Posted in Category : Natural Cures | April 23, 2009

Ringworm Home Remedy

What is Ringworm? If you find red rings appearing on your skin it could be a sign of a ringworm infection. This is a fungal infection, also called Tinea, which mostly affects the scalp, body, feet, and nails. It is contagious and can spread with direct or indirect contract. Ringworm can be caused by various fungus-like organisms that are classified as dermatophytes. They last for about 10 to 14 days on the scalp and 4 to 10 days on the skin. The fungi thrive in warm and moist areas and feed on keratin, the material found on the outer layer of the skin.

How Does it Spread?
Ringworm is common among sportspersons, especially wrestlers. It can spread through direct contact from one person to another. It can also spread through contaminated articles like combs, unwashed clothing, locker rooms, showers, or pool surfaces. Pets like dogs and cats that carry the fungus can also cause infection. Other reasons for infection include prolonged wetness of the skin and minor injuries of the skin, scalp, and nails.

Measures to Prevent Ringworm: Try to avoid sharing of clothing, sports equipment, towels, or sheets. Avoid walking barefoot, and wear appropriate foot wear. Wash clothes in hot water with fungicidal soap if you suspect exposure to a ringworm infection. If you are exposed to places which have a potential for infection, wash yourself with antibacterial and antifungal soap, or one that contains tea tree oil.

Ringworm Home Remedy: Nature offers the best remedies for ringworm. The best remedy for ringworm is to apply a paste of mustard seeds on the affected areas. You can also try rubbing a few slices of raw papaya on the patches. Apply the juice of raw turmeric on the infected areas of skin. In addition you can mix one teaspoon of turmeric juice with honey and drink it twice a day. This will cure the infection.

You can apply castor oil on the scalp and affected areas of the hair. This is a good remedy for ringworm. You can also apply a paste made from the seed of butea herb mixed with lime. Coconut oil when applied keeps the skin soft and prevents itching. The leaves of the cassia tree are also an effective remedy for ringworm. You can also try clear nail polish on the infected patches.

Drinking raw vegetable juice, especially that of carrot along with spinach juice, is a beneficial treatment for ringworm. You should avoid tea, coffee, condiments, highly spicy dishes, sugar, white flour products, denatured cereals, and packaged foods. Drink plenty of water and have a warm water bath twice a day. Get as much fresh air as you can to keep healthy.

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