Anti Aging Skin Care » Ringworm : Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Ringworm : Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Ringworm is a fungal infection. The name comes from its appearance. It looks like a round circle or ring on the skin of the patient.

Tinea is a common name for ringworm. Depending where on your body the ringworm appears, it gets its precise name, for example

• If the ringworm appears on the head or scalp then it is known as tinea capitis
• If it is on the body then it is known as tinea corporis
• If the ringworm affects the feet then it is known as tinea pedis or more commonly athletes foot.
• If it affects the groin region then it is known as tinea cruris.

Ringworm is generally found in children; however, it may affect people of all age.

The ringworm occurs like a round ring shaped patch on the skin, which will be red and silvery with scales. It can also be quite itchy. The ring spreads outwards and ultimately the centre will cure and look like normal skin leaving a red ring.

The ringworm infections on scalp and head can cause baldness at the point where the ringworm is formed.

Causes of Ringworm:
Ringworm is caused by microbes that are mold-like fungi that live on the outer layer of skin cells as parasites. They are found in the soil, on people and also on a variety of animals. Generally, they penetrate through a break in the skin where they are then able to infect the patient.

There are a number of ways that ringworm can infect you.

• It can be passed through skin-to-skin contact with a person with ringworm. When it comes to person-to-person infection, it generally happens when people share combs or unwashed clothes. Unclean surfaces in swimming pools are also very places to catch ringworm.
• One more way to get ringworm is through contact with a contaminated animal. Animals such as dogs, cats, horses, goats, pigs and rabbits can have ringworm.
• One can also get ringworm from contact with an object touched by someone with ringworm, such as a towel, clothing, floors or other damp surfaces.

Diagnosing Ringworm:
It is very easy to diagnose ringworm. If you have a ring-shaped rash, then you have ringworm. However, only your doctor will be able to confirm. He or she will take a scraping off the affected skin and then look at it under a microscope where confirmation of the diagnosis can be carried out.

Treatments of ringworms:
Most ringworm of the skin can be cured at home with the application of creams, which you can buy without a prescription. Your rash may clear up soon after you start treatment, but it is essential to keep using the cream for as long is mentioned on the label or as prescribed by your doctor. This will help keep the infection from coming back. If the cream does not work, your doctor can prescribe pills that will kill the fungus.

If ringworm is not treated, your skin could swell, and the cracks could become infected with bacteria. If this happens, you will need antibiotics.