How To Treat Ring Worm

Are you trying to find a guide on how to treat ring worm? Despite its misleading name, ring worm is caused by a fungus and can be very simple to treat at home. Follow these easy steps on how to treat ring worm and the problem will be cleared up in no time.

To treat ring worm at home, you will need:

• a topical anti-fungal cream or ointment, containing clotrimazole
• a swab for applying ointment
• gauze bandage (optional)
• paper tape (optional)

1. Know your enemy. The first step towards any kind of treatment is proper diagnosis. There are other skin conditions, such as psoriasis, that are commonly mistaken for ring worm. For this reason, it's usually best to have a doctor look at the site and make a diagnosis before attempting to treat ring worm. In most cases though, ring worm is characterized by a ring of small red bumps or blisters with a defined edge between the ring and normal skin. The interior of the ring often appears like normal skin as well, creating this unusual raised ring-pattern on the skin. 
2. Apply an anti-fungal cream. The common treatment for ring worm is clotrimazole, which can be purchased over-the-counter and applied twice a day to the lesion and surrounding skin. In truth, there are a wide variety of prescription and non-prescription medications for treating ring worm and it can be confusing, deciding which is right for the job. When in doubt, speak with the pharmacist about what they recommend. Be sure to use a swab to apply ointment or be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after application.
3. Beware of scalp ring worm. Ring worm is most commonly seen on the upper arms, legs and trunk of the body, but you can also get a ring worm infection on your scalp. Children are most susceptible to scalp ring worm (tinea capitis), but anyone can get it through direct or indirect contact. Contact your doctor for tips on how to treat scalp ring worm, because he may want to prescribe oral medication as well as a topical cream.
4. Avoid scratching. One of the most important things to keep in mind, when learning how to treat ringworm, is that this skin rash is very itchy. It's going to be tempting to scratch, but make sure that you don't do it. If you feel the urge to scratch, remind yourself that scratching ringworm will spread the infection.  If you have a child that's infected with ring worm, applying a very loose gauze bandage over the lesion can help to prevent direct contact and scratching.
5. Remember the importance of prevention. In most cases, people catch ring worm by contact with another infected host. Most commonly, this is another affected person or even a family pet.  Consequently, it's very important to be sure everyone engages in healthy hand washing practices and make sure to speak with your veterinarian on how to treat ring worm in infected pets.

The normal ring worm infection can take two to four weeks to completely clear up, so be sure to continue applying cream to infected areas. During this time, you want to avoid scratching or touching the lesions, and make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly before coming into contact with others. By following this handy step-by-step guide on how to treat ring worm, you will be able to clear up your ring worm infection in no time flat.