Ringworm is a skin disease that is very itchy and causes the sufferer to scratch continuously and the harder we scratch, the more it spreads and takes up a larger area. In medical terms, ringworm is called tinea corporis. This itchy infection is caused by a fungus and forms a red rash on the skin.
This curvature rash forms a ring-like circle but is scaly. This shape is called polycyclic or annular, it forms an interconnected circle. This curvature rash forms a ring-like circle but is scaly. This shape is called polycyclic or annular, it forms an interconnected circle.
This fungal infection is superficial. It can grow on any part of the body, and it grows on the outer skin only or the first layer of skin called the stratum corneum. (1)
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Causes of Ringworm
Why ringworm can occur? What causes ringworm?
Ringworm is not a problem caused by worms, if you think of it like that, it is wrong. However, ringworm is a skin disease caused by certain types of fungi that absorb the top layer of skin. This type of fungus is called dermatophytes, it can grow or live on skin, hair, and can even live on human nails.
Dermatophytes fungi can also cause:
- Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot)
- Tinea manuum (involves the hands)
- The tinea cruris (jock itch)
- Tinea capitis (can occur on eyelashes, eyebrows, scalp)
- Tinea faciei (involves the face)
- Onychomycosis (occurs on toenails and hands)
- Tinea barbae (involves the hair)
Symptoms of Ringworm
One of the very common symptoms of ringworm is itching, this causes you to feel good when scratching it, so that without realizing it you have spread this fungus to other areas of the skin and it is increasingly forming large rings. However, not all people with ringworm experience itching, as is the case, for example, people with neuropathy or diabetes problems. They may feel the classic itching of tinea pedis or athlete’s foot.
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In addition to itching, sometimes pain can also be caused by fungi, such as:
- Associated maceration between the toes
- As a result of secondary bacterial infection, bacteria infect open wounds caused by fungi.
Well, skin conditions like this can cause serious problems or called cellulitis.
How is Ringworm Fungus Transmitted?
To be able to avoid and keep ourselves away from ringworm infection, we must know how it is transmitted. Ringworm is a skin disease that is quite strong in transmission. The dermatophyte fungi that cause ringworm can be transmitted by infected animals (zooplhilic) to the human body. Ringworm can also be contagious because we come in contact with people who are already infected or anthropophilic.
In addition to contact between other types of living things, dermatophyte fungi can also be transmitted from body parts to other body parts or is called auto-inoculation. So, be careful with those who are already infected, keep your distance so as not to become a victim of the transmission of dermatophyte fungi or ringworm.
For example: For example, a person with athlete’s foot can transfer the fungus from his feet to his groin or face by scratching. Even ringworm fungus can also be infected by contact with infected soil or is called geophilic.
Mushrooms, regardless of type, can grow well in warm, dense, humid places, gyms, swimming pools, and locker rooms. Be careful with that environment.
Medical treatment
How can ringworm be treated medically? Treatment for Tinea corporis fungal infections can be treated using anti-fungal and anti-fungal agents. These can be grouped into two types. The two are: Fungistatic, and Fungicidal.
Fungistatic antifungals can stop the growth of dermatophytes but do not kill them directly. While anti-fungal fungicides work by killing fungi directly. This product is available in the form of a topical cream or in the form of an oral pill. Source (2)
Tips to Prevent Ringworm Infection
There are several tips you can do to prevent getting ringworm or dermatophyte fungus. Are as follows:
1. Avoid walking barefoot on public floors
An easy tip for you to do is to avoid walking barefoot in public places such as mall floors, changing room floors, gyms, or other public floors. Always use your own footwear or sandals. You can always pack your own footwear wherever you travel.
2. Change your footwear or sandals every day
Do not wear socks or use various shoes for cycling. Any footwear that is damp or wet due to dryness is very susceptible to mold growth, avoid using it and always wash your footwear.
Use open shoes or flip-flops without socks for travel, this prevents moisture from the feet thereby preventing the growth of ringworm fungus.
3. Keep your feet from getting wet
After bathing always dry your feet, especially after wearing socks that feel sweaty or damp.
3. Keep your feet from getting wet
After bathing always dry your feet, especially after wearing socks that feel sweaty or damp.
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4. Use anti-fungal spray during treatment or when just finished.
If you have recently recovered from athlete’s foot, use anti-fungal sprays such as tolnaftate frequently, as well as if you are on treatment for a fungal infection.
Use your socks before you put on your pants, this is to prevent the fungus on your feet from infecting your groin or other parts of your body. Especially if you suffer from chronic athlete’s foot or recurrent athlete’s foot.
During the Healing Period from a Fungal Infection of Ringworm
You need maximum care even if you have recovered or are in the early stages of your recovery. Likewise when under treatment, if not then this fungus can last a long time in your body.
Using topical ointments, ringworm can usually be eradicated within 2 to 4 weeks. Can use antifungal or not use anti-fungal shop.
The main goal during treatment is to keep the dermatophyte fungus from settling on the skin and not spreading to other places until it dies. Also, so as not to spread to the hair follicles on the body. When this fungus has invaded the inside of the skin or the layer where hair grows, it is called granuloma majocchi. If it is like this, then healing will be more difficult to do even it can take months and this must be treated with high-strength antifungal drugs such as using high doses.
Can Ringworm be Cured without Treatment?
I have not seen any cases like this, because all those who come to treat ringworm are those who have suffered for a long time and have not recovered from ringworm and finally choose to see a doctor to cure it.
Technically, small bacteria or ordinary warts can heal by itself if you have a good immune system. Maybe this can also happen to fungal infections, but for ringworm it is usually a strong fungus that causes this infection to continue to exist on your skin until you really treat it.
However, those with weak immunity can experience continuous fungal infections. Groups with weak immunity include people with diabetes, the elderly and people with AIDS/HIV.
Also see: How to Maintain Normal Blood Sugar
Home Remedies for Ringworm
There are several home remedies that can be used on ringworm such as rubbing garlic, using rubbing alcohol, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide. This home remedy can kill bacteria and fungi naturally and relaxing, but rubbing alcohol, tea tree oil, we do not recommend to use on rashes. While raw garlic, you can use it on ringworm, you can even scratch it first and then rub the garlic. It can fight mold and bacteria but it feels very stingy and painful to hold on to.
If you’ve been using safe natural ingredients or have used home anti-fungal medications, and haven’t seen results, you should see a dermatologist.
If you suffer from a fungal infection such as the toenail called onychomycosis, you can use over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs are sometimes also less effective and this can cost you a lot of money.
For onychomycosis, I usually take treatment by soaking the feet in white vinegar that has been diluted with water. Clean your hands using a hand sanitizer that contains 60% alcohol or more, or you can use tea tree oil.
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Speaking of fungus or ringworm, there is nothing to do with any particular food. So, it’s not certain foods that cause you to become infected with ringworm, but it has to do with how to maintain external hygiene.
But yeast infections can become a recurring problem if the immune system is compromised. For example, people with chronic blood sugar, this can interfere with the immune system and if infected with the fungus that causes ringworm, this can be dangerous because it is very difficult to cure.
An important way to cure many diseases including ringworm in diabetics is to reduce blood sugar first. It is recommended to move a lot such as exercise, and a healthy diet such as reducing sweet or sugar-rich foods such as white rice, sweet oranges and so on.
Reducing the increase in blood sugar can increase the body’s immunity and this can improve the healing of various diseases in nature.
