Ringworm Information - Causes, Symptom, Treatment of Ringworm

What is Ringworm?

Ring Worm is a very common type of skin disorders but is very dangerous also. Ring Worm is commonly known as "ring worm." Ring Worm is the term used for fungal infection of the skin. Body ringworm (tinea corporis) can affect any part of the body except the scalp, feet, and facial area where a man's beard grows. The well-defined, flaky sores can be dry and scaly or moist and crusty.

Causes of Ringworm

The cause of the Ring Worm is fungus. Ringworm can be transmitted by infected people or pets or by towels, hairbrushes, or other objects contaminated by them. Symptoms include inflammation, scaling, and sometimes, itching.

Symptoms of Ringworm

The symptoms of Ring Worm is :

• Red circular lesion with a scaly border and these areas may be itchy.
• dandruff like scaling and/or hair loss.
• Rash can be dry and scaly or wet and crusty.
• Presence of several patches, and they may blister and ooze pus

Diagnosis of Ringworm

Diagnosis is based on microscopic examination of scrapings taken from lesions. A dermatologist may also study the scalp of a patient with suspected tinea capitis under ultraviolet light.

Treatment of Ringworm

A person with body ringworm should wear loose clothing and check daily for raw, open sores. Wet dressings applied to moist sores two or three times a day can lessen inflammation and loosen scales. The doctor may suggest placing special pads between folds of infected skin, and anything the patient has touched or worn should be sterilized in boiling water.

Different Types of Treatment For Ring Worm are available, some are :

• Antifungal medicines.
• Drying thoroughly after bathing, wearing loose cotton underwear.

Preventions tips for Ringworm

Educate yourself and others - Be aware of the risk of ringworm from infected persons or pets. Tell your children about ringworm, what to watch for and how to avoid the infection.

Keep clean - Wash your hands often to avoid the spread of infection. Keep common or shared areas clean, especially in schools, child care centers, gyms and locker rooms.

Stay cool and dry - Don't wear thick clothing for long periods of time in warm, humid weather. Avoid excessive sweating.

Avoid infected animals - The infection often looks like a patch of skin where fur is missing. In some cases, though, you may not notice any signs of the disease. Ask your veterinarian to check your pets and domesticated animals for ringworm.

Don't share personal items - Don't let others use your clothing, towels, hairbrushes or other personal items. Refrain from borrowing these items from others as well.