although the world is full of yeasts molds and fungi only a few cause skin problems. these agents are called the dermatophytes which means "skin fungi. " an infection with these fungi is sometimes known as dermatophytosis. skin fungi can only live on the dead layer of keratin protein on top of the skin. they rarely invade deeper into the body and cannot live on mucous membranes such as those in the mouth or vagina. scientific names for the most common of the dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm include trichophyton rubrum trichophyton tonsurans trichophyton interdigitale and/or trichophyton mentagrophytes microsporum canis and epidermophyton floccosum.
what causes ringworm?