RINGWORM…..

                                                      RINGWORM 

• Ringworm is a ring-shaped skin infection caused by a fungus, not a worm.

• Ringworm spreads by skin-to-skin contact with other people or animals. It thrives in moist environments like locker rooms, swimming pools, areas with excessive sweat, and tight shoes.

• Ringworm can be treated with over-the-counter topical creams unless the infection is on the scalp. Scalp ringworm is treated with medicine you take by mouth.

Types of Ringworm 

Ringworm symptoms can appear anywhere on your face or body, including on your toenails, fingernails, groin, scalp, and feet. Depending on which body part is infected, you may or may not have a circular rash.

Symptoms of a ringworm infection may appear on your:

• Beard area (tinea barbae): Ringworm can cause hair loss and itchiness on the beard area, including the chin, cheeks, and neck, as well as scaly spots that fill with pus and crust over.
• Scalp (tinea capitis): Particularly common in children, ringworm of the scalp causes one or more “bald spots.” The spots are often dry, discolored, and itchy.
• Feet (tinea pedis): Also known as athlete’s foot, this type of ringworm may appear on the heels or soles of the feet, as well as between the toes. The feet may have a foul smell and dry, itchy, irritated, sore, flaky, or peeling skin. Blisters or bleeding may develop in rare cases.
• Groin (tinea cruris): Also known as jock itch, ringworm of the groin can cause a swollen, itchy rash to develop on the inner thighs, buttocks, and waist. Sometimes the skin cracks or peels as it spreads.
• Hands (tinea manuum): Many people with athlete’s foot develop ringworm on their hands after touching their feet. This causes dry skin and deep cracks on the palms of your hands. The infection may spread to your nails.
• Nails (tinea unguium or onychomycosis): Nails become thickened or discolored when infected with ringworm. Over time, they may crumble or pull away from the skin underneath. You’re more likely to develop ringworm on your toenails or fingernails if you have ringworm on your feet or hands.

What Causes Ringworm? 

Ringworm is caused by fungi that thrive in humid, hot environments. These fungal pathogens can live on surfaces as well as on your skin. 

You can get or spread ringworm through any kind of contact with humans or animals, including touching or petting, as well as sharing household items like a comb or phone. You can also get ringworm by touching a surface where the fungi live, such as a shower floor. In rare cases, people get ringworm after touching infected soil.

Risk Factors 

Certain factors like living in a tropical climate, spending a lot of time outdoors in humid, warm weather, or sweating heavily can increase your chances of getting ringworm.

You may also have a higher risk of getting ringworm if you:

• Are immunocompromised
• Have diabetes
• Have previously had ringworm
• Frequently play contact sports, such as martial arts or wrestling
• Work or live in a crowded environment, such as a childcare center or military housing
• Have pets at home, especially cats
• Work with animals
• Have certain other skin conditions, such as ichthyosis
• Share towels, razors, or other personal items with other members of your household
• Use public pools or showers, especially when barefoot.

SYMPTOMS…

Symptoms vary depending on where the infection occurs. With a skin infection, you may experience the following:

• itchiness
• itchy or scaly patches that are red, brown, or gray, or raised areas of skin called plaques
• a round, flat patch of itchy skin
• patches that develop blisters or pustules
• patches that resemble a ring with deeper color on the outside
• patches with edges that are defined and raised
• overlapping rings
• hair loss

Ringworm can look different depending on which part of the body is affected. Doctors call ringworm different names depending on where it appears on the body.

Body

The term “ringworm” is most commonly used to refer to tinea corporis, or ringworm of the body. This form often appears as patches with the characteristic round ring shape on your torso or limbs.

Scalp

Ringworm of the scalp, or tinea capitis, often starts as isolated scaling in the scalp that develops into itchy, scaly bald patches. It’s most common among children. Hair around the affected area may break or fall off, and bald patches may develop.

Beard

Ringworm of the beard, also called tinea barbae, affects your cheeks, chin, and upper neck and can cause bald patches. This may look like acne, folliculitis, or another skin condition. Some people experience fatigue or swollen lymph nodes.

Hands

Ringworm of the hand, or tinea manuum, is usually caused by touching another affected area, such as your groin or foot. Infection of the hand may look like very dry skin with deep cracks on the palm.

If the infection spreads, you may see ring-shaped patches on the back of your hand.

Groin

Jock itch, known as tinea cruris, refers to ringworm infection of the skin around the groin, inner thighs, and buttocks. It’s most common in men and adolescent boys.

