How can I tell eczema from a fungal rash?

Part of: Skincare

They can look alike, so itching or redness alone cannot be relied on. The borders, the distribution, ring-shaped scaling, the sites involved, previous steroid use and a direct examination all help. Putting a steroid cream on an undiagnosed fungal rash can change how it looks and make diagnosis harder.

Key takeaways

  • Do not treat an unknown rash with a random mix of creams.
  • A ring-shaped rash is not always fungal, and the reverse is true too.
  • Microscopy or culture may be needed in unclear cases.

Atopic Eczema: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Medical references