Ringworm Treatment
Ringworm is a common fungal infection that causes a tell-tale red or scaly ring-shaped rash that can occur anywhere on the body. While not serious, ringworm can be itchy and it’s contagious, so getting it properly treated is important. Get in touch today to find out how the team at The Dermatology Clinic can help.
Despite its name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms and is actually caused by a common fungus. Once diagnosed, the good news is it’s generally easy to treat ringworm. Find more information below on the condition, and ringworm treatments available at The Dermatology Clinic London.
About ringworm
Ringworm, also known as tinea, is a common infection that affects 10-20 percent of the population. Despite the name, ringworm is a fungal infection and is not caused by worms. The fungi that cause ringworm are known as dermatophytes and there are around 40 different species of them.
As a contagious infection, you can catch ringworm from sharing belongings with someone who is infected. The disease can also be passed from animals to humans.
Various parts of the body can be affected by ringworm and you may have heard it referred to by different names, for example athlete’s foot is ringworm of the foot.
Diagnosing ringworm
The symptoms of ringworm tend to reveal the nature of the infection straight away, but it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis so you receive the right treatment. Our dermatologists are trained in dealing with all manner of skin infections and are qualified to make an accurate diagnosis. In most cases, a scraping of your skin it taken and sent for examination under a microscope and then the lab will try to grow fungus from the sample to find out what species it is.
How to get rid of ringworm?
If you have symptoms of ringworm, you might have found that anti-fungal products can be bought over the counter. However, some cases of ringworm don’t respond to non-prescription creams and you should always seek professional help as you might need oral medication. At The Dermatology Clinic, we can prescribe treatment specific to your case.
If you have signs of ringworm on your scalp or nails, it’s important to see a dermatologist. This type of ringworm will not respond to over the counter treatment and oral prescription medication is needed for at least one to three months.
If you’re worried about a skin rash and think it might be ringworm, contact The Dermatology Clinic to get an accurate diagnosis and professional ringworm treatment as quickly as possible.
