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 Ringworm
or tinea in medical term is an infection on the skin
surface. It appears as a reddish bumpy patch of skin and the
center is white, looks like a red "ring". It is a fungal
infection, caused by dermatophytes, which are parasitic
fungi and NOT a worm. These types of fungus live on by
eating keratin, which can be found on skin, hair and nails.
They survive most at the places which are hot and moist.
Ringworm is very common as it is very contagious. It can
be easily spread through direct contact with infected person or pet. It can
affect any parts of our body, for example on the feet (known as tinea
pedis or "athlete's foot"), on the groin area (known as tinea cruris
or "jock itch"), on the body (known as tinea corporis) and on the
scalp (known as tinea capitis).
If you have ringworm problem, you should always maintain a
clean and dry skin. You may apply some over-the-counter antifungal lotions
or creams that contain miconazole or clotrimazole as an active ingredient.
You may also try some home remedies for treating this fungal infection.
Remember to always clean the affected area first before applying any
treatment.
Here are various ringworm home
remedies for you to try:
Apple Cider Vinegar:
It is useful in curing ringworm infection. You may consume it orally or use
it for application.
- ACV-Apple
Juice Drinks: Add 1 1/2 tsp of apple cider vinegar in a cup of apple
juice and drink 2 times daily. It will completely cure ringworm within 2
weeks.
- Application Method 1:
Dab a cotton pad in apple cider vinegar and wipe the outer edges of the
ringworm. Then, dab another piece of cotton pad and apply on the
ringworm area. Leave the pad there for about 2 minutes. Do this for a
few days to get the ringworm out of the ring.
- Application Method 2:
Dab a cotton swab in apple cider vinegar and rub on and around the
affected area. You will feel the burning and tingling sensation. Then,
place another piece of soaked cotton swab on it at night. Do this for a
week. The affected area will become dry and scaly and the ringworm is
gone.
Raw Papaya Slice:
Raw papaya is one of the
most effective ringworm home remedies. Cut a slice of raw papaya and rub
it gently on the affected skin area for 3 to 4 times a day. It may
irritate your skin while rubbing but it's ok. Continue doing this until the
infection is gone. You may also use a paste made from dried papaya seeds for
this purpose.
Lemon/Lime:
Half a lemon or a lime. Add some salt to the fruit and rub it
on the ringworm area twice daily. Then, clean and dry with soft towel.
Repeat and the ringworm will clear in 1 week.
 Garlic: Garlic
is antifungal. Apply thinly slice garlic on the ringworm and cover with a
bandage. It will burn the skin for a while. Continue doing this for 3 nights
and the ringworm will disappear. You may also use grated garlic. Apply it on
the ringworm using a cotton ball for 3 times a day. If you don't want to use
fresh garlic, you may replace it with pure garlic oil.
Aloe Vera and Myrrh Oil:
Cut a fresh Aloe Vera and rub the sticky gel on the
ringworm patches to kill the fungi. For myrrh oil solution, add 10 drops of
oil to 25ml of water and shake well before applying. Alternate the
application of this two throughout the day will cure the infection faster.
Fig Leaf/Fig Tree Sap:
You can either use the milky white sap from a fig leaf or use the sap of a
fig tree trunk (peel a piece of using a knife). Rub the sap all over the
ringworm and it will clear in days.
Homemade Pastes:
You can make different pastes using different types of spice.
Clean the infected skin with hot water and apply the paste. Let it dry for a
while and then clean with water and dry with towel. Apply for 3 to 4 times a
day until the infection is gone.
- Mustard Seed Paste:
Add some water to the powdered mustard seed to make a
paste.
- Butea Seed Paste:
Grind butea seeds into powder and add some lime juice to make a
paste.
- Turmeric Paste:
Add some water to the turmeric powder to make a paste.
Turmeric Juice:
You may also apply turmeric juice to the ringworm patches. For oral
remedy, add 1 tsp each of turmeric juice and honey and take it orally.
Tea Tree Oil:
Paint the oil on the affected skin areas 2 to 3 times a day, repeat until
the ringworm is gone. Tea tree oil is non toxic. It can be used to treat
ringworm and other fungal infections effectively.
Manuka Oil: Rub
the oil on the ringworm areas will effectively kill the fungal infection.
For treating itching scalp, add about 10 drops of the oil to shampoo and
massage thoroughly into wet hair and scalp.
Clear Nail Polish:
Clean the affected area with peroxide first before applying
2 small coats on it. The nail polish coating will dry out
the skin. When you peel off the coating, the dry skin will
be peeled off too. It will clear the ringworm in about 3
days.
Bleach:
Bleach may cure ringworm effectively but might cause serious
ALLERGIC reaction for some. The active ingredient called
sodium hydroxide can burn the skin. Use it cautiously if you
want to try. You may use bleach in various ways for treating
ringworm.
- Application:
Dip a piece of cotton or a Q tip in the bleach and apply 2 times daily for a few
days. You may also put the bleach on a cloth and apply on the ringworm
for 5 minutes. Then, put a boiled Goldenseal tea bag on that area as
well.
- Soaking:
Fill a bathtub with water and add in 3 tbsp of bleach. Soak your whole
body in the bathtub. This will dry up the ringworm in 2 days time.
However, this is NOT recommended for women.
Sea Salt: Apply
sea salt on the infected skin area for at least 30 minutes. The salt will
draw out the moist and make the skin dry. You may also soak yourself in a
bathtub filled with sea salt solution for a long time.
If the ringworm symptoms do not improve
after 4 weeks, it is advisable to seek treatment from
physician. You may need an oral anti-fungal medication
prescribed by the doctor to cure the problem.
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