Tinea corporis is a superficial fungal skin infection, which has a raised reddish margin surrounding an inner area which may look healthy or may be somewhat scaly, and is sometimes called “ringworm”. The reason for the name is obvious when one looks at the lesion. To people without the knowledge that is now available through simple microscopy, the appearance of the lesion does resemble a worm under the skin. However, no worms are involved.
Cause of Tinea Corporis
The fungi most frequently involved in tinea corporis are: Trichophyton rubrum (causes nearly half of all cases of tinea corporis); Trichophyton tonsurans (causes most cases of tinea capitis – fungal infection of the scalp); and Microsporum canis (third most common cause of tinea corporis).
As a fungal infection of a superficial layer of the body, tinea is spread by physical contact with another person who has the infection, or with an animal or an inanimate object (as in sports facilities, showers, and so on). The incubation period is one to three weeks.
