Ringworm is a nightmare for many. It is a red colored patch on the skin with definite and uniform shape, mostly circular shape. It is a skin infection caused by various fungi, not by worms.
Also, it occurs mostly in the visible parts of the body like wrist, neck, legs, and face. In medical science, it is also called dermatophytosis or Tinea Corporis.
The disgusting thing with ringworm is that it is contagious. It spreads from person to person. It lasts long, and one person may develop one to two or more ringworms at the same time.
You may be thinking instead of proper hygiene why it develops in your body? Well, ringworm usually occurs due to various fungi. But, you can develop ringworm from your infected pets also, especially dogs. You may keep your surroundings clean but not your pets.
So if your pet gets infected make some distance with it for some days. So that you can protect yourself from getting infected by it. The pets that can infect you from ringworms are cats, dogs, goats, sheep, and cattle.
How to heal ringworm effectively to make it less contagious? As I told you it is highly contagious. So you have to take proper treatment to protect your fellows from getting infected.
Also, you should avoid skin contact with another person to prevent it from spreading. You can treat ringworm by natural remedies. This will avoid any side effect in your body while treatment. Furthermore, it will help in healing effectively and quickly than any other commercial treatment.
Most of all, the big question is that for how long will it be contagious? Well, ringworm gets healed within 2-4 weeks. And it is no more contagious after 2 -4 days of the start of treatment. But instead, you should take proper precautions to avoid passing it on.
Table of Contents
How To Get Rid Of Ringworm Home Remedies
How Treat Ringworm To Make It Less Contagious?
Use natural remedies to treat ringworm effectively. So that it becomes less contagious.
1. Apple Cider Vinegar:
Things That You Need:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Hand towel or Cotton swab
Procedure:
- Clean the affected area of your body and let it dry completely.
- Apple cider vinegar is acidic, so always dilute before using it.
- Also, you should take a patch test before applying it to your body if you have sensitive skin.
- It will help you in avoiding harshness and inflammation caused by vinegar.
- If you pass the patch test only then proceed further.
- Apply diluted apple cider vinegar to the affected area using a cotton
- Do this for 3-4 times a day.
- Also, you can take a towel and soak it in vinegar. Then place it at the ringworm site for ½ an hour.
- It will help you better fight against skin infection.
- Use this treatment for 3-4 weeks to cure your skin infection effectively.
Use Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar for best results.
2. Tea Tree Oil:
Things That You Need:
- ½ -1 tablespoon of 100% pure tea tree oil.
- Sterilized Cotton ball
- 1 cup of warm water if required.
Procedure:
- Clean affected the area of your body and let it dry completely.
- Take undiluted tea tree oil and pour few drops of it on a cotton ball.
- Now with the help of cotton ball apply oil to affected area. Cover the ringworm site with oil properly.
- Do this 3-4 times a day.
- Furthermore, if undiluted oil irritates your skin then dilute the oil with water before
- applying it.
- Mix ½ – 1 tablespoon of oil with a cup of warm water.
- Now apply this solution to the affected area with a cotton
- Repeat the same for 3-4 times in a day for at least 3 weeks to get better results.
3. Lemongrass:
Things That You Need:
- Buttermilk
- Lemongrass leaves
Procedure:
- Take some lemongrass leaves and crush it or grind it.
- Then add buttermilk in it to make a paste.
- Now apply this paste to the infected area.
- Leave it for 20-30 minutes and then wash it.
- This will help you in treating your skin infection effectively.
4. Garlic:
Things That You Need:
- 3 tablespoons of Olive oil
- 1 or 2 Garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoons of Honey
Procedure:
- Take garlic cloves and crush them.
- Then add honey and olive oil in the crushed garlic and mix it well.
- Now apply this paste to the ringworm site and leave it for 1 hour.
- Then wash it with warm water.
- Use this remedy 2-3 times in a day for at least 2 weeks.
5. Aloe Vera:
Things That You Need:
- Some Aloe Vera leaves
Procedure:
- Slice Aloe Vera leaf and take out the gel from the leaf.
