Ringworm Antifungal Creams and Medications
What kind of ringworm antifungal cream or oral antifungal medication should I consider using? The common answer is where is the location of the ringworm and how severe is the infection. Ringworm untreated will spread fast to other parts of your body due to your itching activity occurring. Ringworm is a very contagious fungal infection. Ringworm are not worms or insects but caused by parasites called “dermatophytes that attach to the skin. Ringworm is a disease and ringworm describes the shape of the rash as it spreads. If you find ring shaped rashes on your skin and views like scaly inflamed skin with healthy skin in the center, then you most likely have ringworm. If you suddenly discover the ring shaped rashes breaking out, a ringworm antifungal cream in most cases will work. By the way, ringworm does infect both humans and animals as well.
Over-the-counter anti fungal cream is readily available to treat your ringworm. If it’s a pet concern, than the shampoo or dip version will work. The active ingredient miconazole or clotrimazole is found in most popular anti fungal creams like Lotrimin, Tinactin, Monistat and Micatin. Lamisil is based on the therapeutic effect of terbinafine.
These antifungal creams can effectively treat, Athlete’s foot and jock itch. Athlete’s foot is ringworm on the feet and jock itch occurs in the groin area and inner thighs. Before applying the cream, make sure to clean the affected area using soap and water and pat dry. Apply the cream thinly on the infected area and surrounding area making sure to continue the application even after the rash is no longer visible. The treatment should be done once in the morning and once in the evening. Read and follow the provide instructions with the antifungal cream. If in doubt, always consultant your health provider-doctor. The prescribe treatment period for jock itch, is usually two weeks. The time frame for Athlete’s foot and other ringworm is usually four weeks. If there is no improvement within this time frame or the condition seems to be spreading, a visit to your doctor is required. A prescription will probably be required with stronger dosages of the lotion, shampoo or antifungal pills.
For more serious cases, oral antifungal medication will be required. This type of medication can be used for fungal infection of the nails and ringworm of the scalp of children. Prescriptions are drug types known as azoles and allylamines like Grifulvin V, Diflucan, Lamisil tablets, Sporanox, and Nizoral. These strong drugs have side effects is why you should be treated and monitored by your doctor.
Also note, there is different formulations for fungal infection regarding nails depending on the type of infection. Some studies show that oral terbinafine drugs are more effective when dealing with nail diseases caused by dermatophytes.
It is best to consult a doctor regarding your ringworm infection whether it is the fungal infections of the scalp, nails or any infection and always when kids are involved. Some of these treatments can stretch up to two years.
