What is the cause of ringworm?

What's itchy, scaly, round, and contagious? Ringworm, of course. Find out what it is, what causes it, what the symptoms are, and how it's treated. read more

Ringworm, also known as dermatophytosis or tinea, is a fungal infection of the skin. The name “ringworm” is a misnomer, since the infection is caused by a fungus, not a worm. Ringworm infection can affect both humans and animals. read more

Causes. Ringworm is a contagious fungal infection caused by mold-like parasites that live on the cells in the outer layer of your skin. It can be spread in the following ways: Human to human. Ringworm often spreads by direct, skin-to-skin contact with an infected person. Animal to human. You can contract ringworm by touching an animal with ringworm. read more