Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toe nails or foot. Anyone can get ringworm. Children may be more susceptible to certain varieties while adults may be more affected with other varieties. Ringworm of the scalp usually begins as a small pimple which becomes larger in size leaving scaly patches of temporary baldness.
Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily.
Occasionally, yellowish cup-like crusty areas are seen. With ringworm of the nails, the affected nails become thicker, discolored and brittle, or it will become chalky and disintegrate. Ringworm of the body appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. The edge is reddish and may be either dry and scaly or moist and crusted. As it spreads, the center area clears and appears normal.