Introduction
In this article, we will tell you about Ring Worm its Symptoms | Causes & Treatment.
Dermatophytosis, dermatophyte infection, or tinea are other names for the fungus that causes ringworm.
Since a fungus, not a worm, is what causes the illness, the name “ringworm” is misleading. This infection’s lesion is so named because it resembles a worm that has grown into a ring.
Typically, the term “ringworm” is used to denote tinea capitis or tinea corporis, which are both types of body ringworm (ringworm of the scalp). Sometimes, it’s used to describe tinea infections in other places, like tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin).
Both humans and animals are susceptible to ringworm infestation. In affected locations, the infection first manifests as discolored, frequently scaly patches. On skin that is lighter in color or deeper in color, these patches usually appear red.
symptoms
Depending on where the infection occurs, the symptoms change. You can experience the following symptoms if you have a skin infection:
Itching Itchy or scaly red, brown, or grey spots on the skin, or plaques that are elevated portions of the skin
a flat, elongated area of itching skin that blisters or pustules
patches with borders that are distinct and elevated that form a ring and are darker on the exterior loss rings hair
The appearance of ringworm might vary based on the area of the body that is afflicted.
Causes
There are a whopping 40 different fungus species that are connected to ringworm. They typically belong to the subcategories Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton.
These fungi can live on surfaces like your skin and other surfaces, especially damp ones. Additionally, they might persist for a very long time in soilthe as spores.
The fungus can spread to humans in four different ways:
people to people: If you share towels or combs with someone who has ringworm or come into contact with them, you could contract the infection. Children frequently contract the infection and transmit it by sharing objects that have the fungus on them.
human to animal: You can contract ringworm by coming into contact with an infected animal or even anything the animal has touched. Dogs and cats are typical carriers, but other animals, like farm animals, can also disperse the fungi.
a thing to a human: If you come into contact with an infected device or surface, such as a phone or the floor of a public restroom, you could become infected. These fungi prefer wet conditions to grow.
person to soil: After coming into direct touch with soil that contains fungi, both people and animals can develop ringworm.
Risk Factors
Ringworm can affect anyone, however, you may be more vulnerable if you:
- reside in a warm
- muggy region or climate
- such as football or wrestling
- using public restrooms or showers
- come into contact with animals
- wear skin-chafing footwear or clothing
- have diabetes
- obesity
- or are overweight
- sweat a lot
- have a compromised immune system
Diagnosis
Your doctor can detect if you have ringworm by inspecting your skin and maybe using a black light on the affected area. Sometimes the type of fungus you have will fluoresce (glow) under a black light.
To confirm the ringworm diagnosis, your doctor could request the following tests:
- Your doctor will remove a sample of your skin or the exudate from a blister and send it to a lab to be tested for the presence of fungus if you are receiving either a skin biopsy or a fungal culture.
- When performing a KOH exam, your doctor will scrape a tiny patch of the troubled skin onto a slide and apply drops of potassium hydroxide (KOH) solution to it. Normal skin cells are broken down by the KOH, which makes it simpler to see the fungal components under a microscope.
Treatment
To treat ringworm, your doctor may suggest both drugs and way of life changes.
Medication
Depending on the severity of your ringworm infection, your doctor may recommend a variety of treatments.
Topical drugs, such as antifungal: can often be used to treat athlete’s foot, jock itch, and body ringworm.
- creams
- ointments
- gels
- sprays
Oral medicines with prescription strength, such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG) or terbinafine, may be required for ringworm of the scalp or nails.
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and antifungal skin lotions may also be suggested by your doctor. These products might include terbinafine, miconazole, clotrimazole, or other similar chemicals.
Lifestyle adjustments
Your doctor may suggest that you treat the illness at home by doing the following in addition to prescription and over-the-counter medication:
- Washing your clothes and bedding every day will help keep your home clean.
- addressing all afflicted areas, as failing to treat tinea pedis might result in a recurrence of tinea cruris, fully drying your skin after bathing, wearing loose clothing in the affected regions
home remedies
Before researchers developed antifungal medications, people utilized folk cures for ringworm for a very long time.
Most evidence supporting the use of these treatments is anecdotal. There is no scientific evidence to back up their use of over-the-counter antifungals.
Among these remedies are:
- liquid apple cider. To treat ringworm, some people dab cotton balls with apple cider vinegar three times per day over the infected skin.
- The coconut oil. To lessen the likelihood of contracting ringworm, people apply coconut oil to their skin. Apply coconut oil once to three times per day to see if it helps.
- Turmeric. An antifungal paste can be created by combining the common spice turmeric with water. The paste should be applied directly to your skin, then let to dry.
Essential Oils
The regular use of essential oils in the treatment of antifungal illnesses like ringworm is not supported by scientific research; rather, it is only backed by anecdotal evidence.
You should not use essential oils to replace conventional treatments and may want to discuss their use with your doctor before beginning.
The following are a few of the essential oils people use to cure ringworm:
- thyme oil
- Tea tree oil
- lemongrass oil
Before applying the mixture to your skin, you must dilute these oils with a carrier oil such as olive or coconut oil, because they can be strong.
You might achieve greater results by combining two or three oils with a carrier oil, but this is merely anecdotal and not supported by research.
Prevention
Engaging in wholesome and hygienic habits can aid in ringworm prevention. Contact with animals and poor hygiene both increase the risk of infection. There are several ways to avoid ringworm, such as:
- limiting contact with people or animals that have ringworm if you have a compromised immune system wearing shoes
- when showering or walking in public places not sharing personal items like clothing, towels
- hairbrushes with people who might have ringworm changing your socks and underwear at least once a day maintaining your gear and uniform if you play sports keeping your skis and snowboards clean
Conclusions
This article was about Ring Worm its Symptoms | Causes & Treatment if You have any questions or queries about that article leave them in the comment section.
Typically, the term “ringworm” is used to denote tinea capitis or tinea corporis, which are both types of body ringworm (ringworm of the scalp). Sometimes, it’s used to describe tinea infections in other places, like tinea cruris (ringworm of the groin).
Both humans and animals are susceptible to ringworm infestation. In affected locations, the infection first manifests as discolored, frequently scaly patches. On skin that is lighter in color or deeper in color, these patches usually appear red.
FAQ,s
What causes you to get ringworm?
After handling an infected animal, people are susceptible to contracting ringworm. Ringworm can be transmitted to humans by a wide variety of animals, most commonly dogs and cats, particularly kittens and young pups. Ringworm can also be transmitted to humans by other animals such as cows, goats, pigs, and horses.
How do you get rid of ringworm quickly?
Ringworm is still contagious in the first 48 hours of treatment for people and for around 3 weeks after the start of intensive treatment for pets. In all scenarios, untreated ringworm spreads noticeably more quickly. A fungus’s real spores can live for up to 20 months.
How long is ringworm contagious?
Ringworm is communicable during the first 48 hours following treatment for people, and for around 3 weeks after the start of aggressive therapy for pets. Untreated ringworm spreads more quickly in both scenarios. For up to 20 months, the fungal spores can endure on their own.
Is alcohol good for ringworm?
However, the bulk of a ringworm infection dwells below the skin’s surface, so rubbing alcohol will only effectively treat ringworm that is present on the skin’s surface. To stop the spread of ringworm, rubbing alcohol works well for sanitising surfaces and items.
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