Ringworm is a very common fungal infection of the skin. It is contagious, so it can spread quite easily from person to person or even from pet to person. Ringworm is not a serious condition and it is treated easily. Some very mild cases of ringworm may not nee special treatment at all, but more severe cases may require an over the counter antifungal cream or a prescription from the doctor. Here is a look at the causes of ringworm.

Ringworm is Not a Worm:
The first thing you should know when you want to know the causes of ringworm is that despite what you may think, ringworm is not caused by a worm. A very long time ago, it was believed that ringworm was cause by a worm and by poor hygiene. That is not the cause and ringworm is simply a fungal infection that affects the scalp, feet, torso or arms and legs. In fact, the term ringworm is a general term to describe different forms of fungal infection of the skin.

So What is Ringworm?
Simply put ringworm is a bacteria or fungus. You know that your body is covered with both all the time. You don’t realize, but it is. Organisms that live on the outer layer of the skin cause ringworm and this fungus thrives on moist and warm areas of the body. This is how it can spread and thrive. So, it you come in contact with a pet, another person or an object that has this bacteria or fungus, you can get it.

The most common way to contract ringworm is through person-to-person contact. You could shake hands with someone with it or brush up against it. You can also get it from Fido or Fluffy if they have it. The good news is that ringworm is easy to treat and you can buy over the counter medications to treat it effectively.