Self-Care Guidelines
If you suspect that you have ringworm, you might try one of the following over-the-counter antifungal creams or lotions:
- Terbinafine
- Clotrimazole
- Miconazole
Apply the cream to each lesion and to the normal-appearing skin 2 cm beyond the border of the affected skin for at least 2 weeks until the areas are completely clear of lesions. Because ringworm is very contagious, avoid contact sports until lesions have been treated for a minimum of 48 hours. Do not share towels, hats, or clothing with others until the lesions are healed.
Since people often have ringworm infections on more than one body part, examine yourself for other infections, such as on the face (tinea faciale), in the beard area (tinea barbae), in the groin area (tinea cruris, jock itch), or on the feet (tinea pedis, athlete's foot).
Make sure that any household pets are evaluated by a veterinarian to be certain that they do not have a dermatophyte infection. If the veterinarian discovers an infection, the animal should be treated.
When to Seek Medical Care
If large areas of the body are affected or if the lesions do not improve after 1–2 weeks of applying over-the-counter antifungal creams, see your doctor for an evaluation.
Signs and Symptoms
