The species of fungi that cause ringworm can grow on the skin and they feed on the dead skin and hair cells they find there. Like most species of fungi they love dark and humid environments. The area of the skin where the ringworm fungus grows is usually round and more irritated towards its edges. In its center the skin looks almost normal. Because the infection has the form of a circle and it's also swollen it looks like a round worm, and this is why it is called ringworm, but in fact it has nothing to do with a worm as some people believe. The infected areas are very itchy and they can get worse if nothing is done to cure the ringworm.
The cure for ringworm can be creams, pills, or some say that it can be cured with natural home remedies.
The most commonly used medication is antifungal creams. This is what doctors prescribe in most cases because they give good results.
The antifungal ointments must be applied directly on the infected patches of skin until all the infection is gone and afterwards too because it can reappear. The whole treatment with antifungal cream lasts about 2 or 3 weeks. The most popular ointments used as a cure for ringworm are Teribinafine, Miconazole and Ketoconazole.
If at the moment when the doctor has discovered ringworm it has spread to many areas of the skin and it has advanced too much then stronger medication is required. What is used in this case are antifungal pills. They are pills that must be taken once a day usually, for 7 or days. They are very strong and effective in curing the ringworm from all the areas. Once again one of the most popular antifungal pills is Terbinafine.
There are many home remedies for ringworm that people claim to be effective, but most of them are not scientifically tested.
One of these methods is to apply salted sea water on the spots with the ringworm fungus on them. This water will absorb all the moisture from that area and ringworm cannot live in dry areas. In order for it to work is should be kept more than 30 minutes.
Another home remedy that many people claim to be effective against ringworm is tea tree oil. If you apply it on the skin it is said to kill the fungi there.
Anyone can prevent getting infected with ringworm by always washing, cleaning and drying their skin and by not using items that were used by others that may be infected. If you follow these simple rules you can stay away from ringworm infections, but if somehow you just discovered that you have it, ask your doctor what the best cure for your ringworm is as soon as you can before it spreads too much.
