08/14/2026
Have you heard of TMVII? If not, you're not alone! TMVII is an emerging STI similar to ringworm, but is specially adapted to ge***al skin. Click through to learn more ➡️
TMVII has only been documented in the U.S. since 2024. About 100 cases have been documented since then, but the actual number could be higher. TMVII is easy to miss for a number of reasons:
💡 As a new infection, there's a lack of information and awareness
💡 It can look like other skin conditions and get misdiagnosed easily
💡 Identifying TMVII requires specific testing that only a few labs can do
💡 Diagnosing TMVII requires a lab culture that can take weeks
Adding to this, TMVII primarily seems to impact gay, bis*xual, and other men who have s*x with men who may be less likely to seek out treatment due to stigma, fewer resources, and mistreatment by the medical system. Most photos of TMVII are also on people with white skin, meaning providers may be less familiar with what it looks like on darker skin and more likely to miss it as a result.
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