How to Heal Ringworm Lesions

Ringworm lesions are circular, itchy, contagious spots caused by a fungus. You can easily be infected: from gym equipment, direct contact people or pets and even from infected garden soil. Treatment requires consistent, sometimes long-term (several weeks), application of anti-fungal topical medicine. Most cases of ringworm don't require any oral medicines. Along with using appropriate skin creams, there are several things you can do, and avoid doing, to help your ringworm lesions heal quickly.

Instructions

• 1

  Purchase an anti-fungal cream containing the fungicide miconazole, clotrimazole or a similar anti-fungal medicine. The label will state if the cream treats ringworm. Read the label's fine print to make sure of this before purchasing. These topical creams are over-the-counter medicines and aren't expensive.

• 2

  Wash the ringworm lesions with soap and warm water. Dry them with a soft cloth. Apply a generous amount of the topical cream over and around the lesions--this helps prevent the infection from spreading. Rub the cream into your skin until the medicine is absorbed.

• 3

  Wear loose clothing and don't place bandages over the lesions (unless you're going out in public and want to temporarily hide the infection). Tight clothing can chafe the area(s) and may even cause the infection to spread. Bandages trap warmth and moisture; fungal lesions will heal more quickly if kept dry.

• 4

  Reapply the topical medicine as instructed in the manufacturer's directions. Don't stop treatment just because the ringworm lesions start to fade. Most anti-fungal creams should be used up to four weeks. Stopping the medical cream too soon may cause a recurrence.