Discover The Truth About Facial Ringworm
Facial ringworm, also called as tinea faciei, is a fungal infection that affects the skin except on the areas where beard grows
. Some authors claimed that facial ringworm affects more women than men. But dermatophyte infection that occurs on the face is usually diagnosed as tinea faciei for women and barber's itch (tinea barbae) for men. Facial ringworm affects a lot of children also as they are always in contact with pets.
What causes facial ringworm?
Tinea faciei is caused by keratinophilic fungi or fungi that belong to the dermatophyte group. Dermatophyte fungi feed on the nutrients of the keratin material of the skin. They release keratinases to invade the epidermis layer of the skin.
How can fungal spores be transmitted?
Fungal spores are easily transmitted. You can acquire the fungal spores through direct contact from an infected person or animal. Direct contact includes holding or hugging an infected person or pet. Another way wherein you can acquire the fungal spores is through indirect contact. Indirect contact involves using articles contaminated with fungal spores, such as contaminated towels and clothes.
What are the manifestations of facial ringworm?
Symptoms of facial ringworm are characterized by dry and scaly patches with a pale center. Ringworm patches have pink to red borders that may have blisters on it. The borders of the ringworm patch gradually increase in size as they grow. Facial ringworm may be accompanied by itchiness and inflammation. Inflammation usually occurs if the fungal infection is caused by zoophilic dermatophytes.
How is facial ringworm diagnosed?
There are a variety of ways on how facial ringworm can be diagnosed. Initially, your physician may perform examination of the appearance and location of the ringworm symptoms. Then your doctor may decide to use other diagnostic examinations to confirm that you are experiencing ringworms.
1) Wood's lamp-It is a lamp that emits an ultraviolet light that makes the fungus appears fluorescent in a dark room.
2) Microscopic examination-Your doctor will scrape off dead skin tissues and they are placed on a microscope slide. The dead skin cells are treated with potassium hydroxide and they will be heated to digest the cells. Occasionally, dye is added to the potassium hydroxide solution to facilitate clearer appearance of the fungi under the microscope.
3) Fungal culture- Fungal culture is a good diagnostic test to confirm the presence of dermatophyte fungi on your face. You doctor will scrape off dead skin cells and will send the specimen to the laboratory for culture. It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks before you can get the results.
4) Skin biopsy- When other tests cannot confirm that you have facial ringworm and the symptoms are very similar to facial ringworm, skin biopsy is used. You will be under local anesthesia and a small plug of skin is removed then it will be dipped into formalin. Pathologists will study the skin to detect presence of fungi.
How can facial ringworm be treated?
Facial ringworms are treatable. Topical treatments are used when there are only few ringworm lesions over your face. Topical treatments include miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, and terbinafine. Systemic treatments are prescribed by your physician if you have severe and extensive symptoms of facial ringworm. Systemic treatments include griseofulvin, itraconazole, and fluconazole.
by: Preston Blackmore
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