5 Effective ways to treat ringworm

July 21, 2014

Ringworm is a very common type of fungal infection that is seen to affect children and adults alike. Also known as tinea, this condition can be characterized by the formation of a red ring on the surface of the skin.

This is a very contagious skin infection, and it can even occur in the regions of the nails and scalp. To curb the spread of the infection, it is necessary for one to follow proper methods of treatment.

Tea Tree Oil

For obtaining a quick and effective cure from the condition of ringworm, one can make use of tea tree oil. This essential oil contains an ingredient termed as terpinen-4 -ol, which helps to eliminate fungal growth in the skin. To obtain the benefits of tea tree oil, one should apply it to the affected areas using a clean cotton ball, several times a day.

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera is a herb that is widely used to treat the condition of ringworm. In this method of treatment, the gel from the Aloe vera plant is to be rubbed onto the regions of skin, where fungal infection is present. If you are running short of Aloe vera gel, then you can make use of Aloe vera lotions that are commercially available.

Iodine

An effective cure to the problem of ringworm lies in the use of iodine. As the first step of treatment, you should clean the region of infection by using warm water and medicated soap.

Dry the area thoroughly with a disposable paper tissue. See to it that you do not use your regular towel for cleaning purposes, as it may cause the infection to spread to other regions of the skin.

After the cleansing process, do dip a clean cotton ball in a solution of 7 percent iodine and apply it onto the affected areas. Follow this treatment twice a day for a period of one week. See to it that you do not overdo the treatment as it can lead to iodine poisoning.

Papaya

Another natural method for treating ringworm suggests the use of papaya.To perform the treatment, you should first cut a fresh papaya into small slices. Rub the slices onto the regions of fungal infection, and wash off after 15 minutes. The action of the enzyme papain present in the papaya will help in curing the fungal infection. For quick cure from ringworm, you should repeat the above said treatment twice a day.

Source: Newser

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