Ringworm, Facial (Tinea Faciale):
A parent's guide for infants and babies

To confirm the diagnosis of facial ringworm, your child's physician might scrape some surface skin materials (scales) onto a glass slide and examine them under a microscope. This procedure, called a KOH (potassium hydroxide) preparation, allows the doctor to look for tell-tale signs of fungal infection.
 
Once the diagnosis of facial ringworm is confirmed, your physician will probably start treatment with an antifungal medication. Most infections can be treated with topical creams and lotions, including:

• Terbinafine
• Clotrimazole
• Miconazole
• Econazole
• Oxiconazole
• Ciclopirox
• Ketoconazole
• Sulconazole
• Naftifine

Rarely, more extensive or long-standing infections may require treatment with oral antifungal pills, including:

• Griseofulvin
• Terbinafine

The infection should go away within 4–6 weeks after using effective treatment.