This usually starts as an itchy red, brown, or gray rash where your leg and body meet. The itching may intensify after exercise and may not improve after using anti-itch cream.

Feet

Athlete’s foot, or tinea pedis, is the common name for ringworm infection of the foot. It’s frequently seen in people who walk barefoot in public places where the infection can spread, such as locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.

This starts as dry scaly skin between your toes that may spread to your sole and heel. Symptoms may include:

• an itching, stinging, or burning sensation
• blistering
• peeling
• a foul odor

Nails

Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a ringworm infection of the nails. It affects toenails more than fingernails, as footwear often provides a moist, warm environment that fungi prefer.

Affected nails may become thicker or discolored. They may even begin to crack or lift away from your nail bed.

How to stop ringworm spreading

Do

• start treatment as soon as possible

• wash towels and bedsheets regularly

• keep your skin clean and wash your hands after touching animals or soil

• regularly check your skin if you have been in contact with an infected person or animal

• take your pet to the vet if they might have ringworm (for example, patches of missing fur)

Don’t

• do not share towels, combs or bedsheets with someone who has ringworm

• do not scratch a ringworm rash – this could spread it to other parts of your body

How Is Ringworm Diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider might be able to tell whether you have a ringworm infection just by looking at it. (What 8They also might take skin scrapings from the affected area.

The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that diagnosing ringworm can be a little tricky, because it often resembles other conditions. (9) For example, tinea corporis might be confused with eczema, psoriasis, or seborrheic dermatitis; tinea capitis might be confused with alopecia areata; and ringworm of the toenails can look like dystrophic toenails(changes in texture and composition) caused by trauma to the nails. A ringworm diagnosis can be confirmed with a fungal culture.

HOMEOPATHY TREATMENT……

Arsenicum Album

Common Name: Arsenious acid, arsenic trioxide

Symptoms: This remedy acts on all the organs of the body and is used to treat burning pains, weakness, irritability and restlessness. Other symptoms that can be treated using this remedy are:

Excessive itching and swelling on the affected area

Dry and scaly skin eruptions, which worsen on scratching and in cold weather

Urticaria associated with a lot of burning and restlessness

All the complaints get after midnight, in humid and rainy weather, and on consuming cold food and drinks. The person feels better on taking warm drinks and with warmth in general.

Bovista

Common Name: Puffball

Symptoms: Bovista is indicated for skin affections, particularly eczema and urticaria. Individuals who benefit from this remedy have some of the following symptoms:

Deep impression on the skin even with blunt instruments

Urticaria, when the person is excited

Excessive itching on the tip of coccyx (tailbone)

Pimples all over the body

Onion like smell in armpit sweat

Symptoms get worse on waking up in the morning and after bathing and get better after meals.

Calcarea Carbonicum

Common Name: Calcium carbonate, carbonate of lime, calcarea carbonica ostrearum

Symptoms: This remedy has a marked action on the skin. Symptoms that can be treated with this remedy are:

Unhealthy skin

Wounds that take a long time to heal

Excessive sweating on the scalp, so much so that the pillow gets wet

Head icy cold to touch

Severe itching on the scalp along with scratching on waking in the morning

Complaints get worse due to mental or physical exertion, in cold and moist weather, and the person feels better in dry weather.

Clematis 

Common Name: Virgin’s bower

Symptoms: Virgin’s bower is an excellent remedy for the skin and reproductive glands. Some of the symptoms addressed by this remedy are:

Scaly, scabby skin lesions with a lot of redness and burning

Eruptions, predominantly on the face, hands and back of the scalp 

Swelling of testicles and scrotum

Pain and tingling sensation in the urinary passage that increases at night

Decreased flow of urine; urine passes drop by drop

Symptoms worsen in the night and from the warmth of the bed, and get better in open air

Dulcamara

Common Name: Bitter sweet

Symptoms: This remedy is very useful for skin symptoms that appear at the end of the summer season when the weather becomes damp and humid. It is indicated for the following symptoms:

Ringworm lesions on the scalp that bleed on scratching

Eruptions on the hands, face and arms

Cold sores on lips

Skin rashes in women seen just before their periods begin

Red spots and small fluid-filled boils on the skin

All symptoms are worse at night, from cold or humid weather, and are better from warmth.

