What does ringworm look like on Black skin? How is it treated? Get answers to your questions about this common fungal infection and how it affects people with darker skin tones.

Ringworm on Black Skin: Appearance and Symptoms

Ringworm, a contagious fungal infection, can manifest differently on Black skin compared to lighter skin tones. On less pigmented skin, the rash typically appears pink or red. However, on darker complexions, the ringworm patch may look brown, gray, or have a darker border than the center.

The characteristic ring-shaped rash with a raised, scaly edge is often present, but the overall appearance can vary. The infected area may also develop a scaly or cracked texture. Itching is a common symptom across all skin tones.

Common Areas Affected by Ringworm on Black Skin

Ringworm can occur on various parts of the body, and the specific name of the infection reflects the affected area:

• Scalp (Tinea Capitis): Ringworm of the scalp is a common form in People of Color, especially African American and Hispanic children. Sharing hair accessories can facilitate the spread of this type of ringworm, which can lead to bald spots, dry flaky skin, and even permanent hair loss if left untreated.
• Feet (Tinea Pedis): Also known as athlete’s foot, this type of ringworm can cause severe itching and scaling, often appearing as a grayish-brown rash between the toes.
• Nails (Tinea Unguium): Nail fungus can thicken, discolor, and make nails brittle.
• Hands (Tinea Manuum): Ringworm on the hands can start from touching an infected area and spread to the fingers and backs of the hands, causing itching and peeling skin.
• Groin (Tinea Cruris): Often called jock itch, this type of ringworm is more common in adolescents and teens assigned male at birth. On Black skin, it can appear as a grayish-brown rash in the groin and inner thigh area.
• Beard (Tinea Barbae): This rare form of ringworm affects the skin and hair of the face, chin, and upper neck where facial hair grows.

Diagnosing Ringworm on Black Skin

Diagnosing ringworm on Black skin can be more challenging due to the varied appearance compared to lighter skin tones. A healthcare professional, ideally a dermatologist with expertise in treating skin of color, can assess the rash and potentially take a small skin scraping to confirm the fungal infection.

Representation matters, as studies show that medical textbooks often lack images depicting dark skin conditions. Seeking out a Black dermatologist can improve the chances of a timely and accurate diagnosis.

Treating Ringworm on Black Skin

The treatment for ringworm on Black skin is generally the same as for other skin tones. Antifungal medications, either topical creams/ointments or oral pills, are typically prescribed. It’s important to follow the healthcare provider’s instructions carefully to ensure the infection clears completely.

For scalp ringworm, additional measures like medicated shampoos may be recommended. Untreated ringworm can lead to severe inflammation, permanent hair loss, and secondary bacterial infections.

Preventing the Spread of Ringworm on Black Skin

To prevent the spread of ringworm, it’s important to avoid sharing personal items like combs, brushes, towels, and clothing with someone who has an active infection. Practicing good hygiene, such as keeping the affected area clean and dry, can also help.

If you suspect you have ringworm, seek medical attention promptly to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Delaying treatment can allow the infection to worsen and potentially spread to others.

Ringworm on Black Skin: FAQs

Why is ringworm more common in People of Color?

Ringworm, particularly of the scalp, is more prevalent in African American and Hispanic children due to factors like shared hair accessories and grooming practices that can facilitate the spread of the fungal infection.

Can ringworm cause permanent hair loss on Black skin?

Yes, untreated ringworm of the scalp can lead to severe inflammation and permanent hair loss, known as tinea capitis.

How do I know if my rash is ringworm or something else?

A healthcare professional, ideally a dermatologist, can examine the rash and potentially take a small skin sample to confirm the presence of the fungal infection that causes ringworm.

Is ringworm contagious?

Yes, ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection that can be spread through direct contact with an infected person or animal, as well as shared personal items like combs, brushes, and towels.

Ringworm on Black Skin: Pictures, Treatment, and FAQs

Ringworm on Black skin might appear brown or gray rather than red or pink. Black people, especially children, are more likely to get ringworm on their scalp than other groups.

Ringworm (tinea) is a contagious fungal infection that affects the skin, nails, and scalp. Various fungi can cause ringworm. Despite its name, it is not a worm.

