For a mild case of ringworm, try these self-care tips. Ringworm on the scalp must be treated with an oral medication, but often it can help speed up healing to also use a shampoo that contains a fungus-fighting ingredient. Do not use a steroid to ease the itch: These medications weaken the immune system and could make a fungal infection worse rather than help heal it.To treat itching caused by ringworm, you can apply a cool, wet washcloth to the area for 20 to 30 minutes. Your dermatologist may need to remove unhealthy tissue to help the area heal. Often it's caught from puppies or kittens that have it. J Am Acad Dermatol. Rarely, can be spread human-to-human. Jock itch: To treat this type of ringworm, your dermatologist may recommend an antifungal cream, spray, or powder that you can buy without a prescription. 2. By looking at the sample under a microscope, a doctor can see if it contains any of the fungi that cause ringworm. You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist thats right for you. Provides Effective Relief From Itching Download the drug facts (PDF) > Wash your hands immediately after touching a ringworm rash. If the jock itch fails to clear with at-home treatment, be sure to tell your dermatologist. However, results of the Wood lamp examination can be falsely negative if the patient has bathed recently. However, it commonly reoccurs, in which case, ongoing treatment may be recommended. A 2002 study publishedin the Australasian Journal of Dermatology compared solutions containing either 25% tea tree oil or 50% tea tree oil with a placebo (an inactive substance)to treat athlete's foot. Hands: You may be able to clear a mild case with an antifungal cream. An exception is that ringworm can occur often among wrestlers. Before using the washcloth again, youll want to wash it in hot, sudsy water to kill the fungus. ", Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Smoking Pot Every Day Linked to Heart Risks, Artificial Sweetener Linked to Heart Risks, FDA Authorizes First At-Home Test for COVID and Flu, New Book: Take Control of Your Heart Disease Risk, MINOCA: The Heart Attack You Didnt See Coming, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, Understanding Ringworm -- Diagnosis and Treatment, Minor Athlete Infections and Other Annoyances: How to Prevent and Treat Them. It's more likely it will take two to four weeks for your symptoms to disappear completely if you're using a topical medication. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved, Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. A 1999 study found that a gel containing ajoene helped treat tinea cruris (jock itch) and tinea corporis (ringworm on the skin). Nails: You need prescription medicine to clear ringworm from the nails. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. The borders between squamous cells can also be mistaken for hyphae. infection spreads through skin-to-skin contact, so it often affects kids (who Do you know which one? Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine (seventh edition). Here is some care advice that should help. Learn more about tinea versicolor treatment here. Wash everything youve touched or worn in hot water and laundry detergent. If you haveringworm on your scalp or in many different places on your body, OTC treatments may not be enough. Because ringworm lives on top of the skin and is easily reached with ointments or creams,. You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Copyright 2023 American Academy of Family Physicians. Also searched were Essential Evidence Plus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and UpToDate. Find out how a board-certified dermatologist helped Natalie see clear skin before her wedding. Take your animal to the vet for an exam and treatment. Antifungal medicine can clear ringworm from every area of the body. Usecondoms or another form ofcontraception if youre on it. However, if you're interested in an alternative to drugs for treating a ringworm infection, ask your healthcare provider to see if they might be an option. Oral fluconazole is an option,32 but for most patients oral terbinafine is the treatment of choice because of its superior effectiveness,33 tolerability, and low cost.31,3438 Because toenails grow slowly, assessment of cure takes nine to 12 months. In addition to the common distal subungual form, which is characterized by thickened, brittle, discolored nails (Figure 5), onychomycosis may present with an uncommon proximal subungual form, which should raise suspicion of immunocompromise, and a white superficial form, which is more common in children than adults24 (Figure 6). engage in close contact, such as wrestlers. . Microsporum infections result from exposure to infected dogs or cats and may produce much more inflammation than Trichophyton infections.4, Tinea capitis must be treated with systemic antifungal agents because topical agents do not penetrate the hair shaft. Avoid boiling the KOH, but the slide should be hot enough to be uncomfortable to the dorsum of the hand, usually three to four seconds over the flame. Culture has poor sensitivity, but good specificity.30. Policy. This medicine comes in many different forms like creams, ointments, and pills. No prescription is needed. They work in most cases. Ringworm is caused by one of three types of fungus, or dermatophyteTrichophyton, Microsporum, or Epidermophyton. After 48 hours of treatment, ringworm does not spread to others at all. For example, tinea corporis can be confused with eczema, tinea capitis can be confused with alopecia areata, and onychomycosis can be confused with dystrophic toe-nails from repeated low-level trauma. This