There is a good chance that you have heard of ringworm in animals, but humans can be infected with ringworm as well. Despite its name, ringworm isn’t actually caused by a worm or any type of living parasite. Instead, it’s a skin condition that’s caused by a type of fungus called Tinea.
The infection will appear as red patches on the skin and spread throughout the body over time. This type of infection most commonly appears on the scalp, groin, feet, and beard area, usually in the shape of a ring – hence, the name.
Suffering from ringworm can be extremely irritating and aesthetically displeasing. However, you should not worry, because there are tons of proven natural ringworm remedies that can help you treat and cure this condition right from the comfort of your own home.
So let’s explore the problem of ringworm and how you can treat it with all-natural remedies.
What Actually Causes Someone to Develop Ringworm?
Image courtesy of Alternativeremedies.com
At the end of the day, your best option for treating ringworm is of course, to avoid catching the infection in the first place. However, in order to be able to do that, you have to know how ringworm is transmitted. Since ringworm is a fungal infection that lives on the outer layer of the skin, there are a number of different ways that it spreads.
- Human To Human Contact – If your skin comes into contact with another infected individual, there is a good chance that the fungal infection will be passed on to you.
- Animal To Human – If you have a pet that is suffering from ringworm and you touch the area of their skin that is infected, you can also acquire the infection in this manner. In addition to dogs and cats, ringworm is fairly common in cows.
- Object To Human – Most individuals aren’t even aware that this fungal condition can be spread through contact of exposed objects as well. For instance, if you have a pet that has ringworm and he or she sits on your couch and your skin later comes into contact with that section of the couch, you can develop the fungal condition as well. The same thing applies to towels, linens, combs or brushes.
As you can see, ringworm is a very contagious condition that can be easily spread with just mere skin on skin contact. With that being, this is why it is imperative that you know exactly how to react and treat the condition. Nobody is invulnerable, so you are always at risk of becoming a victim of ringworm!
Take Advantage Of The Healing Properties Of Garlic
Garlic has been long recognized as a wonder food, as it is a natural remedy for a variety of different conditions. Garlic has the ability to reduce the symptoms associated with the common cold, reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and provide a variety of other benefits.
However, garlic can also be used as a natural ringworm remedy. It is the chemical compounds Allicin and Ajoene found in garlic that makes this wonder food the perfect natural treatment for ringworm. With their antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, these two compounds can battle a variety of skin infections including ringworm.
How to Use Garlic to Treat Ringworm
The best course of action to take when treating ringworm with garlic is to get some fresh cloves and make a paste by adding a little olive oil. Once you have the desired consistency, simply apply that paste to the infected area and cover it with a bandage or medical gauze. Leave the paste on the infected area for 1 to 2 hours before washing it off with warm water. For best results, it is recommended that you apply this paste two to three times a day for up to two weeks.
Apple Cider Vinegar Is Another Popular Home Remedy
Apple cider vinegar is similar to garlic, as it is known for its amazing healing properties. In fact, more and more individuals are keeping a bottle of this wonder juice in their home cabinets for emergency situations. It’s one of the natural ringworm remedies. It is the acetic acid in the vinegar that really does all the work. This powerful anti-fungal concoction is known for treating a variety of different skin conditions. Since almost everyone has a bottle of apple cider vinegar at home, you’ll be able to rectify the problem without rushing out to the pharmacy or grocery store.
How to Test and Use Apple Cider Vinegar for Ringworm
The first thing you need to know about apple cider vinegar is that it is very acidic and it can actually cause irritation on sensitive parts of the skin. This is why it is important to do a small patch test before trying to treat certain parts of the body. Just take a small amount of this vinegar, apply it to an area that is similar to the infected area, and wait 15 to 30 minutes to see how your skin reacts.
When applying this liquid concoction, it is highly likely that you will experience a stinging sensation. This is completely normal due to the harsh ingredients. However, if at any time the pain become too much, you should immediately stop applying it to the skin or try diluting it with water.
If all seems good and your skin is not reacting in a negative way, you should continue applying this treatment twice daily for at least two weeks. It is possible that you will see immediate results within the first week of applying this treatment.
Tea Tree Oil Does Amazing Things
Native Australians historically used tea tree oil as an anti-fungal and antibacterial remedy (not that they would’ve understood it in those terms). It can be extremely effective in treating fungal skin infections.
Tea tree oil has been known as a longtime favorite in the cosmetics department, since it is used in many shampoos and hair oils. This powerful oil is extremely popular in Australia. Along with this, this oil has been used for a wide number of years to treat burns, cuts, and infections.
Treating Ringworm With Tea Tree Oil
Treating ringworm with tea tree oil is fairly straight forward, as you just mix a paste with 50{4a5ec57624c64852de7b336f8cd882d08e54d5065fe22c6274c2b6d7b127417f} oil and 50{4a5ec57624c64852de7b336f8cd882d08e54d5065fe22c6274c2b6d7b127417f} water and apply it to the infected area. Twice daily applications will be enough to treat ringworm, but unfortunately, you probably won’t start seeing any results until about four weeks into the treatment.
Things to Remember
Wash the affected area with water and antibacterial soap daily before applying other home remedies to it. Dry the area thoroughly after showering, as moisture makes it easier for the fungus to spread.
You should see your doctor if your symptoms don’t clear up or don’t respond to treatment within two weeks. You should also go to the doctor if you’re in a position that could likely spread it to others, such as if you’re a teacher.
Ringworm is highly contagious. While it’s most commonly spread from skin-to-skin contact, you can also catch it from touching something that someone with ringworm touched.
