"Home Remedies for Ringworm"

Ringworm

It is an easy to treat condition, one that responds well to self-treatment. Below are some home remedies you can use that will help with this condition.

These fungi live on cells on your epidermis, which is the outer layer of your skin. It is highly contagious, and can be spread in the following ways:

• Human to human. It is often spread because of direct contact with the skin of an infected person.
• Animal to human. If you are exposed to an animal that has this infection, when petting or grooming them, for example, you can contract this fungal infection.
• Object to human. If you come into contact with a surface that has been recently touched by an infected person or animal, you can develop ringworm.
• Soil to human. Although rare, tinea has been known to be spread to humans when they are exposed to soil that has been infected. Usually, it is because of extended exposure to highly infected soil.

• Itchy, red, scaly patches that can blister and ooze and often have well defined edges. These patches are commonly redder around the edges with a normal skin color inside. You may notice there is more than one infected area on your skin. Conversely, it is also possible to have a tinea infection without any red ring.
• If your hair or beard becomes infected, you will experience bald patches of hair.
• If your nails become infected, they can become discolored, thick, and may even crumble.

Don't share your clothing, towels or sheets with others. If you suspect you have been exposed to tinia, you should wash your clothes with special anti-fungal soap.

Wear flip-flops when in public bathing areas or locker rooms

Try to keep your skin clean and dry. Make sure you dry yourself completely after bathing.

Avoid touching any pets that have bald spots. Also, make sure to take your pet to the veterinarian if it has any batches of missing fur.

• Nail polish - Try applying some clear nail polish to the affected areas. Apparently, this works to smother the ringworm, with results noted during the first 24 hours.
• Apple cider vinegar - Apply some apple cider vinegar onto a Q-tip and apply to the affected areas several times a day. They should dry up quickly.
• Sea salt - Wet the affected areas and apply some sea salt to them. Let sit for 30 minutes and then reapply. You may see results within three days.
• Bleach - Mix one part bleach to six parts water, dip a cotton ball in this solution and apply to the affected areas. Do this two times each day, applying the mixture 15 seconds to each area. You may see results within a week.
• Grapefruit seed extract - Buy a liquid solution of grapefruit seed extract, apply some of this solution into the affected areas and cover with a Band-Aid. You may see results within several hours.
• Tea tree oil - Try applying some tea tree oil to the affected areas. You can see results within a week.
• Vinegar - Human skin is normally slightly acidic by nature. It is only when it becomes alkaline that fungi can survive. By rubbing vinegar into the affected areas, you help to restore its normally acidic qualities.
• Chewing tobacco - Wet some chewing tobacco and apply it to the infected areas. You may see results by the next morning.
• Alcohol - Try soaking the infected area in alcohol 2-3 times a day. It can clear up in a week.
• Garlic - As garlic is known for its anti-fungal qualities, it is an excellent treatment for this condition. Take one clove of garlic, slice it in half and cover with a Band-Aid. In as little as three days the fungi should disappear.
• Selenium - A deficiency of selenium is often the cause of a fungal infection, so taking 200 mg of selenium three times daily, along with 50 mg of zinc two times daily and folic acid three times daily may help.

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Ringworm is a common fungal infection that is found all over the world including the United States. The fungus that causes this condition is found on both humans and animals, and can be spread in various ways.

Fortunately, it is an easily treated condition, rarely requiring a doctor's intervention. I hope that the home remedies mentioned above give you relief.