How fast does ringworm go away

The condition is contagious until all the spores are eliminated from your skin. The fungal spores can also stay alive on clothing, bedding, and elsewhere as long as their food supply dead skin cells is present, and they have a moist and warm environment. Spores can live for as long as 12 to 20 months in the right environment. Without treatment, it may go away on its own in a matter of months in a healthy person.

Or it may not. Ringworm on the body is usually treated with a topical ointment such as terbinafine. A four-week course is common , but the time can vary. With treatment, a ringworm infection on a part of the body without hair glabrous skin is likely to clear up within two to four weeks of the start of treatment. More serious cases, and infections in the scalp , can require oral antifungal pills. The standard treatment for ringworm is a topical antifungal preparation, such as terbanifine Lamisil AT.

In more serious cases, your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal, such as terbanafine, itraconazole Sporanox, Orungal , or fluconazole Diflucan, Celozole. Maintaining good general hygiene is the best prevention against ringworm. In fact, most cases of ringworm can be treated at home.

Early intervention is…. Discover ways to treat ringworm symptoms with home remedies. Ringworm of the scalp is a fungal infection. Also called Tinea capitis, it causes small patches of itchy, scaly skin.

Read on to learn how to manage…. The red or discolored, round rash that causes ringworm can affect most parts of the body, including the armpit. How is it different from regular acne? Learn how to identify fungal acne, recognize its symptoms, and treat it at home or with…. It ranges from a few spots to major eruptions of red patches of skin that cover large areas, from your feet and nails to your torso and scalp. Certain triggers — strep throat , smoking or heavy alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, stress and medications like lithium — can start or worsen the symptoms.

Psoriasis can also put you at higher risk for developing other diseases like psoriatic arthritis, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Actinic keratosis or solar keratosis, are scaly patches of skin caused by high-exposure to the sun. They can be an early warning sign of skin cancer and doctors recommend early treatment to prevent the development of squamous cell skin cancer.

Other skin conditions that are similar to ringworm include granuloma, pityriasis rosea, impetigo, cellulitis and seborrhea. Regardless of what type of ringworm infection you or your family member has, by taking the appropriate antifungal medication, you can get rid of it quickly.

In addition, there are several home remedies and lifestyle choices you can make to prevent fungi from spreading to your other body parts or other people and pets you come in contact with. Know that what you might think are unsightly spots or temporary hair loss from ringworm will resolve. Louis, MO.

Is It Ringworm? Tinea Corporis Body Part Affected: Torso, arms or legs Signs and Symptoms: Classic round spots typical of ringworm that can have a more pronounced outer border Starts with a red, itchy and scaly area of skin that is slightly raised A kerion or blister-like lesion can appear Generally treated with nonprescription antifungal cream, lotion or powder for two to four weeks.

Tinea Unguium, or Onychomycosis Body Part Affected: Fingernails or toenails Signs and Symptoms: White or yellow streaks on the fingernails or toenails Crumbly nail that may lift up easily Flaky white patches on the top of the nail plate Generally treated with prescription antifungal medication taken by mouth for several months; a topical medical nail lacquer might also be suggested.

Tinea Cruris, or Jock Itch Body Part Affected: Groin Signs and Symptoms: Reddish-brown rash that starts in the folds of the groin and can spread to one or both thighs or the buttocks Generally treated with nonprescription antifungal cream, lotion or powder for two to four weeks. Tinea Barbae Body Part Affected: Facial hair areas Signs and Symptoms: Red, lumpy blisters Crusting around the beard or moustache area that can be itchy Facial hair is easily pulled out Generally treated with prescription antifungal medication taken by mouth for one to three months.

Tinea Capitis Body Part Affected: Scalp Signs and Symptoms: Round, itchy and scaly spots Dry, scaly skin; similar to dandruff Bald spots from hair loss A kerion or blister-like lesion can appear Generally treated with prescription antifungal medication taken by mouth for one to three months; topical antifungal shampoo might also be suggested to prevent spreading of scalp ringworm. Tinea Faciei Body Part Affected: Face excluding the facial hair and scalp areas Signs and Symptoms: Round or oval itchy spots on the cheeks Edges of the spots may be raised Spots may include bumps, blisters or scabs Generally treated with nonprescription antifungal cream, lotion or powder for two to four weeks.

What Causes Ringworm? The 3 most typical are: Trichophyton Microsporum Epidermophyton Ringworm fungi are believed to live as spores in soil for extended periods. Several different types of fungi can cause ringworm. These fungi are contagious for as long as any of their spores remain alive. Fungal spores can live for 12 to 20 months , so it is important that a person disinfects anything that has come into contact with an infected person or animal.

These objects include bedding, couch cushions, clothing, and other fabrics. While undergoing treatment, a person can cover the lesion to help prevent it from coming into contact with other people or objects in the environment. A dog or cat that receives aggressive treatment for ringworm will remain contagious for about 3 weeks. If the treatment is milder or inconsistent, the ringworm is likely to remain contagious for longer. Ringworm spreads through direct contact with infected skin or fungal spores.

The spores can live on fabrics, including clothing, couch cushions, bedding, and other porous surfaces. They also thrive in damp environments, such as public showers and locker rooms. As a result, if a person has ringworm, they should avoid touching their groin area or feet. Doing so could cause the ringworm to spread to these parts of the body.

A person who contracts ringworm from a pet cannot pass it on to another human. In this case, the fungus can only pass from animal to human. These include:. In many cases, it is possible to prevent ringworm. Some steps that a person can take to prevent this infection include:. A person who has ringworm can spread the infection both to other parts of their body and to other people.

To prevent this, people should take the following precautions:. People who have ringworm should avoid sharing their personal items. Some items to avoid sharing include:.

Treatment typically involves the direct application of an antifungal cream to the ringworm lesion. These creams are available over the counter. When applying the cream, people should cover the visible lesion and spread the cream out to 2. People should continue to use the cream for at least 7 days after the lesion has completely cleared.

According to one study , ointments or creams could take about 4 weeks to clear a ringworm infection.