Ringworm is a pain to deal with. This rash type can be extremely unpleasant, but it’s also highly curable and quite common.

Read on to learn more about ringworm from our AFC Urgent Care Boulder team!

What Is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a fungal illness that causes a rash. The rash is frequently painful and forms a circular ring with clearer skin in the middle. Ringworm gets its name from the way it looks, not from the actual presence of a worm, thankfully.

The most common way for ringworm to spread is through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person or animal. The most prevalent symptoms are listed below.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Ringworm

• A scaly ring-shaped area, typically on the buttocks, trunk, arms and legs
• Itchiness
• A clear or scaly area inside the ring, perhaps with a scattering of bumps whose color ranges from red, brown to gray
• Slightly raised, expanding rings
• A round, flat patch of itchy skin
• Overlapping rings

How Can I Treat Ringworm?

The majority of ringworm cases can be successfully treated at home. Applying OTC topical antifungals to the rash to kill the fungus and encourage healing is the most successful and usual technique to treat a ringworm rash.

Wash the rash first before applying medication. Apply a thin layer of whichever antifungal drug you’ve chosen to the affected region two to three times each day, or as instructed by the packaging, after you’ve washed it.

Additional Ways to Treat Ringworm

• Let it breathe. Bandaging the rash locks in moisture and slows the healing process. Instead, wear comfortable, breathable clothes to speed healing and avoid spreading the rash to other people.
• Wash bedding daily. Because ringworm is highly contagious, you should wash your sheets daily to get rid of the infection faster. Fungal spores can transfer to your sheets and comforter, which could then spread to other parts of your body and cause the rash to take longer to heal.
• Change wet underwear and socks. If ringworm develops on your feet or groin area, keep these areas dry. If you sweat a lot during the day, bathe with an antifungal cleansing bar and then reapply your antifungal powder or lotion.

Do you feel that your rash needs additional treatment? We can help, so don’t hesitate to visit our AFC Urgent Care Boulder center today!