After 48 hours of treatment, ringworm does not spread to others at all.
Ringworm stops being contagious after 48 hours of antifungal treatment. Treatment options include topical creams or oral medication. Without treatment, people are contagious until the ringworm rash goes away. This can take up to 3 weeks.
If you treat only one area, you'll still have a ringworm infection. The infection can quickly spread to other areas again. Because ringworm is very contagious, you can also spread ringworm to other people. Change your clothes, including underwear and socks, every day.
The ringworm fungus can live on surfaces for months. Disinfectant sprays like Lysol® or bleach can remove the fungus. Wash clothes, sheets and towels in hot water and detergent to prevent ringworm from spreading.
The short answer is yes - ringworm can eventually go away on its own. However, this can take anywhere from between a few weeks to a few months. Not seeking treatment for a ringworm or jock itch infection can cause you to experience unnecessary itching and discomfort throughout the entire time you have the infection.
Because the fungi can live indefinitely on the skin, recurrences of ringworm are likely. Treatment may need to be repeated. If you have ringworm symptoms, see your healthcare provider for treatment recommendations. It is important to note that common home remedies do not effectively treat this condition.
After treatment, the rash will go away. But ringworm can return unless you follow steps to prevent it. The tendency to get fungal skin infections or to have them return after treatment seems to run in families.
Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread through contact with other areas of the body and other people. Ringworm remains contagious for some time, even when a person is undergoing treatment for the infection.
Myth 5: Ringworm isn't contagious
Ringworm is so contagious, in fact, that you don't even have to touch someone to get infected. The fungus can linger in places like locker room floors, as well as on hats, combs, and brushes. If you share an infected brush or comb, you can develop ringworm of the scalp.
Daily cleaning will minimize the amount of environmental contamination that builds up while affected animals are housed in your home and undergoing treatment for ringworm.
For items that can be washed, they should be washed in the longest washing cycle with detergent two times and then dried completely in the dryer. It is important that the washer and dryer are not overloaded, as again the mechanical movements are the most important component in removing debris infected with ringworm.
Does infection with ringworm make a person immune? Since so many species of fungus can cause ringworm, infection with one species will not make a person immune to future infections.
Should children or others be excluded from day care, school, work or other activities if they have ringworm? No. However, they should be excluded from certain activities that are likely to expose others to the fungus, such as using communal swimming pools or showers, sharing towels, sharing gym equipment or wrestling.
Ringworm is a highly contagious but easy-to-treat fungal infection spread between animals and humans. 1 It typically appears on the skin, hair, and nails in humans and on the skin, claws, or hooves in animals.
Any child with ringworm should not participate in gym, swimming, and other close contact activities that are likely to expose others if the lesions cannot be fully covered or until 72 hours after treatment has begun.
The spores are microscopic and can be spread easily by air currents and contaminated dust, and through heating ducts and vents.”
Steroid creams can make ringworm worse because they weaken the skin's defenses. Steroid creams can allow ringworm infections to spread to cover more of the body. Ringworm that has been treated with steroid creams can have an unusual appearance, making it hard for healthcare providers to diagnose.
Don't walk barefoot in areas like locker rooms or public showers. Clip your fingernails and toenails short and keep them clean. Change your socks and underwear at least once a day. Don't share clothing, towels, sheets, or other personal items with someone who has ringworm.
Is Stress a Cause of Ringworm Infection? Yes, stress can be a cause of ringworm infection. Stress or alcohol acts as a trigger also, at times, causes a flare-up of the infection. So, if you are diagnosed to be affected with ringworm infection, avoid alcohol consumption, and unnecessary stress.
These fungi thrive where it's warm and humid. Ringworm is common in tropical areas and during hot, humid summers. It flourishes in warm, moist locker rooms and indoor pools. You can also get ringworm when the weather is cool because ringworm is extremely contagious.
How Long Does Ringworm Last? Most mild cases of ringworm usually clear up in 2 to 4 weeks. But treatment might be needed for up to 3 months if the infection is more serious, or affects the nails or the scalp.
Terbinafine (Lamisil) comes in creams, sprays, and gels and can treat athlete's foot, jock itch, and other ringworm infections on the skin. The CDC says terbinafine seems to be the most effective treatment for tinea pedis.
If you've started an OTC antifungal treatment or natural ringworm home treatment and your symptoms are not better within two weeks—or your infection has spread to other body parts—you should visit a medical professional or an urgent care center.