What is ringworm treated with

With edges that are red and scaly or moist and crusted. The rash also may have small bumps that look like blisters. The center of the rash may be clear, giving it a ring-shaped appearance, or there may be a cluster of red bumps. That may form large, round patches. Symptoms of ringworm of the face include a rash: On the face, the ears, or both. With a border that may not be very distinct.

That may get worse after being in the sun. Symptoms of ringworm of the groin jock itch include a rash: On the groin, skin folds, inner thighs, or buttocks.

The rash usually does not occur on the scrotum or penis. With edges that are very distinct and may be scaly or have bumps that look like blisters.

That may have a red-brown center. Symptoms of ringworm on the hand include a rash: On the palm that may be mistaken for eczema. On the palm that is thickened, dry, and scaly, similar to athlete's foot, while skin between the fingers may be moist and have open sores. On the back of the hand that is red and scaly, with edges that have bumps that look like blisters.

What Happens Ringworm of the skin can start as a small patch of itchy, red, or scaling skin. Ringworm can also spread to other parts of the body, including the feet, nails, scalp, or beard.

What Increases Your Risk Your risk of getting ringworm is higher if: You come in contact with a person who has a fungal infection or with a carrier, a person who has the fungi but does not have symptoms. You are susceptible to fungal infections or you have had a previous fungal infection. You have an impaired immune system due to a disease such as diabetes or cancer. You live in a warm, damp climate. You wear tight-fitting clothes or you let your skin stay damp for long periods, such as by staying in a wet bathing suit or sweaty workout clothes.

You are a wrestler. When should you call your doctor? If you suspect you have ringworm of the skin, call your doctor if: You have patches of skin that are itchy, red, or scaly with bumps that look like blisters, and they have not improved after 2 weeks of treatment with a nonprescription antifungal product.

Signs of bacterial infection develop. Signs may include: Increased pain, swelling, redness, tenderness, or heat. Red streaks extending from the area. Discharge of pus. Fever of The rash appears to be spreading even after treatment. Watchful waiting Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. Any persistent, severe, or recurring infection should be checked by your doctor.

Who to see The following health professionals can diagnose and treat ringworm of the skin: Family medicine physician Pediatrician Dermatologist Nurse practitioner Physician assistant Internist. Exams and Tests Doctors often can easily recognize ringworm by its ring-shaped rash. Tests for ringworm of the skin include: A KOH potassium hydroxide preparation.

This test can help your doctor find out whether a fungus is causing your rash. The doctor will take a sample of your skin by lightly scraping the infected area. The sample is placed on a slide with potassium hydroxide KOH solution and gently heated.

If fungus cells are present, the doctor can then see them with a microscope. A Wood's light exam. This test may be used to see if the rash is caused by a fungus. Your doctor will shine a special light on your skin where you have the rash. Certain kinds of fungi glow under this light. A fungal culture skin culture. This test can identify the type of fungus that is causing your infection.

Usually a culture is only done if the diagnosis is difficult or the skin condition is not responding to treatment. This test may take up to 4 weeks, because it takes time for the fungus to grow.

Treatment Overview Most cases of ringworm of the skin, including jock itch and ringworm of the hand, can be treated with creams or ointments that you put on your skin to kill fungi. What to think about You should treat a fungal infection right away. Prevention To prevent ringworm of the skin: Keep your skin clean and dry.

Avoid tight underwear, pants, and panty hose. Always dry yourself completely after showers or baths. After drying your skin with a towel, allow your skin to air-dry before putting your clothes on. You can also use a hair dryer, set on a cool setting, to dry your skin.

Do not share clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets. If you think you have been exposed to ringworm, wash your clothes in hot water with fungus-killing fungicidal soap.

Wear slippers or sandals in locker rooms, showers, and public bathing areas. Shower and shampoo thoroughly after any sport that requires skin-to-skin contact. If you have athlete's foot , put your socks on before your underwear so that fungi do not spread from your feet to your groin. Also, when toweling off after a shower or bath, dry your feet last. Take your pet to a veterinarian if it has patches of missing hair, which may be a sign of a fungal infection.

Household pets can spread fungi that cause ringworm in people. Home Treatment In most cases, you can treat ringworm of the skin with antifungal creams or ointments. Wash the rash with soap and water, and dry thoroughly. For large areas of blistered sores, use compresses such as those made with Burow's solution available without a prescription to soothe and dry out the blisters. Apply antifungal cream beyond the edge or border of the rash. Follow the directions on the package.

Don't stop using the medicine just because your symptoms go away. If symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks, call your doctor. Medications Most ringworm infections of the skin can be treated at home with nonprescription antifungal creams. Medicine choices The most common antifungals used to treat ringworm of the skin are: Allylamines, such as terbinafine Lamisil. Allylamines come as creams, pills, and gels.

