In order to find an effective ringworm cure, we must first understand what kind of infection ringworm is and what causes it.
What is ringworm? Ringworm is a skin condition caused by dermatophytes - these are fungal organisms that closely resemble molds in appearance, when examined under a microscope.
Ringworm usually starts as a circular lesion, with slightly raised scaly borders and normal, healthy skin near the center. Oftentimes, it appears mildly reddish in appearance and may be extremely itchy. See pictures of ringworm here.
The infection can affect different parts of the body like the scalp, in which case medical professionals call it tinea capitis. It can also affect the body and limbs, in which case it is termed tinea corporis. Athlete's foot is the common name for another type of ringworm infection that affects the feet, known as tinea pedis. Is there an effective ringworm cure?
Ringworm is a condition that can be treated easily using ordinary over the counter medication. It is advised to start applying the ringworm cure immediately at the onset of infection.
Some of the most common over the counter medications that are used for ringworm cure are: Tinactin (tolnaftate), Monistat or Micatin (miconazole), Lotrimin, Cruex, Desenex (clotrimazole), Nizoral (ketoconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine). These are usually administered as cream, powder, or spray and can be purchased without prescription.
Ringworm cure at home
Administering ringworm treatment at home, using any of the over the counter medications mentioned above, is easy and would take only a few minutes of your time every day. Here are the steps:
* Wash the affected area carefully.
* Pat it dry with a towel. Make sure to wash the towel immediately and that no one else uses the towel. Using the same towel to rub other areas of the body may spread the infection.
* Apply enough amount of the ointment on the affected area. Apply some ointment too on the skin surrounding the ringworm lesion. This is to ensure that the infection will not spread any further.
* You can do this twice a day - continue this routine for at least two weeks until the lesion dries and fades out. Make sure to check the instructions that come with the cream package.
* Continue treatment for two more weeks after the ringworm disappears to kill whatever surviving fungal organism that might still persist.
Consult a medical professional
Self-medication is not an effective ringworm cure in chronic and widespread infections (recurring infections affecting large areas in different parts of the body). In such cases, it is best to consult your doctor.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) may also prove resistant to home care ringworm treatment since it is hard to effectively administer cream to the roots of the hair. This type of ringworm usually affects young children - parents are advised to bring their children to their pediatrician as soon as the infection is detected.
Another type of ringworm infection that might need professional care is tinea pedis affecting the toenails. To counter these types of ringworm infection, the physician will usually prescribe oral medication like Grifulvin, Fulvicin, or Gris-PEG (generic name: griseofulvin), Diflucan (fluconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine).
Natural ringworm treatment
The oral medications listed above are available only by prescription. Some of these anti-fungal medicines have known side effects - rashes, abnormal liver functioning, and gastro-intestinal discomfort are among those effects reported in clinical studies.
If you're prone to these conditions, you might consider alternative or natural ringworm medications. Tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) oil, lemon grass (cymbopogon citratus), and English Lavender (lavendula augustifolia) extracts are among the remedies often mentioned in literature discussing natural or herbal ringworm treatment.
One of these - tea tree oil - has been studied extensively under clinical conditions and has been observed to be an effective anti-fungal medication.
It must be noted, however, that natural doesn't automatically mean safe or effective. If you plan on trying these medications, make sure that you know what it is that you're applying to your body, do some research online, and purchase from companies that have established some measure of reliability and prestige in manufacturing or marketing these products. Read about ringworm home remedies and some unorthodox ringworm treatment methods practiced in Asia.
Finally, whatever ringworm cure you decide to use, try to stay informed and, if possible, always consult with a medical professional. Each of us have our unique physiological makeup, our bodies or skins react differently to different substances. Ringworm is easy to cure - just make sure you use safe and effective methods doing it.
What is ringworm? Ringworm is a skin condition caused by dermatophytes - these are fungal organisms that closely resemble molds in appearance, when examined under a microscope.
Ringworm usually starts as a circular lesion, with slightly raised scaly borders and normal, healthy skin near the center. Oftentimes, it appears mildly reddish in appearance and may be extremely itchy. See pictures of ringworm here.
The infection can affect different parts of the body like the scalp, in which case medical professionals call it tinea capitis. It can also affect the body and limbs, in which case it is termed tinea corporis. Athlete's foot is the common name for another type of ringworm infection that affects the feet, known as tinea pedis. Is there an effective ringworm cure?
Ringworm is a condition that can be treated easily using ordinary over the counter medication. It is advised to start applying the ringworm cure immediately at the onset of infection.
Some of the most common over the counter medications that are used for ringworm cure are: Tinactin (tolnaftate), Monistat or Micatin (miconazole), Lotrimin, Cruex, Desenex (clotrimazole), Nizoral (ketoconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine). These are usually administered as cream, powder, or spray and can be purchased without prescription.
Ringworm cure at home
Administering ringworm treatment at home, using any of the over the counter medications mentioned above, is easy and would take only a few minutes of your time every day. Here are the steps:
* Wash the affected area carefully.
* Pat it dry with a towel. Make sure to wash the towel immediately and that no one else uses the towel. Using the same towel to rub other areas of the body may spread the infection.
* Apply enough amount of the ointment on the affected area. Apply some ointment too on the skin surrounding the ringworm lesion. This is to ensure that the infection will not spread any further.
* You can do this twice a day - continue this routine for at least two weeks until the lesion dries and fades out. Make sure to check the instructions that come with the cream package.
* Continue treatment for two more weeks after the ringworm disappears to kill whatever surviving fungal organism that might still persist.
Consult a medical professional
Self-medication is not an effective ringworm cure in chronic and widespread infections (recurring infections affecting large areas in different parts of the body). In such cases, it is best to consult your doctor.
Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) may also prove resistant to home care ringworm treatment since it is hard to effectively administer cream to the roots of the hair. This type of ringworm usually affects young children - parents are advised to bring their children to their pediatrician as soon as the infection is detected.
Another type of ringworm infection that might need professional care is tinea pedis affecting the toenails. To counter these types of ringworm infection, the physician will usually prescribe oral medication like Grifulvin, Fulvicin, or Gris-PEG (generic name: griseofulvin), Diflucan (fluconazole), Sporanox (itraconazole), and Lamisil (terbinafine).
Natural ringworm treatment
The oral medications listed above are available only by prescription. Some of these anti-fungal medicines have known side effects - rashes, abnormal liver functioning, and gastro-intestinal discomfort are among those effects reported in clinical studies.
If you're prone to these conditions, you might consider alternative or natural ringworm medications. Tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) oil, lemon grass (cymbopogon citratus), and English Lavender (lavendula augustifolia) extracts are among the remedies often mentioned in literature discussing natural or herbal ringworm treatment.
One of these - tea tree oil - has been studied extensively under clinical conditions and has been observed to be an effective anti-fungal medication.
It must be noted, however, that natural doesn't automatically mean safe or effective. If you plan on trying these medications, make sure that you know what it is that you're applying to your body, do some research online, and purchase from companies that have established some measure of reliability and prestige in manufacturing or marketing these products. Read about ringworm home remedies and some unorthodox ringworm treatment methods practiced in Asia.
Finally, whatever ringworm cure you decide to use, try to stay informed and, if possible, always consult with a medical professional. Each of us have our unique physiological makeup, our bodies or skins react differently to different substances. Ringworm is easy to cure - just make sure you use safe and effective methods doing it.
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