What does ringworm look like?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The classic ringworm is a red, scaly, itchy ring with a raised, expanding edge and a clearing center. On the scalp it causes scaly bald patches; in the groin, a half-moon rash; on the feet, peeling between the toes. It is a fungus, not a worm, and it spreads by skin contact, shared items, and pets. The lookalikes to not confuse it with: eczema (no central clearing), psoriasis (silvery, symmetrical plaques), pityriasis rosea (herald patch then a trunk-wide rash), and granuloma annulare (rings without scale or itch). A clinician can confirm with a skin scraping in minutes. The treatment split follows the location: body ringworm clears with OTC terbinafine or clotrimazole cream used the full 2 to 4 weeks, while scalp and nail ringworm need prescription oral medication, so scalp involvement or spread despite proper cream use is the see-a-doctor line. And while treating: cover it, share nothing, wash hands after touching it, because it stays contagious until treatment takes hold.
What to do
- The ring: raised red edge, clearing center, itchy.
- Scalp or nail involvement: needs prescription pills, not cream.
- Body ringworm: OTC antifungal cream, full 2-4 weeks.
- Spreading despite cream: see a doctor.
- Contagious until treated: cover, share nothing, wash hands.
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