This image displays a small, pink, slightly raised area of skin, with scaling on the edge, typical of fungal (tinea) infections. Tinea faciale (a fungal infection on the face) often has pink, ring-like, slightly elevated lesions with scaling at the edge. This image displays round, sharply bordered areas typical of tinea faciale. Tinea (superficial fungal infections of the skin) can occur anywhere on the body, including the face. This image displays a scaly, red edge of a slightly elevated lesion typical of tinea faciale (a superficial fungal skin infection of the face). This image displays scaling and a sharp edge to the affected area typical of tinea faciale, the medical term for a skin fungus ("ringworm"). This image displays a small, slightly scaly area typical of the superficial fungal infection, tinea.
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Ringworm, Facial (Tinea Faciale)  A parent's guide for infants and babies

Picture of Ringworm, Facial (Tinea Faciale): This image displays a small, pink, slightly raised area of skin, with scaling on the edge, typical of fungal (tinea) infections. Divider line
This image displays a small, pink, slightly raised area of skin, with scaling on the edge, typical of fungal (tinea) infections.
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Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
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.


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Last Modified: 22 Dec 2008
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