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This article was co-written by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO. Lydia Shedlofsky is a dermatology resident who joined Affiliated Dermatpogy in July 2019 after completing a traditional rotational internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Guilford University in Greensboro, North Carpina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, working as a research assistant and intern at a freelance clinic. She completed her second degree and then studied for a master’s degree in medical education and a doctorate in Osteopathy Medicine from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathy Medicine.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 28,446 times.
Ringworm or ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that is not caused by a worm. Ringworm usually begins as a ring-shaped, red, and itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the body. [1] X Research Source Mild ringworm can be easily treated at home with an antifungal lotion or cream. [2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source However, more serious cases require medical attention and prescription medication. By recognizing the symptoms of ringworm and treating it at home, you can avoid medical treatment.
Steps
Know the symptoms of ringworm
- Less than 15 years old
- Living in a crowded and humid place
- Contact with people or animals with ringworm
- Sharing clothes, bedding, or towels with someone who has ringworm
- Participating in direct skin-to-skin contact sports such as wrestling
- Wearing tight clothes
- Poor immune system
- Realize that ringworm of the scalp often begins as a small, painful pimple-like nodule. You should keep an eye on how the nodule develops. [5] X Research Sources
- Detect patches of skin by palpating the skin with a finger to see if there is a scab-like bump. Patches of skin may also be slightly paler due to scaling. You need to watch to see if the patch of skin is growing or causing itching because that is a sign of ringworm.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching suspected ringworm. This step helps prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body.
- Note that the basic outline of the flaking or fungal infection will be circular, but can also be wavy, like a snake or worm. In addition, the skin may appear many circles connected to each other.
- Observe for any itchy patches of skin that are not circular in the groin or feet. These areas of skin can be a sign of more common fungal infections called tinea versicolor and tinea pedis. [7] X Research Sources
- Check the border color and see if there is a darker red than the skin in the patch. This is often the most obvious sign of ringworm.
- Blisters
- Purulent discharge [8] X Research source
- Scattered red notes
- Scales on the skin
- Visible patches of skin [9] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to source
- Bald scalp or broken hair [10] X Research Source
- Thick nails
- White or yellow nails
- Crispy nails
Conduct treatment at home
- Buy a topical antifungal such as Clotrimazpe or Terbinafine at your drugstore or medical device store. Follow the treatment instructions on the package or your doctor’s instructions.
- These antifungal lotions and creams work by causing the cell wall of the fungus to become unstable and cause the mucous membrane to leak. This process essentially “kills” the fungus.
- Change the bandage or reapply honey twice daily until the ringworm goes away.
- Peel the garlic and cut it into thin slices. Place garlic slices directly on the infected skin and then wrap them with a gauze bandage. [16] X Research Source Wrap the garlic overnight and do this every night until the ringworm disappears.
- Wet a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and apply it on the ringworm skin. [18] X Source of Study Repeat procedure 3-5 times daily, for 1-3 days.
- Mix salt with vinegar to form a paste and then apply it directly to the affected area. Leave the mixture on your skin for about 5 minutes and then wash it off with warm water. It can take about a week for the salt and vinegar mixture to kill the fungus.
- Mix tea tree oil with water in a 1:1 ratio. Apply this mixture to the affected area for up to 1 week.
- Dab lavender essential oil on the ringworm affected area every day. Lavender essential oil may take longer (up to 1 month) to kill the fungus.
Seek medical treatment
- Conduct a physical examination so that the doctor can detect the symptoms of ringworm. Your doctor may ask about your medical history and factors such as ringworm exposure.
- Ask your doctor if you have any questions about ringworm or about how ringworm is transmitted.
- Remember that ringworm can be spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, contact with bedding, or infected people/objects. Therefore, you need to make sure that the person in the house who has ringworm is also treated to prevent the disease from coming back.
- Your doctor may scrape off some of the skin for microscopic examination. This way, your doctor can identify the fungus and diagnose ringworm, especially if the ringworm is persistent.
- If standard treatment doesn’t work, your doctor will run more tests to detect a weakened immune system.
- Follow dosing instructions if your doctor prescribes an antifungal medication.
- Take an antifungal medication for 8-10 weeks and follow the dosing instructions. The most common drugs are Terbinafine, Itraconazpe, Griseofulvin and Fluconazpe.
- Note that oral antifungal medications can cause the following side effects: diarrhea, indigestion, nausea, and headache.
- Consider using a shampoo containing tea tree oil if an antifungal shampoo cannot be found because tea tree oil has antifungal properties and can help treat ringworm.
- Use Selsun Blue shampoo. This shampoo product helps prevent and treat ringworm. Use shampoo 3 times a week and use regular soap the rest of the days. After the ringworm is gone, you can use shampoo twice a week for a while.
- Be careful not to get the shampoo in your eyes and avoid using shampoo on your face.
Ringworm prevention
- Use soap and water to wash your skin after using the bathroom or touching public surfaces.
- Wear flip-flops or shower shoes when showering at the gym or going to a shared changing room.
- Talc powder or cornstarch, rice flour can keep the skin dry, not watery or sweaty.
- Use deodorant and antiperspirant to keep your underarms dry, thereby preventing ringworm.
- Keep towels, bedding, and clothing separate from the sick person. Hairbrushes can also spread ringworm.
- Wear soft, lightweight clothing in the summer. Choose fabrics like cotton that help your skin breathe.
- Wear layers in winter or when the seasons change. Wearing layers of clothing will ease off when you feel hot, thereby preventing sweating, which triggers a favorable environment for ringworm. Consider fabrics like Merino wool to keep you warm and dry.
Advice
- Avoid scratching the affected area to avoid aggravating the condition and spreading the fungal infection.
- Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water whenever you touch a ringworm or patch of skin that you suspect has a fungal infection.
- Check and treat pets with ringworm.
This article was co-written by Lydia Shedlofsky, DO. Lydia Shedlofsky is a dermatology resident who joined Affiliated Dermatpogy in July 2019 after completing a traditional rotational internship at Larkin Community Hospital in Miami, Florida. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Guilford University in Greensboro, North Carpina. After graduation, she moved to Beira, Mozambique, working as a research assistant and intern at a freelance clinic. She completed her second degree and then studied for a master’s degree in medical education and a doctorate in Osteopathy Medicine from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathy Medicine.
There are 15 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 28,446 times.
Ringworm or ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin that is not caused by a worm. Ringworm usually begins as a ring-shaped, red, and itchy rash that can appear anywhere on the body. [1] X Research Source Mild ringworm can be easily treated at home with an antifungal lotion or cream. [2] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source However, more serious cases require medical attention and prescription medication. By recognizing the symptoms of ringworm and treating it at home, you can avoid medical treatment.
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