Medications That Will Treat Ringworm Infections
Ringworm is a fairly common skin infection in the U.S. There are about 3 million people who are infected, most of whom are young children and the elderly. Unlike other forms of fungal skin infections, ringworm affects both men and women from different age groups equally and also appears in animals. This is why medications to treat ringworm are well-known and familiar.
Ringworm is a misnomer because worms don’t cause this infection and neither do they reside on the skin, appearing as scaly, bumpy rings. Fungi are the culprits in this skin disease. They are very common in the soil and can be found anywhere in nature. When picked up, they can cause an infection on the skin.
How do medications target ringworm?
To stop ringworm, medications must have the necessary components to kill fungi. As such, many of the antifungal medications prescribed for ringworm are topical or applied directly on the skin. Some of the most common include ketoconazole (Nizoral), clotrimazole (Mycelex), terbinafine (Lamisil) and miconazole (Monistat).
While the above medications are usually enough to treat ringworm of the skin and some mild cases of infection, they may not be as effective for ringworm of the scalp and nails and more severe cases. As such, oral medications may be prescribed, sometimes in stronger doses.
Two of the most common are terbinafine (Lamisil) in pill form and itraconazole (Sporanox). Antifungal oral medications have a very high cure rate and often offer relief from itching and rashes within 1 to 3 days after the first dose.
How ringworm medications should be used
The best way to ensure the ringworm fungi are destroyed completely is to apply the medication for two weeks. During this time, the rashes, bumps, scaling and lesions usually disappear. The improvement may be misleading, however, because oftentimes fungi are still present.
To ensure that fungi are completely eradicated, ringworm medication must be applied for another 7 days after the symptoms disappear. This will guarantee that whatever fungi may still be present will be destroyed. As for the oral medications, the usual dose is once every day for about one week. Oral medications often result to a complete cure.
Sometimes ringworm can appear on the feet and is referred to as athlete’s foot. If you have athlete’s foot and ringworm in other areas of the body, treat both areas simultaneously to get rid of the fungi completely.
How to prevent ringworm infection
Medications will treat your ringworm infection, but it’s best not to get infected at all. Ringworm fungi love warm, damp places so it’s best to keep your skin dry as much as possible and wear fresh, loose clothing. Avoid instances that will expose you unnecessarily to the fungi and if it can’t be helped, make sure to wash or shower immediately. Medications can cure a ringworm infection but you can avoid needless exposure and suffering if you simply practice common sense and good hygiene.
What you should do if you have ringworm
If you suspect you have ringworm, avoid scratching the infected area because you might break the skin, which may lead to infection. Scratching may also spread the infection to other areas of the body, especially those touched by the hand that came in contact with the infected area. Avoid taking oral medications or antibiotics without first going to the doctor, especially if you’re unsure it truly is a ringworm infection.
If you have reddish rashes that are very itchy, see a doctor immediately. He can prescribe the proper dose of antifungal medications that will treat your ringworm infection best.
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Author: Staggerlee Phillips
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