How to Treat Ringworm

Guide Note

Ringworm may produce a ring pattern on the skin, or a red, itchy rash. If you're suffering from this fungal infection, How to Treat Ringworm will show you how to get rid of it and how to prevent ringworm from coming back.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Understand What You're Dealing With
• Step 2: Get a Diagnosis
• Step 3: Treat the Infected Area
• Step 4: Prevention Tips
• Conclusion
• References

Ringworm Treating Tips

1. Wear loose-fitting clothing and let your feet breathe. This reduces the risk of getting the infection.
2. In order to avoid the infection spreading to other parts of the body, keep the infected area covered and protected.
3. Start off your treatment by getting over-the-counter ointments and creams. If those don't work, see a doctor.
4. Check your pets for hair loss. Oftentimes, it's the pets that are bringing home the infections.
5. If you have a weak immune system, due to other diseases or disorders, see a doctor immediately.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

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Introduction

• Unlike its name might suggest, ringworm is not a worm, but is a fungal skin infection, which may appear like a ring with wormy edges, or a simple rash on the skin. Because ringworm spreads easily and can be uncomfortable to deal with, it should be treated immediately.¹

Step 1: Understand What You're Dealing With

• Before we proceed, you should know what you're dealing with. Here are some things to know about ringworm.

How is it caused?

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Dennis)
  Ringworm, also known as tinea, is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus. The fungi that cause ringworm reside on the top layer of the skin and tend to grow in warm, moist areas. Ringworm is very contagious, easily spread in gyms and locker rooms through skin-to-skin contact and through sharing towels and sports equipment.²

What are the different types?

• Depending on its location on your body, the ringworm may be known by a different name.³ According to EverydayHealth the different types of ringworm, include:

1. Ringworm of the scalp: This is most common among children. It causes hair loss in patches.
2. Ringworm of the beard: Commonly known as barber's itch, this type of infection usually affects men who have bearded areas on the face and neck.
3. Ringworm of the body: This is the most common type of ringworm, and involves non-hairy parts of the skin on the face, trunk, arms or legs.
4. Ringworm of the groin: More commonly known as jock itch, this infection is typically found among men, causing red patches of the skin around the groin area.
5. Ringworm of the foot: Another common form of ringworm, also known as athlete's foot, is an infection usually spread in gyms and locker rooms.³

Who is most at risk for getting ringworm?

• Ringworm spreads in many ways, but your chances of getting ringworm are higher in the following cases:

1. According to RevolutionHealth.com, since ringworm is pretty contagious, if you come into direct skin-to-skin contact with someone who is already infected, you'll get infected as well.⁴
2. If you have a pet that's infected, you have a greater chance of contracting the fungus, warns EverydayHealth.com.³
3. WebMD says if you live in a warm and damp climate you are at greater risk.²
4. RevolutionHealth.com states if your immune system is impaired because of another disease, such as diabetes, AIDS or cancer than you have a higher chance of getting ringworm.⁴
5. According to EverydayHealth.com, you have a higher risk if you often wear tight-fitting clothes.³

Step 2: Get a Diagnosis

• It's easy to mistake ringworm for a rash, or another type of infection. If you have the following symptoms, check with a doctor to make sure.

1. Ringworm of the skin often produces ring-shaped patches that have red, wormlike edges, but that's not always the case. Sometimes it's simply a red and itchy rash, says RevolutionHealth.⁴
2. WebMD says your skin gets thick, dry and scaly, and if the infection is on your hand, the fingers may be moist and have open sores.²
3. Ringworm of the scalp is easily identifiable in that it causes scaling of the scalp, and hair loss in patches, says EverydayHealth.³
4. RevolutionHealth.com cautions that you may have ringworm if your rash develops blisters.⁴
5. According to WebMD, you may have ringworm, if the rash gets worse when you're out in the sun.²

Step 3: Treat the Infected Area

• For most cases, a cream, which can be bought without a prescription, is enough to clear up the rash, says WebMD. However, it's a good idea to see a doctor if the infection keeps coming back, or if the cream doesn't work.²

Treating Yourself

• 

  (Creative Commons photo by Eduardo)
  Some of the things you can do on your own include:

1. According to RevolutionHealth, you can get over-the-counter creams or ointments, such as Micatin, Tinactin, Monistat-Derm, Lotrimin, or Lamisil.⁴
2. If the creams don't work, WebMD says anti-fungal pills are also available.²
   • Some of these include Diflucan, Lamisil or Fulvicin U/F.²

Seeing a Doctor

• If ringworm isn't treated, it can cause blisters, which may cause a bacterial infection. If you get a bacterial infection, you may need a prescription antibiotic. See a doctor in the following cases:

1. If the cream doesn't work, you'll need to ask your doctor for prescription medication, advises WebMD.²
2. RevolutionHealth recommends seeing a doctor if two weeks have passed and the infection doesn't show any signs of improvement.⁴
3. If there is increased pain, swelling, redness or tenderness, WebMD suggests talking to your doctor.²
4. If there is pus in the infected area, RevolutionHealth.com says you need medical attention.⁴
5. RevolutionHealth.com urges you to see your doctor, if you develop a high fever, because this is a sign of a bacterial infection.⁴
6. WebMD recommends seeing a doctor, if the rash continues to spread.²

Step 4: Prevention Tips

• Now that you know how to treat ringworm, it's time to learn how to stop ringworm before it starts. Here are some easy ways to prevent ringworm:

1. When at home, take off your shoes and let your feet breathe, suggests FamilyDoctor.org.⁵
2. EverydayHealth advises against sharing clothes, sports gear, towels or sheets.³
3. FamilyDoctor.org says to always wear clean underwear and socks, especially if you live in a hot and humid climate.⁵
4. WebMD suggests that if you get athlete's foot, always put on your socks before you put on your underwear, so that the infection doesn't spread from your feet to your groin.²
5. RevolutionHealth suggests that to stop ringworm from coming back, use talcum powder on the affected area daily.⁴
6. Check your pets for hair loss, advises FamilyDoctor.org.⁵
   • Sometimes, people don't realize that their pets are the cause of infection, and keep getting infected even after treatment.⁵
7. Wear loose-fitting clothes, says EverydayHealth.³

Conclusion

• Ringworm is easy to get rid of once you have it. Just make sure to keep the infected area clean and protected, so that you don't end up spreading the infection to other parts of your body.

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References for How to Treat Ringworm

1. ↑ HowToDoThings.com: How to Cure Ringworm
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} WebMD: Ringworm of the skin
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} EverydayHealth.com: What Is it? - Ringworm (Tinea)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8} RevolutionHealth: Ringworm of the Skin
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} FamilyDoctor: Tinea Infections: Athlete's Foot, Jock Itch, and Ringworm