Graphites

Common Name: Black lead, plumbago

Symptoms: This remedy is indicated for people who are overweight, feel cold easily and are constipated. It helps relieve the following skin symptoms:

Itchy eruptions on the scalp that emit an offensive odour

Blisters on the tongue and around the mouth

Dry and rough skin

Eruptions that ooze a sticky fluid

Unhealthy appearance of skin, with cracks on the mouth, nipples, anus and between toes 

Symptoms worsen at night, with warmth and during and after periods. The person gets relief in the dark and on wrapping the affected region.

Lycopodium Clavatum 

Common Name: Club moss

Symptoms: This remedy is well suited to people in whom skin symptoms appear very gradually along with gradual weakening of body functions. It helps relieve the following symptoms:

Eczema and eruptions behind ears with a thick, yellowish discharge

Gastric complaints

Increased sweating, especially of the feet and the armpits

Complaints are worse on lying on the right side, between 4 pm and 8 pm and from warmth. Complaints get better from cold weather and after midnight. 

Natrum Muriaticum

Common Name: Chloride of sodium

Symptoms: This remedy is well indicated for treating chronic ringworm infections. It is given in case of the following symptoms:

Oily skin, especially on the hairy areas of the body

Dry eruptions on the scalp, elbows and knees

Itching and burning on the affected area that increases on exertion

Symptoms are aggravated with warmth and mental exertion. Complaints get relieved by bathing and going out in open air.

Psorinum

Common Name: Scabies vesicle

Symptoms: This remedy is indicated in all types of skin conditions. It is especially used to treat eruptions that have a foul smell. Other symptoms that can be treated with this remedy are:

Unbearable itching

Ringworm lesions on the scalp and bends of joints, such as elbows and knees, which worsen with itching and warmth of the bed

Eczema behind the ears and urticaria after any type of exertion

Symptoms worsen on drinking coffee, with changes in weather, and from cold. The person gets relief from symptoms by wearing warm clothing, in summers and with warmth in general.

Rhus Toxicodendron

Common Name: Poison ivy

Symptoms: This remedy is recommended in skin and mucous membrane infections such as cellulitis, urticaria and septic states. It helps relieve the following symptoms:

Moist eruptions on the skin with intense itching

Red and swollen eruptions

Pain and stiffness in the joints (Read more: Stiffness in joints causes)

Sciatica with tingling in the feet

Symptoms are worse at night, during sleep and with cold and rainy weather. Symptoms get better in dry weather, with warm applications, and by rubbing the affected area.

Sepia

Common Name: Inky juice of cuttlefish

Symptoms: This remedy is particularly suited to women with ringworm infections. Skin complaints that are relieved by this remedy are:

Ringworm lesions that appear every spring season

Itching on the bends of joints, which is not relieved by scratching

Sweating on the feet, which is worse on toes, with a horrible odour

Symptoms worsen in the early afternoon and in the evenings, with humidity and on lying on the left side. Symptoms get better with warmth and hot applications. 

Silicea

Common Name: Silica, pure flint

Symptoms: This remedy is useful in skin overgrowths, keloids and skin conditions that lead to scar formation. Silicia is indicated in case of the following symptoms:

Increased sweating on the scalp with a foul smell

Presence of boils, abscesses and ulcers on the skin

Eruptions that itch only during the day and evening

All the complaints get worse in the morning, during periods and in damp and cold weather. Complaints get better by warmth and in the summer season.

Sulphur

Common Name: Sublimated sulphur

Symptoms: Sulphur is a great remedy for skin complaints associated with burning and itching. Other symptoms that indicate a need for this remedy are:

Itchy dry scalp, that burns on scratching

Dry, unhealthy skin

Dry form of tinea capitis (scalp ringworm) with hair fall

Pus filled pimple-like eruptions on the skin

Itching, which gets worse with warmth and often recurs in the spring season

Complaints are aggravated in the morning (especially at 11 am), when the person is at rest,  and on consuming alcohol. Symptoms get better in dry weather. 

Tellurium

Common Name: Tellurium metal

Symptoms: This remedy is very useful for skin and spine affections. It works well for people who develop symptoms gradually and have pains all over the body. Tellurium helps heal the following symptoms:

Ringworm eruptions which have a foul smell 

Severe itching in hands and feet

Offensive foot sweat

Circular areas of eczema

All the complaints get aggravated at night, in cold weather, from touch and when the person is resting. Symptoms get better in dry climate.

BACILLINUM:

 Bacillinum is the head remedy for ring worm .  Glands enlarged and tender. Start treatment with this remedy. No other medicine for 24 hours . It should be repeated only once in a week. If there is no improvement in two or three weeks , consider the following remedies.