Tuesday 20 September 2011

What Does Ringworm Look Like? The Tell Tale Signs


What Does Ringworm Look Like? The Tell Tale Signs
Initially it is difficult to recognise what ringworm looks like. It does however look slightly different depending on which part of your body that you get the ringworm on. First of all the way ringworm looks like on a human bears no resemblance to what ringworm looks like on dogs or indeed what ringworm looks like on cats. It is true that domestic pets, horses, donkeys and cattle can all get ringworm but the actual look of it to the human eye is completely different. it is difficult to see on dogs and cats initially as it is buried under the skin and you will usually notice the animal start to itch, or the hair start to drop off and leave a red scar underneath. That will mean an instant trip to the vet.
There are certain diseases that look like ringworm and many people confuse the way for example that eczema looks like ringworm. They are similar in that they have a rash look to them but they are entirely two different illnesses. In fact there are many things that can look like ringworm so it is better to have a clear understanding of what ringworm actually looks like. Let's get the simple ones out of the way first.
Ringworm of the Nails
If you contact ringworm of the nails, on either hands or feet, then there are very distinct signs to look for. The nails will start to discolour and they go a yellow colour. They can quickly become brittle and also look rather chalky. As the ringworm takes hold they then will start to disintegrate so you will be in no doubt whatsoever that this is ringworm of the nails.
Ringworm of the Scalp or Head.
This usually starts as a small pimple or spot on the head and then develops a strong characteristic of a red ring that looks like small blisters or a ring of scaly skin that begins to grow outwards. Typically the roots of the hair are infected and the hair becomes brittle and will fall out. It can look rather ugly on the head as the hair starts to fall out and these rings with crusts start to appear.
Ringworm of the face and body
Ringworm of any kind has nothing to do with any type of worm so the name is misleading from that sense. The ring element of the name is however very accurate. The skin starts off with a series of small spots which eventually go clear in the middle as they spread out to form a ring. This is always how you will identify ringworm as it leaves a set of very clearly distinctive rings, which are red in colour and they often overlap. The sad reality with ringworm is that it does not look good at all, especially on the face or hands. It is a highly contagious illness and requires treatment right away to both cure it and prevent it from spreading.

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