Keep the infected area clean and dry. The fungus that causes ringworm thrives in warm, moist areas, so you want keep the area clean and dry. When cleaning the area with ringworm, wash the affected area(s) and dry it (them) with a clean towel. Use another clean towel to dry the other parts of your body.
Ringworm is an itchy, contagious fungal infection that causes a ring-shaped pattern on your skin. Over-the-counter and prescription treatments can stop the fungus from spreading to other parts of your body or to others.
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. Wash your hands with soap and running water after playing with pets.
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.
Ringworm Treatment
Antifungal medications are your best bet to cure ringworm fast. Antifungal medications are available over the counter (OTC) or by prescription and come in cream, ointment and pill form.
Ringworm usually goes away within 4 weeks of treatment.
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.
These fungal infections, medically known as "tinea", are not serious and are usually easily treated. However, they are contagious and easily spread.
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.
Touching or scratching the area with ringworm and then touching another area can spread ringworm from one part of your body to another. Washing your hands well can help prevent this. Keep the infected area clean and dry.
A person who has ringworm can spread the infection both to other parts of their body and to other people. To prevent this, people should take the following precautions: avoid scratching or touching the ringworm lesion. wash the hands thoroughly after touching or treating the ringworm lesion.
The infection can spread via skin-to-skin contact, clothing, or surfaces where the fungus lives, such as in showers or locker rooms. It's more common among people with compromised immune systems and can spread more easily among families (because of skin contact) or athletes (because of the locker room environment).
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.
The following are the foods you should avoid when you have a ringworm infection. - Foods that contain sugar, including fruits. - Refined carbohydrates like white rice and pasta.
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.
You should contact your healthcare provider if: Your infection gets worse or doesn't go away after using non-prescription medications. You or your child has ringworm on the scalp. Ringworm on the scalp needs to be treated with prescription antifungal medication.
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 fungi that cause this infection can live on skin, surfaces, and on household items such as clothing, towels, and bedding. Ringworm goes by many names.
Take a shower or bath every day (especially after playing sports and sweating) and dry off completely. Wear clean clothing. Change your clothes every day. Use clean towels and don't share towels or clothes.
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.
Miconazole (an antifungal) and chlorhexidine (a disinfectant) synergize each other when combatting ringworm. They are available as a combination rinse as well as shampoo.
People can get ringworm after contact with someone who has the infection. To avoid spreading the infection, people with ringworm shouldn't share clothing, towels, combs, or other personal items with other people.