How To Prevent And Treat Ringworm

Use Antifungal Shampoo

If individuals have ringworm, one treatment option is to use an antifungal shampoo. Of course, this depends slightly on the area in which the infection is. There are different types of antifungal shampoos available, which may have different concentrations of a variety of active ingredients. Antifungal medication helps target and break down fungal spores so the infection goes away. It can also prevent or mitigate the spread of infection. The best time to use antifungal shampoo for ringworm is right after noticing the first patches. It may take a few treatments and days or weeks to see the results, but this is an important preventative measure to keep the spread contained.

Some of the most common antifungal shampoos are those with the active ingredient ketoconazole. There are ketoconazole shampoos available over-the-counter, or patients can get a prescription shampoo if their doctor deems it necessary. The shampoo can treat ringworm infections that appear on the scalp or areas of the body covered in hair. It's also commonly used to treat dandruff, since this condition is caused by a different type of fungal infection. Ketoconazole is also sometimes a first-line treatment for psoriasis.

Take Oral Antifungal Medication

Oral antifungal medications are used to treat fungal infections. They're often used in cases where the fungal infection appears in many different areas of the body, which makes it difficult to treat with topical medications. Some oral medications are available over-the-counter, but if a patient's infection is serious, they might need to see a doctor and get a prescription. Ringworm is one of the most common infections treated with oral antifungals. Other infections these medications treat include fungal nail infections, athlete's foot, and severe dandruff.

Oral antifungals are taken by mouth. They may be manufactured in liquid, tablet, or capsule form. Some oral medications kill the existing fungal cells, while others are optimized to prevent the infection from spreading. As with most oral medications, oral antifungals may have some side effects. These can include nausea, pain in the abdomen, and diarrhea. More rarely, patients might experience an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients. Patients should stop taking antifungals right away if they have allergic symptoms and seek emergency treatment if they have trouble breathing.