Ringworm is a skin infection caused by a fungus that can affect the scalp, skin, fingers, toenails or foot. In New York City, ringworm is not required to be reported so that the number of people infected each year is unknown. Anyone can get ringworm. Children may be more susceptible to certain species of ringworm while adults may be more susceptible to 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 crusty areas are seen. With ringworm of the nails, the infected nails become thicker, discolored and brittle, or they can 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.