Home Remedies for Ringworm
Ringworm is not caused by a worm, in spite of its name. It is a fungal infection of the skin that shows up as a red circular sore that cannot be cured by any antiseptic creams. It is very contagious and you can get it from another person either directly or indirectly such as by simply using their comb if they have ringworm on the scalp. Using the same shower, pool and even bedding are other means of picking up an infection of ringworm.
Several different fungi cause ringworm; both cats and dogs carry one or more of these, so infection can come from handling pets without washing your hands afterwards. Ringworm can also be caused from wet conditions such as continued dampness of the skin, and through injury.
There are many good home remedies for ringworm; many of them use fruit or vegetable juices applied to the infected part. In particular, the paste made from crushed mustard seeds is an effective home remedy for ringworm. The seeds of the herb called butea, ground and mixed with limejuice until a thick paste is formed are another excellent home remedy for ringworm, while unripe, raw papaya slices rubbed over the area can also be beneficial.
If the ringworm is small, simply dabbing it with apple cider vinegar on a cotton wool ball may cure your ringworm. Never touch ringworm with your hands or it could easily be spread to other parts of your body, or even other members of the family. Breaking the blisters will also help it to spread, so dabbing is better than rubbing. Some people have achieved beneficial results by using bleach to dab on the ringworm. However, this home remedy for ringworm should be used with care as it could cause the skin to burn.
If the ringworm is on the scalp another home remedy is to rub castor oil over the affected area. If the ringworm is itchy, then coconut oil will help relieve it. Another rather more unusual home remedy for ringworm that many people swear by is to cover the lesion with clear nail polish. Continue to apply this daily or whenever it rubs off. The ringworm should be gone within a week; maybe sooner. Don’t use nail polish remover on your skin in case it burns. Tea-tree oil is another extremely beneficial home remedy for ringworm.
Before starting home remedies for ringworm, be sure that is what you actually do have. Another conditions called Pityriases Rosacea is similar to look at, but is caused by a skin virus, and the treatment for ringworms will exacerbate it and cause it to spread.
If your home remedies don’t seem to be working quickly enough – or at all – then a jar of anti-fungal cream from the local pharmacy is not very expensive.
When using any product for ringworm, be sure not to infect the container with the fungus. When using a cotton bud (stick) or ball to dab the ingredients on, use a clean one each time. If you’ve touched the ringworm with your fingers wash your hands before touching anything else.
For more information about remedies for ringworm, see: