When should I call the doctor about my child’s ringworm?

Call your child’s doctor if the:

• Skin rash has not cleared up in three weeks
• Rash continues to spread after one week of treatment
• Rash spreads from the scalp to the body, or the body to the scalp

If you have tried the over-the-counter creams on your child's ringworm and it is not helping or is getting worse, you should call your child's doctor. Many times the over-the-counter creams will help, but people stop when it is getting better rather than when it is gone. In addition, ringworm of the scalp usually does not respond to creams because of the thick keratin layer of the scalp, so the best bet for scalp ringworm is to see the pediatrician.