Ringworm (Tinea Corporis):
Teen information

In order to confirm the diagnosis of ringworm, your physician might scrape some surface skin material (scales) onto a slide and examine it 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 ringworm has been confirmed, your physician will probably start treatment with an antifungal medication. Most ringworm infections can be treated with topical creams and lotions, including:

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

Rarely, more extensive infections or those not improving with topical antifungal medications may require 3–4 weeks of treatment with oral antifungal pills, including:

• Terbinafine
• Itraconazole
• Griseofulvin
• Fluconazole
• Ketoconazole

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