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Ringworm sounds pretty bad. As if some ugly, ring-shaped worm creature was crawling around under somebody’s skin. Even worse, it’s common among infants and young children. Fact is, ringworm isn’t hard to identify or treat. Actually, if you just left it alone and didn’t treat it at all, your body would develop a natural immunity over a few months or more.
It is, however, still best to treat ringworm, to remove the blotches on the skin and help the body out. Since it’s so easy to do so, most people opt to get ringworm out of their lives.
The fungus looks like a ring or a coin-sized blotch (one-half to one inch in diameter). It is almost always scaly with a clear center between. It can increase in size over time and might be itchy. It can appear on the rump, face and head. If the rash is on the scalp or there are more than a few spots, it’s best to see a doctor. But, again, despite its nasty name and rude appearance, ringworm is easy to erase.
The cause of ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin. Puppies or kittens that have the condition can cause it. The body’s natural immunity should kick in within 15 weeks, but the rash will disappear more quickly with topical treatment.
Anti-fungal creams, also used to treat “jock itch,” will help control the rash. However, a combination Lotrimin and Cortisone—a.k.a. Lotrizone—works more quickly. This might require a prescription, which you can obtain from your pediatrician or doctor. Within a few weeks, the rash should begin to disappear. It’s important to keep up on the treatment as long as directed since ringworm is a fungus.
You should contact your pediatrician or other doctor if the symptoms are different or the rash continues to spread or not affected by treatment.
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