Ringworm is a red round or oval shaped rash formed on your skin with clearly defined edges. Name is derived from the shape of the patch.
Ringworm is not caused by any worm as the name might suggest. It is caused by a fungus called dermatophytes which lives on dead skin, nail and hair tissues. Jock itch and athlete's foot are also ringworm rashes given different names to identify the location on the body.
The most common places where ringworm occurs is your arms and scalp. You can also get it anywhere in the skin including your face and nails.
You can heal ringworm at home with tea tree oil. The antifungal and antimicrobial oil is a good time tested remedy for ringworm.Consult a doctor If tea tree oil or other natural products don't fix ringworm.
Table of Contents
- How Tea Tree Oil Helps to Treat Ringworm
- How to Use Tea Tree Oil on Ringworm?
- Additional Ringworm Remedies
- Other Tips and Precautions
How Tea Tree Oil Helps to Treat Ringworm
Let us first understand ringworm in detail before treating it at home.
The name ringworm comes from the circular defined edges of the rash. There is no worm there.
Ringworm in different parts of the body is known differently.
- Athlete's foot or tinea pedis is ringworm of foot and
- Jock itch or tinea cruris is the same fungal infection of the pelvic region.
Causes
Ringworm or tinea is a contagious fungal infection that affects humans and animals. It comes from mold like parasites that live on the outer layer of your skin.It can easily spread from direct skin to skin human contact.
genetics also affects it. If your parents had it then be careful. You might catch it sooner than later.
Symptoms
When you see a circular red rash with defined edges anywhere on your body it is most likely ringworm. Following are its main symptoms
- scaly, crusted, round red rash with patches on the skin
- patches of hair loss or scaling on the scalp,
- blister-like lesions
- itching
Ringworm can be treated at home with natural remedies. All kinds of home remedies are generally based on traditional uses, there is hardly any scientific evidence behind them.
Some of these traditional medicines have drawn scientist attention and tea tree oil is one such product that has gone through the scanner.
Although a published research on tea tree oil for ringworm is still not available, a study done for athlete's foot is sufficient scientific evidence of its effectiveness on fungal infections.
Tea tree oil has also been studied and found useful in treating other fungal.infections like candida and nail fungus.
Tea tree oil has many medicinal properties and its antifungal properties in particular helps to treat ringworm.
Though there is no specific research yet done on ringworm, you can still try the tea tree oil out and go back to conventional prescription based medicine if it doesn't work out for you. You can use it directly on your rash, but if your skin is sensitive then dilute tea tree oil in a carrier oil before use.
How to Use Tea Tree Oil on Ringworm?
It is always advisable to use a patch test on your arm before widely using tea tree oil in the affected area.
Most essential oils are highly concentrated extract so they can burn your skin. That is why you have to dilute them in carrier oil before using it on your skin.
Tea tree oil is not such harsh oil as other essential oils. Some skins can handle it undiluted. Sensitive skins will still require dilution.
1. Undiluted Tea Tree Oil
Do a patch test on your arm. If your skin doesn't show any allergic reaction then only use it on your affected area. If your skin is sensitive then avoid this method.
- Wash your skin and ringworm are with warm water.
- Dab it dry with tissue paper and throw the tissue
- Apply 2 drops of tea tree oil on each ringworm rash by a dropper.
- Do it 2-3 times daily
2. Tea Tree Oil with Warm Water
- Add 2 drops of warm water and 2 drops of tea tree oil in a teaspoon and mix well
- Wash and clean your ringworm affected skin with warm water.
- Dab the area dry with tissue
- Apply the tea tree oil water mix by dropper on your ringworm
- Don't 2-3 times daily
3. Tea Tree Oil with Coconut Oil
- Wash clean and dry your skin as suggested above.
- Mix one drop of coconut oil with one or two drops of tea tree oil
- Apply on ringworm by a dropper or qtip.
- Do it 2-3 times daily.
Additional Ringworm Remedies
Following are some of the other popular home remedies for ringworm
- Aloe Vera
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Garlic
- Licorice
- Turmeric
Other Tips and Precautions
Following precautions will help you to get rid of ringworms fast
- Do not share towels and other personal cloths of infected person.
- Avoid cuddling your pets until their ringworm is completely eradicated
- Don't scratch the rash otherwise it will spread to your nails and other parts of body skin.
- Stop using tea tree oil if it causes any irritation to your skin.
- Use milder oils like coconut oil alone if you still want to use natural products
- Go for prescribed medications If no home remedies work
Even if you use home remedies like tea tree oil to get rid of your fungal infection, keeping your doctor in the loop is always recommended.