Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin seen most often on the scalp, body, feet ("athlete's foot"), or groin ("jock itch"). Ringworm isn't a worm — its name comes from how it looks, like a red ring or group of rings with clear centers. Signs and Symptoms On the skin: starts as a red, scaly patch or bump itching discomfort usually shaped like a circle with raised, tiny bumps around the edges (often with a scaly center) On the scalp: may start as a round, reddish, pimple-like sore becomes patchy, flaky, scaly, or crusty (may first be mistaken for dandruff) causes swelling, soreness, redness, bald patches (usually circular), and broken hairs What to Do Call your doctor if you think your child has signs of ringworm. Follow the doctor's treatment instructions carefully. Depending on the type and site of the infection, these may include using over-the-counter or prescription cream for the skin, or prescription oral (taken by mouth) medicine for the scalp. Discourage your child from picking at the infected area because this could cause another type of infection. Call your doctor if the area gets redder, is swollen, or develops pus. Think Prevention! Prevent ringworm by encouraging your kids to: not share combs, brushes, hair accessories, pillows, hats, cellphones, and headphones wear flip-flops at the pool or in the locker room shower wash sports clothing regularly shower after contact sports wash their hands well and often Back to Articles Related Articles Ringworm Ringworm is a type of fungal skin infection. The good news is that ringworm is easy to treat. Read More Athlete's Foot Athlete's foot is a common fungal skin infection. It's generally easy to treat and prevent. Read More Jock Itch Jock itch is a pretty common fungal infection of the groin and upper thighs. It is generally easy to treat and prevent. Read More Dandruff Got flakes? Most cases of dandruff don't require a visit to a doctor's office. Treat them at home with special, over-the-counter dandruff shampoos. Read More Ringworm Ringworm isn't a worm at all - it's the name for a type of fungal skin infection. The good news is that ringworm is easy to treat. Read More Jock Itch Jock itch is a pretty common fungal infection of the groin and upper thighs. It is generally easy to treat - and avoid - by following a few simple steps. Read More Skin, Hair, and Nails Our skin protects the network of tissues, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Hair and nails are actually modified types of skin. Read More Skin, Hair, and Nails Our skin protects the network of tissues, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Hair and nails are actually modified types of skin. Read More Athlete's Foot Anyone can get athlete's foot. Find out how to avoid this itchy skin condition in this article for kids. Read More Athlete's Foot Although the name athlete's foot sounds funny, if you have this skin infection, you're probably not laughing. The good news is that it is generally easy to treat. Read More Vitiligo Vitiligo is a loss of skin pigment that causes white spots or patches to appear on the skin. It's not medically dangerous, but it can affect a person's appearance. Find out more. Read More Ringworm Ringworm isn't a worm at all - it's the name for a type of fungal skin infection. The good news is that ringworm is easy to treat. Read More Jock Itch Jock itch is a pretty common skin infection of the groin and upper thighs. It is usually affects teens, but sometimes kids can get it. Find out what it is and how to prevent it in this article for kids. Read More Dandruff If you're worried about dandruff, you're not alone. Dandruff can start in puberty, and lots of teens and adults live with it. Learn how to control it. Read More What Are Germs? You know they can hurt you, but what are these invisible creatures? Find out in this article for kids. Read More Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa Germs are the microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause disease. Read More Germs: Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, and Protozoa Germs are tiny organisms that can cause disease - and they're so small that they can creep into your system without you noticing. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.