can make ringworm harder to treat. It is only passed from animal to human. Appointments 216.444.5725 Appointments & Locations Request an Appointment Symptoms and Causes Diagnosis and Tests Wear shower shoes. Ringworm treatment usually depends on the part of the body that has it. The treatment you need forringworm depends on where the infection is on your body and how serious it is. If you have ringworm, your dermatologist will treat it with antifungal medicine. Heres how to spot this common fungal infection and how to wipe it out. red splotches typically have a wavy border thats raised or scaly, Dr. Vij Will my ringworm be contagious once I start treating it? A dermatologist can often tell if you have ringworm by looking at the infected area. Oral terbinafine is first-line therapy for tinea capitis and onychomycosis because of its tolerability, high cure rate, and low cost. The sample is then applied to Sabouraud liquid medium or Dermatophyte test medium. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Because nails grow slowly, ringworm will take time to clear. KOH preparations are often needed to confirm the diagnosis of tinea infections (Figure 7). It works by preventing fungi from growing and . Men should usecondoms duringsex for up to 6 months after stopping treatment. If after two weeks of treating your ringworm you still have symptoms that bother you, see a healthcare provider. Wash your clothes regularly and keep them dry when not in use. It is a greaseless and non-staining formula. Fungal diseases: ringworm. The sensitivity of the KOH preparation varies widely in different settings, ranging from 12% in a study of 27 Flemish general practitioners to 88% in a Nova Scotia tertiary care center 41 (Table 510,11,29,30,4148 ). miconozole . Ringworm remains contagious during the first 48 hours of treatment in people and for about 3 weeks from the start . Other studies show that it works against athlete's foot when applied as a cream. 2002;43(3):175-8. If you're prescribed a prescription drug to treat ringworm of the scalp, your healthcare provider may suggest you also use an OTC shampoo that contains ketoconazole, such as Nizoral. Ringworm (Tinea Corporis) Ringworm of the body (tin ee uh COR por is) is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus (a plant which is too small to see). Your infection gets worse or doesnt go away after using non-prescription medications. If you might have ringworm on your skin, your dermatologist will scrape off a bit of the infected skin. Pictures and symptoms of the red, scaly rash. It will also prevent reinfection once yours has cleared up. Treatment for ringworm. Some tips for performing KOH preparations are available online (eTable A). Tinea corporis (ringworm), includes tinea gladiatorum and tinea faciei, Tinea manuum (commonly presents with one-hand, two-feet involvement), Tinea barbae (beard infection in male adolescents and adults), Tinea incognito (altered appearance of dermatophyte infection caused by topical steroids), Pityriasis versicolor (formerly tinea versicolor) caused by, Uncommon fungal skin infections that involve other organs (e.g., blastomycosis, sporotrichosis), Tinea corporis (annular lesions with well-defined, scaly, often reddish margins; commonly pruritic), Gray or silver scale; nail pitting; 70% of affected children have family history of psoriasis, Personal or family history of atopy; less likely to have active border with central clearing; lesions may be lichenified, Target lesions; acute onset; no scale; may have oral lesions, Dusky; erythematous; usually single, nonscaly lesion; most often triggered by sulfa, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or antibiotic use, No scale, vesicles, or pustules; nonpruritic; smooth; commonly on dorsum of hands or feet, Sun-exposed areas; multiple annular lesions; female-to-male ratio 3:1, More confluent scale; less likely to have central clearing, Typically an adolescent with a single lesion on neck, trunk, or proximal extremity; pruritus of herald patch is less common; progression to generalized rash in one to three weeks, Greasy scale on erythematous base with typical distribution involving nasolabial folds, hairline, eyebrows, postauricular folds, chest; annular lesions less common, Tinea cruris (usually occurs in male adolescents and young men; spares scrotum and penis), Involves scrotum; satellite lesions; uniformly red without central clearing, Red-brown; no active border; coral red fluorescence with a Wood lamp examination, Red and sharply demarcated; may have other signs of psoriasis such as nail pitting, Tinea pedis (rare in prepubertal children; erythema, scale, fissures, maceration; itching between toes extending to sole, borders, and occasionally dorsum of foot; may be accompanied by tinea manuum [one-hand, two-feet involvement] or onychomycosis), Distribution may match footwear; usually spares interdigital skin, Tapioca pudding vesicles on lateral aspects of digits; often involves hands, May have atopic history; usually spares interdigital skin, Shiny taut skin involving great toe, ball of foot, and heel; usually spares interdigital skin, Involvement of other sites; gray or silver scale; nail pitting; 70% of affected children have family history of psoriasis, Tinea capitis (one or more patches of alopecia, scale, erythema, pustules, tenderness, pruritus, with cervical and suboccipital lymphadenopathy; most common in children of African heritage), Discrete patches of hair loss with no epidermal changes (i.e., no scale); total loss of hair or fine miniature hair growth; exclamation point hairs; no crusting; no inflammation; possible nail pitting, Personal history or family history