Who Else Wants To Discover Ringworm 101?

Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection which sometimes, but not always, appears as a red, ring-shaped rash. Since it is more common than most people realize, having a good understanding is valuabale. Ringworm classically resembles a doughnut because the skin in the center appears healthy while the edges of the ring may appear crusted and raised. While it is not painful per se, it can be highly itchy which can then lead to wounds due to excessive scratching. For most people, it is the itch that inconveniences them the most as far as ringworm infection is concerned. One of the most effective treatments available for treating ringworm in humans is an anti-fungal cream.

Despite the name, ringworm is a fungus and not a worm which is why anti-fungal creams are effective. When treating pets, dips and shampoos are the treatment of choice. Humans on the other hand, may be treated with creams alone or sometimes with oral medication particularly if the infection is rather wide spread. There are a wide variety of creams available over the counter to treat the more common types of ringworm infections. These infections include athletes foot, which is usually found on the foot and jock itch which is usually found in the groin area. These infections can usually be treated with the OTC creams that contain miconazole or clotrimazole. The more common brand names are Micatin, Tinactin, Monistat and Lotrimin. Another common brand is Lamisil which contains terbafine, another anti-fungal drug. Before application of the cream, the affected area should be washed well and dried thoroughly. The cream should then be applied, not only to the rash but to the area beyond the rash. Treatment must be continued even when the rash appears to have disappeared to ensure proper treatment. For most anti-fungal topical medication, the treatment will last anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.

If after two weeks, there is not visible improvement, then it is best to seek medical attention. There are a variety of more powerful medicines that your doctor can prescribe which are more effective at treating ringworm. An example of this are the medicines that use allylamines which can come as creams, gels or pills.

Ringworm is not limited to just your skin, as it can appear in your nails or scalp. Nail fungus attacks the nail bed under the nail itself. This makes it harder to treat as the creams are unable to penetrate the skin well. Initially, you can try creams, lotions and even nail polish which are usually available over the counter. If these work, well and good. Otherwise, you may have to resort to oral anti-fungal medicine which can prescribed by your physician. This anti-fungal pill is also the treatment of choice for ringworm of the scalp, though prescription creams can also be effective in eliminating ringworm of the scalp. Speaking of which, the scalp based fungus can affect the hair itself, resulting in bald patches. However, the hair will grow back once the ringworm has been eliminated.

So, there you have it. Ringworm 101. Certainly not comprehensive, but hopefully you now have a much better understanding of ringworm. It is a much more common infection that most people realize, so having a good grasp of the basics is important.

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