The infection may return if you stop treatment too soon. See a doctor if the rash doesn't go away after two weeks of home treatment. A ringworm infection that doesn't improve or that spreads may require a prescription-strength topical cream or oral antifungal medication.
Ringworm is treated with antifungal medicines that you either rub on the skin or take by mouth. Ringworm of the scalp is treated with a special shampoo and an oral antifungal medicine. You may have to keep using whatever medicine you're prescribed for several weeks to fully get rid of the infection.
If left untreated, ringworm can spread to other areas of your body. You may also risk spreading the infection to someone else. Other potential complications include: hair loss and scarring.
Ringworm scars are usually brown or discolored and flat. They may cover large or small patches of skin. Some scarring caused by ringworm can be permanent.
Causes and risk factors
Ringworm is caused by fungi. The types of fungi that cause ringworm tend to thrive in warm and humid areas like locker rooms and indoor pools. It can also be found in soil, gyms, and animals, or on objects like hats, towels, and combs.
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. Possible side effects include: peeling.
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.
Take a bath twice a day.
Wash the affected parts with cold water once you are done taking a bath. Always use a fresh dry towel to wipe off water from the body. Make sure skin folds are dry before wearing clothes. 3.
Effective disinfectants include Accel/Rescue® (Accelerated hydrogen peroxide 1:16), Accel® TB (hydrogen peroxide 0.5%.), Enilconazole, bleach diluted 1:32 with prolonged contact time (at least 10 minutes), 2% Potassium Peroxymonosulfate, Formula 409® (quaternary ammonium 0.3%), and Clorox Clean-Up® (sodium hypochlorite ...
The fungi that cause ringworm can survive for a long time. To avoid re-infecting yourself with infected items, you should wash clothes, towels, and bedding that you use while you have ringworm. Be sure to wash everything in hot, soapy water.
Symptoms of a fungal scalp infection include small patches of scaly scalp skin (which may be sore), patchy hair loss and itchiness. Other types of fungal infections (including ringworm) are generally treated with antifungal cream from the pharmacy, and you don't need to see a doctor unless it persists.
Treatment for ringworm of the body, groin, and foot is usually a topical antifungal agent or an oral antifungal medicine. The length of the treatment depends on the location of the ringworm. Because the fungi can live indefinitely on the skin, recurrences of ringworm are likely. Treatment may need to be repeated.
The condition may be caused by an overly vigorous reaction to the fungus and can lead to scarring and permanent hair loss.
A scaly ring-shaped area, typically on the buttocks, trunk, arms and legs. Itchiness. A clear or scaly area inside the ring, perhaps with a scattering of bumps whose color ranges from red on white skin to reddish, purplish, brown or gray on black and brown skin. Slightly raised, expanding rings.
Because ringworm is highly contagious, you should wash your sheets daily to get rid of the infection faster. Fungal spores can transfer to your sheets and comforter.
Do not cover the ringworm with a bandage. Wash and dry your hands well.
Ultraviolet (UV) light does, in fact, kill ringworms! However, while ringworms cannot survive under prolonged exposure to UV light, of which natural sunlight is an excellent source, you should still seek medical attention if you have ringworm.
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.
Healthy skin is a great barrier against ringworm. Vitamins A and D are necessary for healthy skin, so a common supplementary treatment is one shot of these vitamins to boost skin health. Vitamin D is present in sunlight, which helps kill this organism.
All bedding, brushes, combs, rugs, cages, etc. should be vacuumed, scrubbed, and washed with hot water, detergent, and 1:100 chlorine laundry bleach, or another effective disinfectant (see above). It is best to throw out any items that cannot be thoroughly disinfected.
Called tinea, Latin for “worm”), ringworm is a skin infection caused by fungi. More often than not, ringworm is a temporary nuisance, but sometimes a ringworm infection can stubbornly hold on and spread.
Following the pediatrician's treatment regimen is important because ringworm can get worse and make your child very sick with a widespread fungal infection. If your child's ringworm is worsening, he or she will have these signs and symptoms: Fever. Pus or drainage.
In natural medicine, it is generally believed that the fungal (yeast) organisms responsible for infections such as ringworm thrive on foods containing sugar (including the sugar in fruit), refined carbohydrates (like pasta and white rice) and foods that are mouldy, yeasty or fermented (most breads, aged cheeses, dried ...
You typically apply the antifungal twice a day for 10 to 14 days. To treat the itch, it often helps to apply a wet, cool washcloth to the area for 20 to 30 minutes. You may need to apply cool compresses 2 to 6 times a day.
You can treat most cases of ringworm at home with over-the-counter antifungals. Popular choices include clotrimazole (Lotrimin) and tolnaftate topical (Tinactin). Healthcare companies market these products for athlete's foot, but they will also work on ringworm of the body and jock itch.