A wrestler presents with this new red, scaly "ring" on the leg.

TINEA CORPORIS

Tinea Corporis (TC) is a fungal (dermatophyte) infection of the skin of the body.

• It is commonly called ringworm.
• A red, annular scaly lesion or lesions is seen. The border is often said to be "active", meaning it is more red, inflammatory, raised, etc.
  
• Larger plaques or areas may occur, emanating from the gluteal cleft, web spaces or occurring anywhere.
• Onychomycosis (toenail fungus) or tinea pedis (tinea of the feet) may seed the skin and be a cause of recurrent infections.
• Wrestlers and martial arts participants may contract the infection from contact with others.
• Wet floors in gym showers are notorious for harboring the fungus.
• Sometimes a house cat can harbor fungus.

Treatment

For limited diseases, topical topical terbinafine (Lamisil) or a prescription topical antifungal agent is sufficient. If needed, an oral antifungal medication may be given, e.g. terbinafine 250 mg/day for 7 days or itraconazole 100 mg/day for 2 weeks. In order to minimize reinfection, any fungal infection of the nails onychomycosis should be eliminated and tinea of the feet suppressed.

Oral ketoconazole should not be used due to the risk of fulminant hepatitis.

RegionalDerm

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