Many people aren’t aware of what ringworm is never mind how people get it. Those who do know what it is and have experienced it before know that it’s an annoying process to treat and deal with. Thankfully, not every case of ringworm needs a doctor to diagnose, and you can get any treatment you need to handle the situation at your local grocery store or pharmacy.
In this article, we’ll look at the causes of ringworm and how some unusual ingredients you can find at home will work as a treatment for ringworm. We’ll also teach you the warning signs of when you need to see a doctor if your condition gets worse.
What is Ringworm?
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Ringworm is a fungus that thrives by eating keratin. Keratin is a protein found in hair, nails, and skin. Most cases of ringworm appear on the surface of the skin that you can quickly identify by detecting a scaly, red patch on the skin that shows up in the shape of a ring or circle. Anyone who has experienced athletes foot has had a form of ringworm.
Identifying Different Types of Ringworm
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If the infection is on the scalp, you may notice red patches and bits of hair missing from your head where the virus is prevalent. These patches may even feel painful and ooze pus, and the hair will be brittle and break away from the scalp. In some rare cases, a person may have swollen glands and a fever along with it.
You can even have ringworm affect the area in the beard which involves hair loss there alongside large red patches. You may get swollen glands, feel tired, and the spots may become spongy and red and have the potential to weep.
Jock itch is another form of ringworm that results from moisture and irritation. It can most commonly show up in males, however, females, obese adults and athletes are also susceptible. This fungus style can also be seen in perfectly average and healthy adults as well. When experiencing jock itch, symptoms include an itchy and painful rash and a distinct odor.
Ringworm found on the nails—or onychomycosis—makes your nails look white, brittle, and thickened. There’s an increased risk of getting ringworm on your nails if you:
- Have diabetes
- Suffer from a vascular disease
- Wear artificial nails
Artificial nails are the greatest contributor to onychomycosis infections thanks to emery boards which are used to roughen up your nails before the acrylic nail is applied. If your emery boards aren’t cleaned and sanitized correctly, the infection can infect the damaged nail. Water then collects under the nail and creates the ideal environment for fungus to grow.
There are other ways to contract ringworm in different ways too. Children between the ages of three and seven are the most likely to contract ringworm and then it’s as easy as coming in contact with the affected area to get it yourself. Sharing things like hats, clothes, combs and coming in contact with some pets are also common ways to contract this fungal infection.
Home Remedies For Ringworm
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These are some of the most natural remedies to access, and most of these items can be found already at home or on a quick trip to the supermarket. All of these remedies for ringworm are affordable and will take care of your symptoms within a weeks time.
Garlic
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When it comes to treating infections, and that includes various forms of fungal infections. Some of the fungi that garlic has shown to be effective against are types like Candida, Cryptococcus, and Torulopsis to name a few.
To use garlic for your ringworm problem properly, you’ll want to crush the cloves and then make a paste with olive or coconut oil and blend it all together. After that’s finished, you’ll want to apply a thin layer onto the affected areas of skin before being covered with gauze or a large bandaid.
You should leave it on for at least two hours before you can rinse it off. Repeat dosage twice a day until your symptoms subside.
Apple Cider Vinegar
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Apple cider vinegar is known for its fungicidal properties and using it to treat ringworm can relieve symptoms and eventually get rid of it. The reason that apple cider vinegar takes care of fungus like ringworm is thanks to the maleic acid and nystatin present in the mixture. The longer that apple cider vinegar mixture sits on the affected area, the better the combination works.To properly treat the affected area, you’ll want to soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and then press the cotton ball against the affected area. Do this three times a day to achieve clarity on the skin, for those who have ringworm in their scalp, wash your scalp with the apple cider vinegar to relieve the affected area.
Aloe Vera
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If you have Aloe vera gel or even raw aloe leaves at home, both will be just as effective against ringworm. Aloe has a long history of being the go-to medicinal plant when it comes to treating a large variety of skin problems. While it’s known more so on treating burns and sun damage, that same anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that benefit burns also help ringworm.
Aloe vera has six antiseptic properties used as inhibitors for fungi, viruses, and bacteria. These six elements are:
- Salicylic acid
- Lupeol
- Cinnamic acid
- Sulfur
- Phenols
- And urea nitrogen
To treat your ringworm, you can chill a leaf of aloe in the fridge before cutting it open and cutting the gel into small cubes. Apply the gel to the skin up to three times a day, daily until symptoms improve. Not only will the aloe gel work to get rid of your fungus, but it will also serve to soften the scaly skin patches and improve the itchiness.
Tea Tree Oil
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Tea tree oil is a natural remedy that is used as a home remedy to take care of bacterial and fungal infections on the skin. It’s now one of the most popular methods for taking care of skin problems, and many people have found that tea tree oil is a practical solution for ringworm infections.You’ll need to use this with a carrier oil, like coconut oil, to apply this treatment. Use 12 drops of essential oil that you enjoy, and it can be anything as long as it’s an essential oil, then mix two drops of tea tree oil with your essential oil and coconut oil before applying it to the skin. You can do this up to three times a day until your symptoms begin to improve.Using coconut oil for this purpose works as a double whammy when treating ringworm which takes us to our next segment to explain why coconut oil is the best.
Coconut Oil
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Lately, there’s, been research to suggest that coconut oil is an excellent treatment for ringworm issues. Not only is the oil good for your skin, but fatty acids found in coconut oil also can break down cellular walls in the fungus which effectively works to kill it off. Mixing this with tea tree oil as mentioned above works to kill off your fungus faster than just using coconut oil alone.
Anti-Fungal Cream
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Antifungal cream like Lotrimin Ultra is one of the more natural methods of getting rid of your fungal problem. You can find this cream at any drug store or supermarket that’s nearby, or you can choose to purchase it from Amazon for $14.35 for one ounce.Lotrimin Ultra works to take care of any fungal infection quickly, taking only a week to relieve symptoms. If your ringworm doesn’t resolve itself within two weeks, you’ll likely have to see a doctor for stronger prescriptions if you’re not seeing results. This product will be the best bet if nothing else seems to be working out for you
When It’s time To Consult A Doctor
If your profession requires you to interact with people on a regular and you pose a high risk of spreading your ringworm, it is recommended to see a doctor about the issue immediately. It’s recommended that anyone experiencing ringworm symptoms for longer than two weeks should also consider setting up an appointment with their doctors as soon as possible.
They’ll take a small sample of your skin to analyze the cultures present on the example to determine how severe the ringworm is. Depending on their analysis, your doctor may decide to prescribe you a stronger antifungal medication or antifungal shampoo depending on where your ringworm is most prevalent.
If your child has ringworm, it’s best to take them to a doctor for treatment if your child has allergic reactions to any of the ingredients listed above. Prevention is the best way to deal with ringworm by frequently washing your hands, taking care to keep the skin clean and dry, and changing out your undergarments and socks on a daily.
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