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

Athlete’s foot fungus thrives in dark, moist and warm conditions. No wonder it is typically found causing great discomfort to the feet. Usually found along the soles of the feet, the area between the toes and sometimes the toenails become infected, athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) is not choosy about where it grows.

It also has the ability to spread to other areas of the body. The fact that the infection becomes incredibly itchy and the hands are usually used to do the itching, the fungus commonly spreads to the hands. When this occurs the medical term for the problem is tinea manuum. It is possible for the fungus to spread to other areas of the body as well especially if other areas are touched with the hands after itching.

With that said it is very important to have good hygiene practices to have a chance of clearing up the problem. Wash your hands on a regular basis, preferably with anti-fungal soap. Make sure your feet are washed and dried and treated every day without fail.

The majority of athlete’s foot cases get out of hand because they are not dealt with when the first signs appear.  Since the area where the problem usually starts is the feet, which tend to be a breeding ground for the fungus, the infection gets a chance to quickly get out of control.  As the problem persists, inconsistent attempts are made to cure the problem and the inconsistency of the applications of antifungal treatment allows the problem to spread and get more out of control.

Consistency is the key, even after it seems like the ringworm infection is gone. Keep applying the medication you are using for a couple of weeks after the problem seems to have cleared up.

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

Problems – Treatments for the Problem – Let Us Hear From You

If you would like to share your particular problem and any possible solutions you have attempted or been successful with we would love to hear from you.

Ringworm is a very common disease in cats and dogs, especially dogs.  Ringworm is not a worm but a fungus that thrives on dead tissues present on skin surfaces.  The fungus grows in a circular pattern and will appear inflamed.

The pets usually pick up the fungus from their surroundings like kennels and other animals that already have the fungal infection.    The most common areas of the occurrence of ringworm are the face, ear tips, tails and paws.

I suggest as a good basis for an anti-fungal treatment for your pet is to start with and maintain an anti-fungal shampoo on a regular basis until the problem is resolved. This will aid in controlling the spreading of the fungus and provide a treatment that can’t be licked off.

A topical anti-fungal cream should be used on the areas of the infection. Apply the cream as indicated in the directions but it is important to use a cream safe for pets since they tend to lick the cream as soon as it is applied.

The Malaseb Shampoo offered by Pet Meds is a very good product and they also stock a couple of anti-fungal creams and lotions labeled for pets. Pet Meds is a pet supply warehouse so should you need any other pet supplies you will find this supplier to be one of the best in the business in service and price. Orders over $39.00 ship for free.

The Pet Meds banner will take you to the store where you can search the site for ringworm to get a list of the products available.