Ringworm is typically itchy. When left untreated, ringworm can spread, leading to secondary bacterial infections caused by scratching. Untreated ringworm can also cause nail deformity and hair loss.

Ringworm rash can appear differently on Black skin than on white skin. This may result in misdiagnosis and delayed treatment for People of Color.

This article details what ringworm looks like on Black skin and the areas of the body most likely to be affected. It also covers how to treat ringworm.

Ringworm causes a small, ring-shaped rash to appear 4 to 14 days after infection. The rash can look circular or like a flat patch with a raised, scaly border. The ring shape is what gives the condition its name.

Untreated, a ringworm rash slowly gets bigger. It may also change shape.

On less-pigmented skin, ringworm tends to look pink or red. But on darker skin, ringworm patches can look brown or gray. The outside raised border may be darker than the inside patch.

The skin may also take on a scaly or cracked appearance.

You can get ringworm anywhere on your body or scalp. The infected area determines the name of the infection.

Locations for ringworm infections include:

Scalp (tinea capitis)

Ringworm of the scalp is a common form of this infection in People of Color. African American and Hispanic children are the most affected demographics for tinea capitis.

Sharing hair accessories such as combs and brushes is a common form of transmission between children.

Like all types of ringworm, tinea capitis can be extremely itchy. The following may also occur:

• bald spots
• dry, flaky skin
• broken or fragile hairs
• open sores

Untreated ringworm of the scalp can result in severe inflammation and permanent hair loss.

Feet (tinea pedis)

Tinea pedis, aka athlete’s foot, can cause severe itching and scaling, especially between your toes. In People of Color, it can look like a grayish-brown rash on the feet. Peeling skin and blisters within ringworm patches can also form.

The fungus that causes tinea pedis lives in damp areas, like public showers and locker rooms.

Nails (tinea unguium)

Tinea unguium (nail fungus) most commonly affects toenails but can also affect fingernails. It can cause nails to thicken. Ragged nail edges and a crumbly, brittle texture are also common symptoms.

Hands (tinea manuum)

You can inadvertently spread ringworm to your hands by touching or scratching an infected area, such as your feet or groin. It can also be passed to another by touching a person or animal with ringworm.

Tinea manuum usually starts on just one hand. An untreated infection can spread to fingers and the backs of hands.

Ringworm on hands can cause itching and peeling skin. In People of Color, the rash that forms can look brownish or grayish.

Groin (tinea cruris)

Tinea cruris, aka jock itch, is more likely to affect adolescents and teens assigned male at birth than children or older people. On Black skin, jock itch can cause a grayish-brown rash to form in the groin area and skin folds of the inner thighs. This rash may burn and itch.

Risk factors for jock itch include:

• obesity
• tight clothing
• excessive sweating
• diabetes

Beard (tinea barbae)

This rare form of ringworm affects the skin and hair of the face, chin, and upper neck, where beards and mustaches grow.

Historically, animals were the greatest source of transmission for this rare form of ringworm. People who worked with farm animals or livestock were at the greatest risk. But since 2000, there have been more reports of cases from humans.

Because it is rare, people sometimes mistake tinea barbae for more common bacterial infections. When misdiagnosed or left untreated, beard ringworm can spread into hair follicles, causing inflammation, scarring, and hair loss.

Getting a diagnosis of ringworm before treatment will help ensure that you use the right type of medication.

A healthcare professional may diagnose ringworm by assessing the appearance of the rash. They may take a small skin scraping to confirm the diagnosis. If ringworm affects the scalp or beard, they may also send a hair sample for analysis.

It can be helpful to see a dermatologist with expertise in treating skin of color because they may be able to recognize the condition more quickly. Only about 3% of dermatologists in the United States are Black. The Black Derm Directory can help you locate one.

Representation matters

A 2020 study found that less than 5% of images in medical textbooks showed dark skin. When healthcare professionals don’t receive adequate training on what conditions look like on skin of color, they may be more likely to misdiagnose a condition.

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Ringworm treatments are the same for all skin types, including Black skin. The location of the infection, not skin tone, determines the type of treatment needed.

