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Ringworm – Superficial Fungus Infection

Ringworm – Tinea Corporis

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin in humans and domestic animals such as sheep and cows. Fungi are organisms that survive by eating plant or animal. They are cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) takes the keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair and nails. This fungus grows best on warm skin and moist.Tinea corporis refers to a fungal infection of the body or face, except the beard in men. Ringworm occurs most often in warm, tropical environment, affect men and women equally, and affects all  age level.

Ringworm – Superficial Fungus Infection

Ringworm is a dermatophyte infection. Dermatophytes are a group of related fungi that infect and survive on dead keratin, the top layer of the epidermis. The following are the most common fungi responsible for ringworm:

# Trichophyton rubrum
# Microsporum canis
# Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Ringworm Shape

The most common appearance of ringworm is a lesion that starts as a flat, scaly spot which then develops a raised border that advances outward in a circle. The advancing border is red, raised, and scaly while the central area is more normal appearing, usually still with fine scaling. Some ringworm infections, especially those treated with a steroid like hydrocortisone, can have vesicles or pustules in the advancing border or in the center.

Ringworm – Topical Treatment

In general ringworm responds well to topical treatment. It is applied twice daily until symptoms resolve (usually within two weeks[citation needed]), however if constantly touched it can leave a dark patch of skin where it had been. In more severe cases or where there is scalp ringworm, systemic treatment with oral medications may be given.. The most commonly used antifungal creams are:

* Miconazole (Monistat)
* Clotrimazole (Mycelex)
* Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
* Terbinafine (Lamisil)

Ringworm – Oral Treatment

If there are several ringworm lesions or if the lesions are extensive, oral antifungal medications can be used. Oral medications are taken once a day for 7 days and result in a 100% clinical cure rate. The recommended oral antifungal medications are:

* Terbinafine (Lamisil) 250 mg
* Itraconazole (Sporanox) 200 mg

How To Prevent Ringworm

Because fungi prefer warm, moist environments such as locker rooms and swimming pools, and in skin folds. The fungi may be present without any symptoms., preventing ringworm involves keeping skin dry and avoiding contact with infectious material. Basic prevention measures include:

* Wash hands after handling animals, soil, and plants
* Avoid touching characteristic lesions on other people
* Wear loose-fitting clothing
* Practice good hygiene when participation in sports involves physical contact with other people
* Avoidance of sharing clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets.
* Washing clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap after suspected exposure to ringworm.
* Avoidance of walking barefoot, wearing of appropriate protective shoes to the beach and flip-flops   (thongs) in    locker  rooms.
* After being exposed to places where the potential of being infected is great , one should wash with       an antibacterial and anti-fungal soap or one that contains tea tree oil, which contains terpinen-4-ol.
* Avoid touching pets with bald spots as they are often carriers of the fungus.