Ringworm treatment at home April 2, 2008
Posted by google in : health , trackbackRingworm is a fungal infection showing as itchy, red, scaly, slightly raised, expanding rings on the trunk, face or groin area. An infection caused by a fungus (not a worm or a parasite). It is extremely contagious and spreads quickly. The most common symptoms are red, itchy, swollen skin in the shape of a ring. The skin in the center of the ring usually appears healthy.
The medical term for ringworm is “tinea.” (Tinea gets us back to worms. Tinea is the Latin name for a growing worm.) Doctors add another word to indicate where the fungus is located. Tinea capitis, for instance, refers to scalp ringworm, tinea corporis to fungus of the body, tinea pedis to fungus of the feet, and so on.
To catch ringworm, you have to be exposed to it and you have to be susceptible. Some people are much more susceptible than others. Those with eczema or other skin problems get ringworm more easily because the protective barrier of the skin’s outer layer is less intact. Children are more susceptible before puberty. Boys get it more easily than girls.
Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. Ringworm tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. Over time, it may begin to look like a ring or a series of rings with raised, bumpy, scaly borders (the center is often clear). This ring pattern gave ringworm its name, but not every person who’s infected develops the rings.
People will sometimes pick up a case of Ringworm from their pet, but just because a pet has Ringworm does not necessarily mean that the people that interact with that pet will develop the problem. A dog or cat can transmit Ringworm to a person without showing any symptoms at all.
Ringworm is widespread around the world and in the United States . The fungus that causes scalp Ringworm lives in humans and animals . The fungus that causes Ringworm of the body lives in humans, animals, and soil . The fungi that cause Ringworm of the foot and Ringworm of the nails live only in humans.
To avoid ringworm infection, avoid contact with suspicious lesions, wear loose-fitting clothes, avoid sharing clothes, and after showering, dry off completely. Examine all family members for signs of tinea as reinfection may occur.
Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis) is primarily caused by Trichophyton. Scalp ringworm is highly contagious and is common among children, especially black children. It may produce a pink scaly rash that may be somewhat itchy, or it may produce a patch of hair loss without a rash. Less commonly it can cause a painful, inflamed, swollen patch on the scalp that sometimes oozes pus. A kerion is caused by an allergic reaction to the fungus.
Nails with ringworm may become thick and discoloured, and will sometimes start to crumble.
Children are most likely to get ringworm. Ringworm of the scalp can spread from child to child when children share hats, combs, or brushes. Ringworm of the body can be spread on towels, clothing, or sports equipment. Personal hygiene is important in preventing the spread of ringworm. Dogs and cats can be infected with ringworm, too, and they can pass it to people through direct contact.
Although unsightly, ringworm usually isn’t serious, except potentially for people with weak immune systems. Treatment usually consists of antifungal medications that you apply to your skin.
Comments»
1. berenice austen - April 16, 2008
Awesome blog…informative and helpful thanks. I understand what its like having suffered from an itchy scalp with scalp sores. It drove me nuts for 10 years but thankfully I discovered that sore itchy scalp can be dealt with fast and permanently without spending a ton on traditional scalp products. I started by using home remedies for itchy scalp to stop the red itching like this one : Home remedy for dry itchy scalp Take 1 c oatmeal and soak in cool chamomile tea for 20 mins, and then strain out the oats through some cloth. Rinse your head with the liquid - its soothing and cooling. Also watch what kinds of shampoo you use. There are a LOT of nasty ingredients in shampoos that ended up being what what causing my burning itchy scalp. Check out http://www.dryitchyscalpremedies.com for more info on this.
2. Scalp Ringworm - May 22, 2008
The above Ringworm treatment information is very useful. scalp ringworm is a nasty problem and the hair loss associated with it can be alarming.Ringworm tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. You can however use natural remedies to help eliminate scalp ringworm and also reverse hair loss from scalp ringworm with a natural ringworm remedy containing zinc, neem and tea tree oil. You can see scalp ringworm photos at http://www.dryitchyscalpremedies.com/photos.html