Ringworm is a contagious fungus infection that can affect the scalp, the body, the feet (athlete's foot), or the nails. Tinea (pronounced: tih -nee-uh) is the medical name for a group of related skin infections, including athlete's foot, jock itch, and ringworm. Ringworm tends to be very itchy and uncomfortable. The name comes from the characteristic red ring that can appear on an infected person's skin . Ringworm is also called Tinea . Jock itch, athlete's foot, and ringworm are all types of fungal skin infections known collectively as tinea . Often, there are several patches of ringworm on your skin at once. When the scalp is infected, there is often an area of baldness. The rash can be dry and scaly or wet and crusty. It is very common, especially among children, and may be spread by skin-to-skin contact, as well as via contact with contaminated items such as hairbrushes.

Ringworm of the skin starts as a red, scaly patch or bump. People with ringworm on other parts of their skin can have a ring-shaped rash that is reddish and may be itchy. Ringworm spreads readily, as those infected are contagious even before they show symptoms of the disease. The source of the fungus is usually the soil, an animal (usually a cat, dog, or rodent), or most often, another person. Tinea cruris, or "jock itch," affects the groin area. Ringworm of the hands is tinea manuum. The fungi responsible are called "dermatophytes," meaning "plants that live on the skin" thus the more correct term for ringworm is "dermatophytosis." Although unsightly, ringworm usually isn't serious, except potentially for people with weak immune systems. The estimated lifetime risk of developing any superficial fungal infection is 20-30%.

Causes of Ringworm

The comman causes of Ringworm include the following :

* People can get Ringworm by direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or pet .
* People can also get Ringworm indirectly by contact with objects or surfaces that an infected person or pet has touched, such as hats, combs, brushes, bed linens, stuffed animals, telephones, gym mats, and shower stalls .
* In rare cases Ringworm can be spread by contact with soil.
* You can get ringworm on floors of public showers or locker rooms or damp surfaces. This is the most common method of contracting ringworm.
* Ringworm infection is caused by a fungus .
* Using an infected person's clothing, shoes or personal grooming items such as combs, brushes or towels.
* Sharing an infected child's toys, especially stuffed toys.

Symptoms of Ringworm

Some sign and symptoms related to Ringworm are as follows :

* When your scalp or beard is infected, you will have bald patches.
* If nails are infected, they become discolored, thick, and even crumble.
* Barber's itch - Symptoms often include kerion and crusted skin on bearded areas of the face and neck.
* A circle of rash on your skin that's red and inflamed around the edge and healthy looking in the middle.
* Slightly raised expanding rings of red, scaly skin on your trunk or face.

Treatment of Ringworm

Treatment of Ringworm include the following :

* Fluconazole (Diflucan) .
* The leaves of the cassia tree are useful in irritation of the skin and in alleviating swellings and pains.
* The leaves of holy basil are also useful in ringworm.
* The juice of raw turmeric should be applied externally to the parts of the skin affected by ringworm.
* Itraconazole (Sporanox).
* Ketoconazole (Nizoral).

Home Remedies for Ringworm

* Raw papaya is one of the most effective home remedies for ringworm.
* Raw vegetable juices, especially carrot juice in combination with spinach juice, have proved beneficial in the treatment of ringworm.
* Miconazole (Monistat-Derm).
* The seeds of the herb butea are valuable in ringworm.
* Take a few mustard seeds and powder them. Thereafter, make a paste using water. Apply the paste on the ringworm-affected area and see its wonderful effects.
* Apply the juice extracted from the Holy basil leaves on the patch twice or thrice a day.


Alien writes for home remedies . He also writes for vitamins and minerals and you can get more information on beauty tips.