Which description best matches the look of tinea corporis?

Which description best matches the look of tinea corporis?

• A. Gray patches with hair loss
• B. Well-defined round plaque with raised borders
• C. Umbilicated pearly capsules
• D. Clustered vesicles on erythematous base

Answer: (B)

Tinea corporis typically presents as an annular, or ring-shaped, skin lesion with a well-defined edge that is often raised and scaly, surrounding a central area of clearing. This outward-expanding border reflects the fungal infection actively growing at the margin while the center heals, giving that classic ring-like look. That description—an well-defined round plaque with raised borders—best matches the look of ringworm on the body. The other patterns point to different conditions: gray patches with hair loss suggest a scalp-related issue rather than the body’s ring-shaped lesion; umbilicated pearly lesions are characteristic of molluscum contagiosum; clustered vesicles on an erythematous base are more typical of viral or inflammatory conditions such as herpes or dermatitis.

Tinea corporis typically presents as an annular, or ring-shaped, skin lesion with a well-defined edge that is often raised and scaly, surrounding a central area of clearing. This outward-expanding border reflects the fungal infection actively growing at the margin while the center heals, giving that classic ring-like look. That description—an well-defined round plaque with raised borders—best matches the look of ringworm on the body.

The other patterns point to different conditions: gray patches with hair loss suggest a scalp-related issue rather than the body’s ring-shaped lesion; umbilicated pearly lesions are characteristic of molluscum contagiosum; clustered vesicles on an erythematous base are more typical of viral or inflammatory conditions such as herpes or dermatitis.