Ringworm is contagious and extremely common. Ringworm has different names based on where it appears on your body — and it can appear just about anywhere. This type of ringworm affects your arms, legs, torso and face.
Ending treatment too soon can cause ringworm to return and make the infection harder to treat. On rare occasions, the ringworm fungus goes deeper into your skin, making it even harder to treat. More serious infections may require treatment for six to 12 weeks.
- This is more common in people with diabetes or other conditions that weaken the immune system.
- Infections are difficult to treat, and some strains are antimicrobial-resistant.
- Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan until the infection clears completely.
- There is no evidence that any one cream is better than any other one.
- Oral antifungal medications appear to be safe to take during pregnancy.
- A boil (furuncle) is an infection of a hair follicle.
- There are also many potential causes for fingernail and toenail abnormalities.
Antimicrobial stewardship
Mild cases of ringworm clear up within a few weeks. In fact, they may worsen the infection. Disinfectant sprays like Lysol® or bleach can remove the fungus. It won’t cure it, but it may help contain the infection. Most medications are prescribed for between one and three months. Examining the scales typically confirms ringworm.
How ringworm is passed on
Ringworm goes by different names depending on which body part it affects. You get ringworm from contact with an infected person, animal or object. It spreads easily and through close contact.
There is no evidence that any one cream is better than any other one. The rash may be irritating, itchy and inflamed. Sometimes only one patch of infection occurs.
Ringworm is found in every country but some forms are common in resource-poor tropical settings. While not life threatening, ringworm can be uncomfortable. Yes, you can get ringworm from dogs, cats and other animals like cows, goats or horses.
The rash may be scaly, dry, swollen betsomnia casino or itchy. It may look red or darker than the surrounding skin, depending on your skin tone. You can usually buy medicine from a pharmacy to treat it.
In addition to medication, keeping the affected area clean and dry can help promote healing and prevent the spread of infection. Tinea pedis infections are often endemic in heavy industries and can result in loss of work and complications due to secondary infection. Tinea is one of the commonest dermatological conditions, accounting for a substantial proportion of skin disease in developing countries.
How common is ringworm?
This type of fungus naturally lives on your skin, hair and nails. Ringworm is treated with antifungal medication available either over the counter or as a prescription. It’s fine for your child to go to school or nursery once they’ve started treatment.
Antifungal creams and powders
An antifungal medicine taken by mouth is sometimes prescribed if the ringworm infection is widespread or severe. For ringworm skin that is particularly inflamed, a doctor may prescribe an antifungal cream combined with a mild steroid cream. These are good at clearing fungal skin infections such as ringworm. Generally speaking, ringworm and other fungal skin infections are contagious, but not especially so.
They may scrape the area to look at the skin cells under a microscope, too. It can live on your skin, on surfaces and in soil. However, when their environment gets hot and damp, the fungi start growing uncontrollably.
Many of these cases are resistant to the common antifungal medications, posing an increasing public health problem. Ask your provider about how you can keep ringworm from spreading to other parts of your body and to other people. Ringworm can be unpleasant, but antifungal medications will help you get rid of the fungus that causes ringworm.
Health Care Providers
- Although ringworm can go away by itself, it’s not common.
- Several factors can increase the risk of developing ringworm.
- Ringworm is a fungal skin infection caused by parasites that live on dead skin tissue.
- If it’s not itchy and annoying, it’s very unlikely the ringworm is fungal.
- Ringworm is typically treated with antifungal medications.
- The main symptom of ringworm is a rash.
Ringworm is an itchy, contagious fungal infection that causes a ring-shaped pattern on your skin. They can look at the rash and recommend the best antifungal medicine. In some cases, incorrect treatment can worse the infection.
If it’s not itchy and annoying, it’s very unlikely the ringworm is fungal. Sometimes several patches of ringworm occur over different parts of the body. In most cases, ringworm develops into a rounded, red, inflamed patch of skin. WHO fungal priority pathogens list to guide research, development and public health action
You might be surprised to learn that a fungus — and not a worm — causes ringworm. Let your child’s teachers know they have ringworm. Ringworm is caused by a type of fungi. It’s important to use it for the right amount of time, even if the rash has gone away. Speak to a pharmacist first if you think you have ringworm.