How Long Does Ringworm Last?

The duration of a ringworm infection depends on several factors, such as the affected area, the patient’s health condition, and whether or not the area has been treated.

A general view is that if the treatment of ringworm is started with antifungals, it usually clears in 2-4 weeks, but this timeline varies with the area involved.

Read more details below about how long it lasts in specific areas of the body and what factors affect its duration.

When do symptoms appear?

Ringworm is very contagious and one can get the infection by direct contact with the lesions, contaminated surfaces, infected animals, or soil.

The rash does not appear the next day. It may take 1- 2 weeks for symptoms to appear.

Symptoms of ringworm of the skin usually appear in 4-10 days. In cases of ringworm of the scalp, it may take longer (usually 10-14 days).

Depending on the area involved, symptoms may vary. It can present with the following symptoms:

Red circular patches with central clear areas.
Red bumps or blisters on the edges.
Itching.
Discolored and brittle nails.

Duration in specific areas

How long the ringworm lasts largely depends on the area involved. Different terms are used for ringworm in different areas:

Infection of skin:

Tinea pedis – Infection of the foot
Tinea cruris – Infection of the groin
Tinea faciei – Infection of the face excluding the beard area
Tinea manuum – Infection of the hand

Infection of skin and hair:

Tinea capitis – Infection of the scalp and hair
Tinea barbae – Infection of beard hair and skin

Infection of the nails:

Tinea unguium: Infection of fingernails or toenails.

Ringworm of skin

Mild cases of ringworm of the skin which includes ringworm of the body, hand, foot, groin, and face, usually clear within 2-4 weeks of starting antifungal treatment. Severe cases may require oral treatment and can take 6 to 12 weeks to clear.

Untreated cases can become chronic or can take months to clear.

Ringworm of the scalp and beard

It will not improve with over-the-counter topical antifungals. You will need oral prescription antifungal medications.

Once the treatment is started, mild cases will usually clear in 4-8 weeks. Untreated cases of scalp ringworm may not go away or can last for several months to years.

Ringworm of the nails

Infection of the nails takes longer to go away. It may take 1-4 months, and in some cases up to a year to completely go away. The ringworm of the fingernails usually clears faster than toenails.

What happens if left untreated?

In healthy individuals with mild cases, the ringworm of the skin may go away on its own. However, it can spread to other parts of the body or one can spread the fungus to other family members.

In some people, especially those with weaker immune systems or underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes), it can linger on for much longer or can become chronic.

In very few cases, it may progress to Majocchi’s granuloma, which is a fungal infection of deeper tissues of the skin. Majocchi’s granuloma is treated with oral antifungals.

Untreated ringworm of the scalp and beard may lead to patches of permanent hair loss.

Untreated nail ringworm may result in brittle nails which may break or separate from the nail bed.

How to clear ringworm faster?

The fastest way to clear the ringworm is to start the right treatment.

Mild cases can go away with the use of over-the-counter antifungals like clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole, terbinafine (Lamisil), and ketoconazole (Xolegel).

Keep using the treatment as directed by your physician or packaging instructions.

Always check the ingredient list of the topical you use to treat ringworm. Make sure it does not contain any steroid like hydrocortisone as these can worsen the infection.

Ringworm of the scalp and beard cannot be treated with topical antifungals as these do not penetrate the hair shaft. So, you will need to visit your doctor to get prescription oral antifungal medication to get rid of the ringworm faster.

See your doctor if the rash does not improve or gets worse.

Additional measures

Do not cover the area with Band-Aid.
Wear loose breathable clothing.
Wash your clothes and bedding daily.
Practice good hand hygiene following care of any infected area.
If you have a pet with a suspicious scaly area, get them checked and treated.
Do not share your personal things with anyone.

How to avoid future infections?

Once the ringworm infection is gone, one can follow certain measures to avoid future infection.

Do not use other’s personal items and do not let others use yours.
Keep your skin clean and dry.
Wear breathable clothes and footwear.
Wear slippers or shoes in public showers, gyms, or swimming pools.
Take a bath after excessive sweating or contact sports like wrestling.

Key points

Ringworm of the skin usually lasts for 2-4 weeks if it’s treated. It can last longer in severe cases.
Ringworm of the scalp and beard may not go away without oral antifungals. If treated appropriately, it usually clears in 4-8 weeks.
Ringworm of the nails can last for several months, even longer in severe or untreated cases.

Read more:

References

Castellanos J, Guillén-Flórez A, Valencia-Herrera A, Toledo-Bahena M, Ramírez-Cortés E, Toussaint-Caire S, Mena-Cedillos C, Salazar-García M, Bonifaz A. Unusual Inflammatory Tinea Infections: Majocchi’s Granuloma and Deep/Systemic Dermatophytosis. J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Oct 31;7(11):929. doi: 10.3390/jof7110929. PMID: 34829218; PMCID: PMC8617809.
Gnanasegaram M. 2012. Majocchi granuloma. DermNet.
Bodman MA, Krishnamurthy K. Onychomycosis. [Updated 2022 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
Al Aboud AM, Crane JS. Tinea Capitis. [Updated 2022 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
Kuruvella T, Pandey S. Tinea Barbae. [Updated 2022 Sep 26]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan.
Fungal Nail Infections. CDC.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for information purposes only and does not replace medical advice.