Warning signs and symptoms of ringworm as the TikToker appears on his face

A social media influencer has opened up about his health after being diagnosed with ringworm. Taking to TikTok, Chris Olsen told his 12.8 million followers how he got the fungal infection, which has now appeared on his face.

In a video, which has now been viewed 1.9 million times, Chris begins by saying: “I just want to be clear because I think there’s a big misconception about what a ring is. It’s not actually a worm.

“Pingea is a fungal infection of the skin, which is also technically like a yeast infection. You can get it in a number of different ways.” He added: “It’s not something to be stigmatized about – you shouldn’t run away from someone if they’ve got it, especially if they treat it with some medicated cream, that means it’s less likely to be contagious. “

Chris was quick to point out, “I got all this information from my dermatologist. You should ask your dermatologist if you have any questions or concerns.”

Explaining how he thinks he contracted ringworm, Chris says it was probably from sweating too much at the gym and not showering fast enough. Although he usually showers after every workout, he admitted to recently going into a sauna after exercise.

“On this day, I finished my workout and then I decided to enter the sauna. So I probably came into contact with some germs first and then because I’m a very sweaty person it managed to get into my body and when I went to the sauna I gave it the perfect environment to soak in .”

In the comments section, many people praised Chris for being so open about his diagnosis. One viewer wrote: “This is how you de-stigmatize things, discuss them and make them normal! Thank you”.

Another said: “Thank you for being transparent and honest.” A third added: ‘Stay positive and you’ll be ring free soon! I like your attitude here.”

What is a ring?

According to the NHS, ringworm is a common fungal infection that can cause a ring-like red or silver rash on the skin. Ringworm usually affects the arms and legs, but it can appear almost anywhere on the body.

Despite its name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms. Other similar fungal infections can affect the scalp, legs, groin area and nails.

These fungal infections, known medically as “ringworm,” are not serious and are usually easy to treat. However, they are contagious and spread easily.

Symptoms of ringworm:

Symptoms of ringworm include:

• a red or silver ring-like rash on your skin – your skin will look red and irritated around the ring, but healthy inside
• scaly, itchy and inflamed skin

In more severe cases:

• the rings can multiply, grow in size and merge
• the rings may feel slightly raised and the skin underneath may be itchy
• blisters and pus-filled sores may form around the rings

The ring stretches outward as it progresses. You may have one or more patches of ringworm, and in more severe cases, the skin may become raised and blistered.

What causes ringworm?

Fungal tinea infections are caused by a certain type of fungus, called dermatophytes, that live on keratin. Keratin is a tough, water-resistant tissue found in many parts of the body, including skin, hair, and nails. This explains why fungal infections mostly affect your skin, scalp or nails.

How does ringworm spread?

Fungi are tiny spores tough enough to survive for months on your skin, in the soil, or on household items like combs or towels. They thrive in heat and humidity, which helps them grow and explains why they are often prevalent in pool changing rooms and communal showers. Spores can be spread in four different ways:

• human to human contact
• human-to-animal contact – for example, petting an infected dog or cat
• human-object contact – both animals and humans can leave traces of fungal spores on objects and surfaces such as towels, clothing, bedding, combs or brushes
• human-soil contact – less often, it can develop after prolonged exposure to infected soil