Since a fungus causes ringworm, you’ll need antifungal medications to clear up the infection.

Minor ringworm rashes on the skin may clear up with the use of over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal medications. If OTC treatments don’t work, you may have a different condition. Or, you may need a stronger prescription antifungal medication.

If the rash is large or has spread to multiple areas of the body, you may need prescription topical or oral medications.

Treatment for toenail fungus typically needs prescription-strength medication.

Treating ringworm of the scalp or beard involves prescription oral antifungal medications. A dermatologist might also recommend an antifungal shampoo.

It can take a month or longer for ringworm to resolve completely. If a doctor has prescribed medication, be sure to follow the instructions exactly and take it for as long as prescribed.

Learn about home remedies for treating ringworm.

Are Black people more likely to get ringworm in certain locations?

Anyone can get ringworm. But Black people are more likely to get ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) than other demographic groups. Children are particularly vulnerable to this condition.

The fungal species most likely to cause tinea capitis are Microsporum and Trichophyton.

Does ringworm affect Black people differently?

Ringworm affects all skin types in the same way. But Black and darker-skinned people may have a delay in getting a diagnosis if a healthcare professional doesn’t recognize the condition or test for it. When this occurs, complications such as secondary infections and hair loss may result.

Does ringworm leave a scar on dark skin?

It can. Ringworm scarring may occur if you don’t treat the infection fully or promptly. Scarring on black skin can be darker than the surrounding skin.

You may be able to prevent ringworm by following these tips:

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, especially after touching animals.
• Keep your skin, hair, and beard clean and dry.
• Don’t share hair accessories or tools.
• Wear water-resistant footwear around pools, public showering facilities, and locker rooms.
• If you get manicures and pedicures, go to salons that use only sterilized equipment.
• Don’t wear sweaty clothing or socks for prolonged periods.

Ringworm is a fungal infection that can cause a ring-like rash. This rash can look different on Black or highly pigmented skin than on light skin. On Black skin, ringworm may cause a brownish-gray rash.

Some healthcare professionals may not recognize ringworm on Black skin. To avoid the spread of ringworm or complications, It’s important to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment promptly.

How Ringworm Affects Black Skin, According To Dermatologists

When your skin is feeling pretty itchy, chances are it’s something minor like a bug bite or irritation to a certain product you’re using. But in some cases, it can be something more, like ringworm.

Though it might just seem like a little irritation, ringworm is actually an infection, and its primary symptom is itching. “Ringworm, also known as tinea corporis, is a fungal infection that affects the surface or superficial layer of the skin,” says Tiffany Clay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Atlanta. It usually happens when the fungus makes its way into the upper levels of the skin, sometimes giving the affected area a scaly feeling.

Besides itching, derms often advise that there’s something else that might hint at the fact you’re dealing with ringworm: “Ringworm classically appears as a circle with a clear center, kind of like a donut or a ring,” says Clay. Reference images in derm textbooks often show the condition on fair skin. There it often appears reddish, but for people with darker skin—who are just as prone to ringworm—that’s not how it looks, says Corey Hartman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Birmingham. “You might not see that bright redness. It might appear more violaceous or like a darker kind of purple.” Hartman says it also tends to leave behind more discoloration as a result.

But don’t panic if you think you’re experiencing these symptoms. Hartman says that ringworm isn’t severe. “It’s not a harmful disease. It’s just annoying.” Here’s what you need to know about how ringworm appears on Black skin.

How does one get ringworm?

Ringworm is contagious, so you’re likely to get it from direct skin-to-skin contact with another person or from shared areas like bathrooms—or tools that have been used on other people and haven’t been disinfected, like a nail clipper at your pedi spot. Hartman says that it can occur on any part of the body, except where there’s a mucous membrane—places like the mouth, lip area, or genitals.

How prevalent is ringworm in people with darker skin tones?

Hartman says that ringworm affects all people about equally, but that people of color are more likely to get ringworm on their scalp. “When it comes to the scalp, there is a racial disparity there,” he says. “Those who apply oil to their scalp and have coarser hair and don’t wash as frequently because their hair tends to dry out have more occurrences and higher incidents of developing a tinea, or ringworm in the scalp. That’s also a problem that requires more significant treatment than when it gets into the skin because it then gets into the hair follicle.”

