Do you suspect you may have a ringworm infection? Find out what symptoms to look for and how to treat the problem if you develop this fungal infection.
What Is Ringworm?
While the name might lead you to believe this is an infection caused by some form of parasitic worm, in reality, ringworm is just another type of fungal infection that you get on the skin. The red circular rash that has a clear patch in the centre loosely resembles a worm, hence the name.
It is a fairly common problem and nothing to worry about. However, it is important to treat the fungal infection to prevent it from spreading and to ease the discomfort, itchiness, and other symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms Of Ringworm?
Ringworm’s most prominent symptom is the ring-like rashes it causes on the skin anywhere on the body. Here are common symptoms of ringworm that you should look out for:
- Flat round patches with scaly borders that are a little raised
- Clear central area of skin
- Depending on your skin colour, they may appear to be reddish, pink, or brown
- Itchiness in the patches of affected skin
- The patches spread and appear on other parts of the body and may also grow in size
Causes Of Ringworm Infections
You can develop a ringworm infection if your skin is in direct contact with the skin of an infected person. It can also pass from infected dogs, cats, and even cows to a human. If you’re in contact with objects like bed linen or towels used by an infected person, you run the risk of developing ringworm yourself. Rare, but one can get infected due to prolonged contact with infected soil or mud.
Living in a warm place, wearing very tight clothing, and having a weak immune system can make you more prone to developing a ringworm infection.
Treatments for Ringworm
The best way to avoid ringworm is to keep your skin clean and dry, change out of sweaty or damp clothing immediately, wear light loose-fitting clothing in breathable fabrics like pure cotton, and to not share towels, bedding, shoes, or clothing with other people who have the infection.
If you do develop a ringworm infection, you should use a good fungal infection cream or antifungal remedies like an antifungal dusting powder. The best antifungal cream for ringworm will clear the infection in a few days but you must continue using it for the entire recommended duration (typically a couple of weeks) or period suggested by your doctor to ensure it is completely gone. Clocip cream is an effective remedy that destroys the fungal cell membrane, killing the ringworm-causing fungus. You should feel less itchiness and discomfort after using the antifungal remedy. You could also use Clocip powder, an antifungal dusting powder, to help treat the problem.
If you develop a ringworm infection, start treating it right away to halt the infection in its tracks. Try antifungal remedies Clocip cream and Clocip dusting powder – easily available at pharmacies online and offline.