How to Care for Ringworm

Ringworm is an infection caused by a fungus, characterized by ring-shaped or a circular lesions with a raised edge around the entire lesion. Lesions may be dry, scaly, moist and crusted. Different species of ringworm affect the body, scalp, groin area or feet (athlete's foot), and treatment varies between types.

Instructions

Treatment

• 1

  Thorough daily bathing with soap and water to remove scabs and crust is required. Effective for all ringworm species.

• 2

  Anything that comes into contact with infected skin, such as towels, sheets, shirts, pants, caps/hats and socks, should be laundered in hot water.

• 3

  Treat ringworm of the feet, groin and body with topical anti-fungals. Miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, ciclopirox and ciclopirox are effective medications. Any one of these may be applied to small lesions. If infection is severe and lesions are large, use oral anti-fungals. See your doctor, as he will decide how to medicate the infection.

• 4

  Lesions of the scalp should be treated with oral anti-fungals medication only. Oral medications such as griseofulvin, terbinafine, and itraconazole are effective in treating all species of ringworm, and are prescribed for mild to severe cases.