Ringworm Secondary Treatment
Ringworm is an infection of the skin caused by a fungus. It can affect skin on the body (tinea corporis), scalp (tinea capitis), groin area (tinea cruris) or feet (tinea pedis). Secondary treatment for ringworm (tinea) varies between subtypes, but the differences are subtle.
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Wash Scabs Daily
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Thoroughly bathe with soap and water daily to remove scabs and crust. This is effective for all tinea subtypes.
Apply Topical Anti-fungals
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Treat tinea pedis, cruris and corporis with topical anti-fungals. Miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine, ciclopirox and tolnaftate are effective anti-fungals. Any of these may be applied to small lesions. Topical treatment, however, is ineffective for lesions of the scalp.
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Treat with Oral Medication
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Lesions of the scalp should be treated with oral anti-fungal medication in addition to bathing. Oral medications such as griseofulvin, terbinafine and itraconazole are efficient in treating all subtypes of tinea, and are prescribed for mild to severe cases.
Launder Clothing
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Anything that has come into contact with infected skin such as towels, sheets, shirts, pants, caps/hats and socks should be laundered. Wash with hot water and a fungicidal agent.
Disinfect Publicly Shared Places and Things
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Thoroughly clean public showers and dressing rooms. Disinfect benches, floors, desks and wrestling mats with a fungicidal agent such as cresol.
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References
- "Control of Communicable Disease Manual," David L. Heymann; 2008
