This germ is harmless most of the time, but sometimes it can cause a problem. It does sound gross, and some people are embarrassed when they get this type of infection. But remember, a fungus rarely spreads below the skin and it's usually easy to treat, so it doesn't stick around for long. When it's on the skin, tinea usually begins as a small red area the size of a pea. As it grows, it spreads out in a circle or ring.
Scalp ringworm is found on the head, and body ringworm affects arms, legs, or the chest.
Athlete's foot is another type of fungal infection that usually appears between the toes but can also affect the bottom or sides of the feet. Jock itch is a fungal infection of the groin and upper thighs. This fungus most often affects the skin around the nails or the soft, moist areas around body openings. Diaper rash in babies is a form of candidal infection, as is thrush, the white patches most often found in the mouths of kids and babies. Older girls and women may develop another form of candidal infection in the area in and around the vagina.