 [ Symptoms ] i am off from work can not use my hand pain in arm can i return to work [ Disease ] often the diagnosis of ringworm is obvious from its location and appearance otherwise skin scrapings for microscopic examination and a culture of the affected skin can establish the diagnosis of ringworm if the diagnosis is unclear a potassium hydroxide koh preparation of a skin scraping can be reviewed under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis of a fungal dermatophyte infection if a dermatophyte infection is present and the skin problem is misdiagnosed inappropriate treatment might be prescribed that could actually worsen the infection