Terbinafine also comes as oral granules, which are little grains that can be sprinkled over food and easily swallowed. Lamisil is available as a cream without a prescription. Oral prescription forms include fluconazole Diflucan and itraconazole Sporanox. Some of these medicines are available without a prescription. Brand names include Micatin and Mycelex. It can occur just about anywhere on the body and has different names depending on which part of the body it affects.

Types of ringworm include:. Tinea pedis Athlete's foot ringworm on the feet. Tinea unguium Onychomycosis ringworm on the fingernails and toenails. The specific symptoms of ringworm depend on the location of the infection.

They typically include: 2. There are about 40 different species of fungi — in the Trichophyton , Microsporum , and Epidermophyton genera — that can cause ringworm. Ringworm is contagious even before symptoms appear, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition is caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes, says the U.

National Library of Medicine. You can catch ringworm by:. Your healthcare provider might be able to tell whether you have a ringworm infection just by looking at it. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that diagnosing ringworm can be a little tricky, because it often resembles other conditions.

A ringworm diagnosis can be confirmed with a fungal culture. Ringworm symptoms usually appear between 4 and 14 days after the skin comes into contact with dermatophytes. Antifungal medicine may clear up a ringworm infection quickly, eliminating symptoms in just a few days. Some types of ringworm can be treated with over-the-counter medications, but other forms require prescription antifungal medication.

Treatment of ringworm depends on the location of the infection. Tinea cruris jock itch can typically be treated with over-the-counter topical medications.

To relieve the symptoms of jock itch , the AAD recommends applying a cool, wet washcloth to the area for 20 to 30 minutes two to six times a day. There has been some research into the use of herbal remedies in treating ringworm, but it has been mostly limited to animals. Ringworm can be challenging to prevent, but there are a number of simple steps you can take to reduce your risk, or to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of your body or to other people.

A fungal infection rarely spreads below the surface of the skin, so it's very unlikely to cause serious illness. Some types of ringworm are more common in children than adults, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Tinea capitis occurs mostly in children from ages 2 to 10, and is rarely found in adults.

Tinea unguium ringworm of the nails occurs more often in adolescents and adults rather than young children. Ringworm often resembles other conditions, including eczema atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a condition that makes your skin red and itchy. Symptoms include itching, and red to brownish-gray patches on the skin. HIV human immunodeficiency virus is a virus that attacks the immune system, making you more vulnerable to other infections and diseases including ringworm.

Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention. Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no scientific data to support the routine use of essential oils in treating antifungal infections like ringworm, only anecdotal evidence. Some of the essentials oils people use to treat ringworm include:. Oregano oil is potent and can potentially act as an antifungal. Lemongrass oil is an essential oil that might also act against ringworm.

You must mix it with a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil before applying it to the affected area. Tea tree oil is another oil that is believed to have antifungal properties. For ringworm, you can apply it to an affected area of skin at least three times a day. If you find that tea tree oil is too irritating, mix the oil in coconut oil to dilute it.

These are just some examples of essential oils used to relieve ringworm symptoms. Read more about how tea tree oil can treat ringworm. Psoriasis is another skin condition that can sometimes resemble ringworm. Plaque psoriasis is a disorder due to immune dysfunction that produces inflammatory plaques on the skin. It appears as pink plaques with heavy white scales.

Small isolated plaques can sometimes look similar to ringworm. However, ringworm on your trunk or limbs tinea corporis will usually have a circular appearance with clearing in the middle. It will also usually be an isolated spot or limited to only a few lesions.

Plaque psoriasis skin lesions are usually larger, involve more areas of the skin, and occur in distinct locations lower back, elbows, knees. The conditions have different underlying causes as well. A fungus causes ringworm, while a dysfunctional immune system causes psoriasis. Find out how to identify ringworm and psoriasis. If left untreated, ringworm can spread to other areas of the body. A person can also risk spreading the infection to someone else. Other potential areas of complication include:.

The complications of tinea capitis ringworm of the scalp are especially worrisome, since it can produce life-long permanent hair loss. Practicing healthy and hygienic behaviors can prevent ringworm. Infections may come from contact with animals and lack of proper hygiene.

Here are several tips to avoid ringworm:. Examples of these drugs fine to use when applied topically include:.

Examples include:. You can get ringworm from your dog. Watch your dog regularly for signs that they may have ringworm. They will usually have a loss of fur on their skin, often in a circular pattern. You should also wash your hands frequently after petting your dog to reduce infection risk whenever possible.

According to the American Kennel Club , cats are more prone to getting ringworm than dogs are. They can pass the condition along to their human owners as well. Like ringworm in dogs, if you spot ringworm in cats, call the veterinarian. They can prescribe antifungal treatments. You should also always wash your hands after petting your cat and try to clean all of the items they come in contact with, such as brushes and water bowls.

If you do get ringworm from your cat, you can treat it the same as you would any fungal infection. This includes topical antifungals. Ringworm is a contagious skin infection causing a small, itchy, ring-shaped rash. It's not a worm. We break down what causes it and how to treat it.

Ringworm of the scalp is a fungal infection. Also called Tinea capitis, it causes small patches of itchy, scaly skin.