Once ringworm goes beyond the skin and gets into the hair follicle, Clay says that the condition may need to be treated with oral anti-fungals for several weeks. In some cases, it may also cause permanent hair loss.

Does ringworm affect Black people differently or more severely in some way?

It doesn’t exactly affect Black people more severely, but ringworm conditions can escalate due to a delay in treatment, says Clay. “Due to lack of access to dermatological and medical care in general in the Black community, the diagnosis of a fungal infection like ringworm may be delayed. If ringworm is left untreated, it may move from the surface of the skin or scalp and down into the hair follicles.”

Once it’s in the hair follicles, it can lead to a deeper infection that may require the oral anti-fungal treatments previously mentioned. Hartman also says that those with darker skin are more prone to experiencing discoloration afterward, especially if the treatment for the condition is put off, which can happen if you take a little longer to go to the derm and figure out what’s going on. “The longer you let it sit, the more inflamed it can become and then leave dark spots behind,” says Hartman.

How do you treat ringworm?

Though you can’t be sure you’re dealing with ringworm unless a dermatologist confirms it for you, if you think your itchy skin may be a result of the condition, you can try over-the-counter anti-fungal creams like Lamisil or Lotrimin. “If you suspect it, apply twice a day for 10-14 days and see if that helps it to go away,” says Hartman. If it doesn’t, then it’s probably time to make an appointment with your derm.

Are there any ways to prevent ringworm?

It really just comes down to hygiene, says Clay. Stay on top of your hand-washing, and avoid sharing combs, brushes, and other tools that haven’t been sanitized. But if you do get ringworm, don’t panic. It’s a skin condition that’s totally treatable.

Jasmine Gomez

Commerce Editor

Jasmine Gomez is the Commerce Editor at Women’s Health, where she cover the best product recommendations across beauty, health, lifestyle, fitness, and more. When she’s not shopping for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Follow her @JazzeGomez.  

Regional Dermatovenerological Dispensary, Lipetsk

This is a skin disease that differs from other foci covered with numerous thin scales, as well as hair loss by breaking off at the root. Therefore, this disease and was called ringworm . There is a feeling as if the patient was cut short.

The cause of ringworm is a fungus. It is called anthropophilic trichophyton. Transmitted only from person . This fungus does not settle on animals.

There must also be certain conditions for this fungus to take root. This is weakened immunity , allergic reactions are usually to drugs, stress, and other factors that weaken the body’s defenses. There is an opinion that genetic predisposition also affects the development of ringworm.

Fungus can settle in various places on the body. As a rule, this is the skin, the epidermis of the skin on its hairline, the hair itself, as well as nails. In these places, small pale pink foci are formed, in the center of which there are many scales.

Scales are not uniform in color. They can be white, as well as have different shades of gray. Therefore, these spots look colored. When parasitizing on the hair, the fungus destroys their structure in such a way that the hair breaks off at the root by about a millimeter.

Also, hair with the progression of the fungus begins to fall out spontaneously, that is, the root system of the hair is weakened. The spots grow in breadth, begin to rise above healthy skin, tubercles appear on these spots. They become bluish or purple in color.

If you press on such spots, then there will be pain in them, and thick pus will also come out. These foci have a putrid-sweet aroma.

A complication of this process may be an increase in lymph nodes, they become painful and can open like a large boil. Such changes occur in the absence of treatment. Also, lichen may not manifest itself in any way, it can be on a person for many years or disappear altogether.

Ringworm has various types, among them are superficial lichen, chronic, infiltrative-suppurative, and ringworm of the nails.

It is important to remember that ringworm is contagious. He can act if he has long contact with a sick person, and also use his items, such as a towel, slippers, washcloths, clothes, including hats. It takes 20 days after exposure for symptoms to begin to develop.

Contacting a dermatologist should not be delayed in case of infection with ringworm. After all, early treatment helps to avoid the further development of the disease and its complications. Treatment includes the use of drugs against the fungus. These are pills for influencing the fungus from the inside.

Griseofulvin tablets are one of the medicines used. It is necessary to drink a course of these tablets.