Tinea corporis is a fungal rash and usually resolves with regular application of antifungal cream. However, a severe form of infection may require oral antifungal medicines, in addition to topical agents.
Tinea corporis, also referred to as ringworm, is a fungal infection that affects the skin, and the most commonly affected body parts are the hands, neck, chest, and the legs. The infection causes formation of lesions, which are nothing but red ring like patches that show presence of blisters. Typically, the affected skin is flaky and triggers a burning sensation.
Fungicidal Agents
Antifungal creams are commonly used and regarded as the first line of defense against this skin infection. The antifungal creams need to be applied twice daily on the affected part of the skin. Regular application of these fungicidal agents (mentioned below) will help to improve the appearance of the skin within a short span of time:
- Miconazole (Monistat)
- Econazole
- Tinactin
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Oral Medications
In case the fungal infection is severe, the doctor may also prescribe oral antifungal medications along with topical agents. When the severity is high, the infection no longer remains localized and affects several areas of the body simultaneously. Also, in such cases, the infection not only affects the upper layer of the skin but penetrates the inner layer, affecting the hair follicles (sacks that contain the hair root). Following are the oral antifungals that can help to manage this severe form of ringworm infection:
- Itraconazole (Sporanox)
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Ketoconazol
Strength of Oral Medicines:
The medication strength to be given for ringworm will vary depending upon the severity of the infection. The oral medicine, regardless of the strength of the tablet has to be consumed just once in a day. Terbinafine and itraconazole are available in 250 mg and 200 mg strengths. This is the prescribed medication strength for treating severe tinea corporis.
Antibiotics
In some cases, a bacterial infection may also develop, a week after the invasion of the fungus. In such cases, a secondary bacterial infection is often treated with antibiotics.
Natural Treatment
Dermisil, made from plant extracts can also help to get rid of ringworm infection. This is a topical ointment that is primarily formulated from thuja oil, castor oil, and tea tree oil. All three show potent antifungal properties, hence application of Dermisil works to clear ringworm.
Precautions
The kind of clothes the patient wears will also determine how long the infection stays. In order to speed up healing, the patient should not wear tight clothes. Thus, along with prescribed treatment, make sure to wear loose clothing to ensure speedy recovery from this infection.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
