Ringworm or also known as tinea manus, is one of the most common fungal infection. It is a highly contagious infection, meaning, it can be transferred easily from person to person or from animal to person. Though it is called ringworm, it actually does not involve any worm, but a fungal infection that often forms a ring-shaped rash. It can also have a red center or normal skin tone inside the ring. Ringworm can affect different parts of the skin on our body such as arms, face, scalp, feet, and groin but no worries because it can be easily treated.
What Causes Ringworm and What Are Its Symptoms?
Ringworm is caused by a dermatophyte type of fungi that live off the dead tissues of our skin, hair, and nails. They usually thrive in warm, moist areas like the skin folds of the groin area or between the toes. People who sweat excessively or have minor skin injuries are also at greater risk of getting ringworm.
Some of the symptoms of ringworm are itching, round rash, inflammation, dry skin, bumps, blister, and as well as stress. It first appears as a red scaly patch and if it is not treated immediately, the border of the affected area may be raised and may contain blister or scabs.
How to Prevent Getting a Ringworm?
There are a lot of things we can do to prevent getting ringworm. Though it’s easy to cure it, prevention will always be better. Here are some of the things you can do to avoid getting ringworm:
- Always keep your hands clean by washing them or using hand sanitizers.
- Shower every day.
- If you know someone infected with ringworm, avoid contact with them as much as possible.
- Avoid sharing clothes, towel, and sheets with other people.
- Always wear clean clothes.
- Always keep your skin dry.
Home Remedies for Ringworm
There are many home remedies you can try to treat ringworm infection. These can be natural remedies such as garlic, apple cider vinegar, lime juice, tea tree oil, and coconut oil. Aside from these natural treatments, here are some of the other home remedies you can try.
- Eat the Right Food and Supplements
In treating ringworm, a proper diet is also essential because external treatment is not enough. You need to provide your body with vitamins for it to fight off the infection and boost your immune system. Some of the most important are nutrition, hydration, rest, and supplementation.
- Wash Your Bedding Daily
Since ringworm is very contagious and it can easily spread from one person to another, it is highly recommended to wash your sheet daily for you to be able to get rid of the fungal infection much quicker. It’s because it might take longer for you to get rid of the ringworm if you sleep on the same sheet every night and might also get your loved ones infected as well.
- Do Not Cover It
Let the ringworm breathe and avoid covering it up with a bandage. It’s because covering up the fungal infection will lock in moisture and make it a lot harder to treat because it will slow the healing process.
Best Over the Counter Treatments for Ringworm
Aside from home remedies and natural treatments, there are also some over-the-counter treatments that can help cure ringworms easily. These can be antifungal soaps and antifungal creams. If you’re suffering from ringworm and you want to treat it faster, here are some of the best over-the-counter treatments you can try.
1. Puriya Antifungal Cream Ointment
This is one of the best over the counter treatments for ringworm that you can find on the market. It contains tea tree oil, lavender oil, macadamia nut oil, and eucalyptus oil. All of its ingredients are effective and can quickly fight off the fungal infection in just a few days.
To use this cream, simply use a q-tip and apply it two to three times a day on the affected area. Let it stay on the ringworm for at least thirty minutes then wash it off and dry your skin. When you repeat this process daily, you will be able to see improvements immediately.
2. Antifungal Tea Tree Oil Balm
This is an organic balm that can combat fungal skin infections such as ringworm, eczema, and nail fungus. It contains essential oils that will balance your skin’s pH and soothe any fungal infection. It is 100 percent organic and does not contain any chemicals. Simply applying it to the affected area will help treat your ringworm much faster. This super balm promotes healthy, glowing, and infection-free skin.
3. Remedy Antifungal Soap
This is one of the best antifungal soaps on the market which can treat ringworm and other types of fungal infections. This soap is rich in Aloe Vera, tea tree oil, mint, and rosemary. It also has added organic oils of jojoba, coconut, olive oil which can help moisturize the skin wonderfully. Tea tree oil is its most active ingredient which is used against fungal infection. This soap is 100 percent natural and does not contain any alcohol or chemicals. Using this twice daily will help treat ringworm faster.
4. Defense Soap 4 Ounce Bar
This is another powerful soap treatment you can use for ringworm. It is very effective in fighting against bacteria and fungi, meaning, once you use it on the affected area, your ringworm has no chance of surviving. It is made with all-natural ingredients such as eucalyptus oil and tea tree oil. Aside from ringworm, this soap also fights against other skin infections such as jock itch and athlete’s foot.
5. Antifungal Tea Tree Oil Body Wash
This body wash is infused with powerful essential oils as well as skin nourishing botanicals that have natural antifungal and antibacterial properties. It helps wash fungi and bacteria on the skin’s surface and it defends against ringworm and other fungi infections. It can also soothe itchiness while leaving the skin feeling soft and healthy. This is also a great body wash for athletes and active people who sweat a lot to prevent getting ringworm and other skin infections in the future.
These are some of the best treatment options for ringworm. Having ringworm especially on visible areas of the body can be embarrassing. Thankfully, there are a lot of methods to treat it faster. Do not wait around and do nothing because when it worsens over time, you might find it much harder to cure. We hope the options we shared will help you in treating ringworm.