Ringworm

Ringworm is not a worm at all, rather it is a skin infection caused by a fungus. The fungi, called dermatophytes, eats the keratin in your outer layer of skin. There are different types of Dermatophytes and they all affect different areas of the body. Dermatophytes effect the body (tinea corporis), scalp (tinea capitis), feet (tinea pedis, also known as athlete’s foot), groin area (tinea cruris, also known as jock itch) or nails. Often ringworm is found in several places at once.

Ringworm most often affects children, however it can affect people of all ages. It is a very common skin disorder, and is very contagious. It can be passed by direct skin to skin contact, or through contact with contaminated items such as a brush, hat, towel, unwashed clothing, pool or shower surface. Ringworm can also be caught from an infected dog or cat. Occasionally, ringworm is spread through contact with soil. Outbreaks of ringworm are not uncommon in daycare and school settings. Ringworm usually appears 4 to 14 days after exposure to the infection.

If you’ve got ringworm, you must have caught it somewhere yourself! This would be a very good time to check any pets, because there’s a reasonably high chance you got it from an animal. They may need ringworm treatment as well if this is the cause.

 

The symptoms of ringworm include:

• Itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze. The patches often have sharply-defined edges. They are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center. This may create the appearance of a ring. Your skin may also appear unusually dark or light.
• When your scalp or beard is infected, you will have bald patches.
• If nails are infected, they become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

 

Natural Treatments for Ringworm:

• You need to apply an anti-fungal substance to your skin to kill Ringworm.
• You also need to stop yourself from scratching, because scratching will spread the infection.
• make sure that no other animals or people you come in contact with have it, or you’ll get it again.
• Neem oil is one of the best and oldest cures for fungal infections. A traditional Indian cure made from a “cure-all” tree called Neem, you can find this product at lots of natural food stores and places that sell essential oils – For ringworm, add half a teaspoon of neem oil to a cup of aloe vera and mix it thoroughly. Rub it on the affected skin twice a day, staying away from any orifices.
• Other ringworm remedies include tea tree oil, black walnut extract, or apple cider vinegar applied directly to the rings. These are all strong anti-fungal treatments. They can be used at full strength or diluted, depending on the sensitivity of your skin.
• You can also use lavender essential oil to reduce inflammation and itching, which will make the infection more manageable. Lavender helps heal infections, but it is more powerful as a soothing agent.
• Raw papaya is one of the most effective home remedies for ringworm. The slices of this fruit should be rubbed on the ringworm patches. A paste made from dried papaya seeds can also be applied beneficially on these ringworm patches
• You should add some garlic to your diet, as this is an effective anti-fungal as well.
• Eliminate refined sugars in your diet.
• Eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables to increase vitamins and enzymes to improve your bodies immune system.
• Good bacteria supplements are important to replenish intestinal bacteria and for proper absorption on nutrients in the digestive. A great product to use is Kids Super Food
• A herbalist can make up a liquid herbal to support the immune system as well as a herbal cream or paste to apply externally to the ringworm.

 

Remember animals are different to humans so never use these ringworm home remedies on a pet without checking there safety on animals. For example, if cat more than five drops of tea tree oil, he might die because tea tree oil is toxic to cat livers. These are remedies for people, not pets! Never assume that all treatments work for all animals and all humans. Even something harmless can be dangerous if you use too much of it.