- Take out the gel and apply it to the ringworm site.
- Then let it set for 20-30 minutes. And then wash it with water.
- Use this remedy for 2-3 times in a day.
Aloe Vera gel is also used to treat the skin infection, to get rid of psoriasis.
6. Raw Papaya:
Things That You Need:
Procedure:
- Slice raw papaya into pieces and then rub these pieces gently in a circular motion to the ringworm site.
- Also, you can make a paste of it.
- Grind the raw papaya into the grinder and then apply this paste to the infected area.
- Let it set 15- 20 minutes. And then wash it with warm water.
- Use this remedy 2 -3 times in a day.
7. Grapefruit Seed Extract:
Things That You Need:
- 3 tablespoons of lukewarm water
- 4-5 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract
Procedure:
- Take grapefruit seed extract and mix it with lukewarm water.
- Now with the help of cotton swab apply it to the infected area.
- Use this remedy for 2-3 times in a day for at least 2 weeks.
For How Long Ringworm Is Contagious?
Fortunately, it becomes less contagious after 2-4 days of the start of the treatment. But you should continue the treatment for at least 3-4 weeks.
Because it is important to treat ringworm effectively to avoid it’s re occurrence. Also, after that, it will be no more contagious.
Various Types Of Dermatophytes Found In Your Body:
Various fungi are responsible for the occurrence of ringworm in your body. Most dangerous of them are Microsporum and Trichophyton. These fungi are responsible for ringworm and other skin infections in various parts of your body.
I am telling you about these so that you can better clarify whether you have ringworm or not. Because all these skin infections are a result of dermatophytes so you can misunderstand it with ringworm.
- Tinea cruris (jock itch) a fungal infection in the groin area.
- Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) a fungal infection on the feet
- Tinea manuuma fungal infection on the hands and palm area
- Tinea unguium a fungal infection on the fingernails and toenails, and the nail bed
- Tinea barbae a fungal infestation on facial hair
- Tinea corporis a fungal infection on the arms, trunk, and legs.
- Tinea face(face fungus) a fungal infection on the face
- Tinea capitis a fungal infection on the hair and scalp.
Causes Of Ringworm In Your Body:
- Usually, three types of fungi cause. These are Epidermophyton, Trichophyton, and Microsporum.
- Infected animals can also pass this infection to you.
- It is contagious, and hence you are more likely to get it from another infected person.
- These fungi mostly thrive in soils, so if you are in contact with soil for a long time, you may get infected.
- These fungi also thrive moist and warm areas like swimming pools, locker rooms, skin folds, and tanning beds.
- Using personal things of an infected person can cause infection in you also.
- The poor barrier function of the skin can also lead to ringworm. Because it has weak immunity to fight against these fungi.
Symptoms Of Ringworm:
If you have ringworm, then you will experience these things.
- Itchy, scaly and red raised patches on the skin.
- It will look like a ring of red color.
- Patches that develops a blister and also begin to ooze.
- If the affected area is scalp, then it may develop bald patches.
- If the affected area is your nails, then it will become thick, discolored and get cracked after some days.
- The affected area will cause itchiness, irritation, and inflammation in your body.
Is Ringworm Contagious?
Ringworm is not that much contagious. But it is contagious to some extent.
It passes from the infected person to another person. And also from infected animals to other person or vice-versa. By this, it creates a zoonotic cycle.
For How Long Ringworm Lasts?
Well, it mainly depends on the type of treatment that you are taking. Furthermore, if you don’t treat ringworm, then it may last for several months in your body. And then it will disappear on their own.
But if you treat ringworm effectively, then you can get rid of it within 2- 4 weeks. Also, it will make it less contagious.
How Can You Prevent Ringworm?
- Always wash hand after playing with your pet.
- Also, keep your pet and pet’s home clean.
- Avoid excessive use of personal things of others.
- Also, make some distance between that person and animals that are prone to infections caused by dermatophytes.
There is no big problem if you have ringworm in your body. But, you should take proper precautions and treatment to cure it effectively. Hope the information as mentioned above will help you in treating it effectively. And also in making it less contagious.
