Sometimes the fungal infection can have a few symptoms such as itching, especially when perspiring occurs. As the weather warms the condition gets worse. The disease is easy for a dermatologist to recognize but it can be mistaken for other skin conditions. There is no known medical reason why it occurs in some people and not others. The dermatologist can perform a "KOH prep" which is a common test done quickly in the office to make sure of the diagnosis.

The infection is treated with either topical or oral antifungal medications. In very mild cases, non-prescription antifungal creams will work. Prescription antifungal lotions and sprays may work better. The most economical effective treatment is to apply an antifungal shampoo (Nizoral, Loprox) to the body as if it were soap, but leave it on for some minutes before rinsing.

For severe, extensive or recurrent cases, a few tablets of Nizoral pills will clear things up. A newer pill, Sporonox, may replace Nizoral for this problem. These will eliminate the fungus and relive any itch and scale. The

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a common infection not caused by a worm as the name would imply but by a parasitic fungi organisms called dermatophytes. They feed on the dead layer of keratine protein found on the outer layer of the skin, nails and hair. These fungi flourish in the skin areas that remain moist, warm and hidden from the light.

This 3-Day Ringworm Treatment has been reviewed and supported by leading physicians familiar with the ringworm fungus. If you are suffering from ringworm, stop hoping the next treatment you try will solve the problem. This program will provide you with all of the necessary information and procedures to make sure the problem is brought under control and ensure it won’t come back. Get relief now.

What Does It Look Like?

There are a variety of ringworm infections that can occur on different areas of the body. The common term for ringworm is “tinea” and depending on where the infection is on the body it will be designated with a latin term for the body part. The tinea infections can each look a bit different but the most common type of ringworm on the body, tinea corporis, will have a red to brown circular bumpy patch of skin. The area will be lighter in the center giving it the ring appearance. Most ringworm infections are itchy and can be painful if not treated.

Make Sure It Is Ringworm

Ringworm can be mistaken for one of the following conditions granuloma annulare, discoid lupus, and sarcoidosis. Bullous tinea pedis (athlete foot with blisters) can mimic bullous drug reactions, bullous pemphigoid, and other bullous diseases of the skin. If suspected ringworm does not respond to routine antifungal treatment, further diagnostics must be performed, like a skin biopsy, a fungal culture, or a skin scraping for fungus identification.

How Do You Catch It?

Ringworm is spread by contact with an infected person, animal or infected surface, such as clothes, towels, and bedding. It’s more common among people living in crowded conditions or participating in contact sports, such as wrestling gymnastics, or martial arts. Ringworm can also be contracted through the soil.

Ringworm-in-children: Children going to day care have a higher risk of the infection as it is highly contagious and as children play one may pass it to another. Also children tend to be more susceptible to certain types of ringworm because their immune systems are not fully developed.

There are several kinds of ringworm that have developed over time and have been given their own names to differentiate them from some of the more well known types. A few of the examples are:

Majocchi’s granuloma, a deeper fungal infection of skin, hair, and hair follicles. It is most common in women who shave their legs.

Tinea corporis gladiatorum, a special name given to tinea corporis spread by skin-to-skin contact between wrestlers.

Tinea imbricata, a form of tinea corporis seen in Central and South America, Asia, and the South Pacific.

How is ringworm treated?

Ringworm can be treated topically (with external applications) or systemically (for example, with oral medications):

Topical treatment: When fungus affects the skin of the body or the groin, many antifungal creams can clear the condition in two weeks or so. Examples of such preparations include those that contain clotrimazole (Cruex cream, Desenex cream, Lotrimin cream, lotion, and solution), miconazole (Monistat-Derm cream), ketoconazole (Nizoral cream); and terbinafine (Lamisil cream and solution). These treatments are effective for many cases of foot fungus as well.

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Systemic treatment: For a long time, the only effective antifungal tablet was griseofulvin (Fulvicin, Grifulvin, and Gris-PEG). In recent years, newer agents have been introduced that are both safer and more effective. These include terbinafine (Lamisil), itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). Reputations die hard, however, and many people continue to fear that even these newer agents are “bad for the liver,” when in fact they are quite safe when used properly.

Ringworm can affect people of all ages but most often affects children.  Animals can also be affected with this fungus problem.

Types of Ringworm Infections

A number of species of fungi cause ringworm. Dermatophytes of the genera Trichophyton and Microsporum are the most common causative agents. These fungi attack various parts of the body and lead to the following conditions:

Tinea corporis – Affects the arms, legs, and trunk
Tinea capitis – Affects the scalp
Tinea cruris – (Jock Itch) affects the groin area
Tinea pedis – (Athlete’s foot) affects the feet
Tinea unguium – Affects the fingernails and toenails
Tinea versicolor – Skin spots, not contagious, very common
Tinea manuum – Affects the hands and palm area

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