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Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin, which cause ring shaped patches of skin to develop a reddish, bumpy appearance. It is due to this appearance of the skin that the condition is known as ringworm - not due to the presence of any parasitical worm. Ringworm is therefore not as dangerous as many people assume it to be, and not too difficult to cure.
The most important thing you need to do when managing a case of ringworm is to keep your skin clean and dry. Fungi thrive on moisture, and very often the infection starts due to these very reasons - constant presence of moisture on the skin, and insufficient hygiene, which allow the fungus to take hold. Ringworm is of course contagious, but by maintain proper levels of hygiene it is usually highly possible to avoid contracting the infection.
In any case, once you have been infected and the symptoms appear (apart from the reddish, raised rings on the skin, ringworm may also involve oozing from these areas, and hair loss if the infection is on the scalp or other areas such as the beard) you should be extra careful about keeping your skin clean and dry. You should bathe at least twice a day, and in particular wash the affected areas a few more times with plain water. Each time you wash your skin, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, and then dry your skin thoroughly. Avoid touching the affected areas at other times, as this will increase the risk of spreading the infection to other parts of your body. It is usually also advisable to change all clothes daily, including towels, sheets, etc.
In addition, some treatment may be necessary to directly attack the fungal infection. There are a few home remedies that you can try, such as applying a paste of holy basil seeds or mustard seeds (or both). A vinegar and water solution is also recommended for most fungal infections, and is sometimes quite effective. However, these treatments are not always reliable; the most effective and reliable treatment is an antifungal cream or powder that you can get from any medical store. This should be applied thrice a day at regular intervals, or as per the instructions. You will most probably start to see results by the end of the first week of treatment, but the infection will take at least another two weeks to disappear completely.
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