.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":2634,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,34],"tags":[54,49],"class_list":["post-2782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-medical-dermatology","tag-seasonal-skin-care","tag-skin-infections"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phqUFp-IS","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/borealisderm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/shutterstock_2532130229.jpg?fit=1000%2C667&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2782"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3924,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2782\/revisions\/3924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/borealisderm.com\/pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Multiple](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/ringworm-original.jpg\")
Q: What are the signs of athlete\u2019s foot?<\/h3>\n
Q: What does jock itch look like?<\/h3>\n
Q: Can steroid cream make a fungal rash worse?<\/h3>\n
Q: How are fungal skin infections treated?<\/h3>\n
Q: How can I lower my risk this summer?<\/h3>\n
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Trusted Sources & Related Reading<\/h3>\n
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