of atopy; less often annular; lymphadenopathy uncommon; alopecia less common, Alopecia less likely; hair pluck is painful, Alopecia uncommon; lymphadenopathy uncommon; greasy scale; typical distribution involving nasolabial folds, hairline, eyebrows, postauricular folds, chest, No scale; commonly involves eyelashes and eyebrows; hairs of varying lengths, Onychomycosis (discolored [white, yellow, brown], thickened nail with subungual keratinous debris and possible nail detachment; often starting with great toe but can involve any nail), Other nail dystrophies, most commonly associated with repeated low-grade trauma, psoriasis, or lichen planus, Appearance can be indistinguishable from onychomycosis; may have other manifestations of alternate diagnosis, Do not use nystatin to treat any tinea infection because dermatophytes are resistant to nystatin. MANAGEMENT. 3. Ingredients : Each 1 gram contains, Salicylic Acid 40 mg, Benzoic Acid 80 mg, Sulphur, Precipitated 100 mg . The miconazole 3 day ringworm treatment cream works well for treatment of athletes ' feet and it is highly effective. However, randomized clinical trials have confirmed that newer agents, such as terbinafine and fluconazole (Diflucan), have equal effectiveness and safety and shorter treatment courses1416 (Table 4).2,12,1720 Terbinafine may be superior to griseofulvin for Trichophyton species, whereas griseofulvin may be superior to terbinafine for the less common Microsporum species.21,22 Culture results are usually not available for two to six weeks, but 95% of tinea capitis cases in the United States are caused by Trichophyton, making terbinafine a reasonable first choice.23 However, kerion should be treated with griseofulvin unless Trichophyton has been documented as the pathogen.2,17 Failure to treat kerion promptly can lead to scarring and permanent hair loss.2, Microsize (Grifulvin V suspension): 20 to 25 mg per kg per day; single daily dose or two divided doses (maximum: 1 g per day), Ultramicrosize (Gris-Peg tablets): 10 to 15 mg per kg per day; single daily dose or two divided doses (maximum: 750 mg per day), Microsize: $44 ($165) for 300 mL of 125-mg-per-5-mL solution, Ultramicrosize: $263 ($430) for 60 250-mg tablets, No baseline testing in absence of liver disease, If required for longer than eight weeks, ALT, AST, bilirubin, and creatinine measurements and CBC every eight weeks2,17, Six to 12 weeks (continue for two weeks after symptoms and signs have resolved)2, 25 to 35 kg (55 lb to 78 lb): 187.5 mg once daily, CBC at six weeks for courses lasting longer than six weeks, Six weeks; longer for Microsporum infections, Assume Trichophyton unless culture reveals Microsporum, Daily dosing: 6 mg per kg per day for three to six weeks, Tablets: $100 for 30 150-mg tablets ($1,185 for 90 50-mg tablets), Suspension: $33 ($290) for 35 mL of 40-mg-per-mL suspension, Approved for children older than six months for other indications, Baseline ALT, AST, and creatinine measurement and CBC, Capsules: 5 mg per kg daily for four to six weeks, Solution: 3 mg per kg daily for four to six weeks, Pulse therapy with capsules: 5 mg per kg daily for one week each month for two to three months, Pulse therapy with oral solution: 3 mg per kg daily for one week each month for two to three months, Solution: NA ($265) for 150 mL of 10-mg-per-mL solution, Capsules: $102 ($590) for 30 100-mg capsules, Apply daily to affected nail and adjacent skin; remove with alcohol every seven days, 40 kg (89 lb) or more and adults: 250 mg daily, Approved for children older than four years for tinea capitis, ALT and AST measurement, CBC at six weeks, Six weeks for fingernails; 12 weeks for toenails, Approved for adults and children older than six months for other indications, Baseline ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine measurements, CBC, 12 to 16 weeks for fingernails; 18 to 26 weeks for toenails. Anti-Fungal Cream: Use an anti-fungal cream (such as Lotrimin) 2 times per day. says. When will my ringworm symptoms go away once I start treatment? Dermatophytes include three genera: Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton. Studies show this vinegar does have some antifungal. The term tinea means fungal infection, whereas dermatophyte refers to the fungal organisms that cause tinea. Antifungal medications that treat ringworm on the skin include: You'll probably notice that the scaly rash disappears before the general redness of your skin goes away. The most common onychomycosis mimics include chronic trauma and psoriasis.25 Adolescents and young adults can develop dystrophic toenails from repeated sudden-stop trauma associated with basketball, soccer, and tennis.26 The great toes are most often involved in onychomycosis and trauma-related dystrophy, but exclusive little toe involvement is likely related to trauma. Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations. KOH can damage microscope lenses. False-positive results can occur from misinterpretation of hair shafts or clothing fibers, which are often larger than hyphae, not segmented, and not branching. However, doctors warn that, due to its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar can cause open sores and scarring when used to treat ringworm. Griseofulvin can causebirth defects, so you cant take it if yourepregnant, plan to become pregnant, or arebreastfeeding. Shampoos can't replace the oral medicine, but you can use shampoo in addition to them. with a bandage. For yeast infections: Clotrimazole is available as both 3-day and 7-day treatment courses. But you may end up with open sores, Dr. Vij says. This medication is also used to treat a skin condition known as pityriasis (.