It was believed that ringworms are caused by parasitic worms, but it was proven that worms do not have any contribution to the development of ringworms. Ringworms are caused by fungi that belong to the dermatophyte group. Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans, and Microsporum canis are the most common species that causes ringworms. There are various types of ringworms, and facial ringworm (tinea faciei) is one of them. Facial ringworm as the name suggests, affects the skin on your face.
No one would ever want to have ringworms on the face. It will cause you embarrassment because of the appearance of ringworm symptoms over your face, and the discomfort that are associated with its symptoms. It is very important to identify if the lesion on your face is a manifestation of facial ringworm so that you can institute measures to eradicate the fungi and prevent it from spreading.
Who can develop facial ringworm?
- Anyone can develop facial ringworm but children have higher incidence rates because they are always playing or getting in contact with pets.
- High risk people include children because they have underdeveloped immune systems, old-age individuals because they have weak immune responses, and those who have illnesses or diseases that compromise their immune systems to function well.
How can you get facial ringworm?
There are two possible ways on how can you get infected with ringworms:
- Direct contact- You can contract the fungal spores through direct contact to an infected person or animal.
- Indirect contact- You can acquire the dermatophyte spores through sharing or using contaminated articles such as towels and handkerchief.
What are manifestations of facial ringworms?
Symptoms of Tinea faciei manifest 10 to 12 days after exposure to the dermatophyte fungi. Symptoms of facial ringworms usually occur on these areas:
- Cheeks
- Nose
- Chin
- Around the Eyes
- Forehead
Characteristic symptoms of facial ringworm include:
- A ringworm patch that has dry and pale center with a pink to red border. The borders can have blisters on it, and they gradually increase in size as they grow on your skin. They can be accompanied by itchiness which causes discomfort to you. It can also manifest inflammation especially if the facial ringworm is caused by a zoophilic dermatophyte.
How will physicians diagnose facial ringworm?
- There are four methods that your physician can perform to confirm if you have facial ringworm. He may perform assessment on the appearance and location of the ringworms and he can also perform tests such as microscopic examination, fungal culture, skin biopsy, and using wood\'s lamp.
How can you treat your facial ringworm?
Facial ringworms are treated with topical or systemic treatment.
- Topical treatment- These treatments are available in creams or lotions. Topical treatments are used for mild cases of ringworm, and they should be used within 2 to 4 weeks. Topical treatments include clotrimazole, miconazole, butenafine, econazole nitrate, terbinafine, and ketoconazole.
- Systemic treatment- Systemic treatments are available in pills. This type of treatment is used for severe cases of ringworm, and it includes griseofulvin, itraconazole, terbinafine, and fluconazole.
How can you prevent facial ringworm?
There are a lot of ways on how you can prevent facial ringworm, or prevent it from spreading on your face and other parts of your body. Here are some tips you can follow:
- Keep a clean and sweat-free body.
- Wear clean and well-dried clothes.
- Never share your personal articles to others.
- Disinfect your things and home environment if you or a household member has ringworms.
- Use vacuum with HEPA filters in cleaning your carpets and upholstered furniture.
- Isolate your infected pet.
- Consult your physician and follow the treatment religiously prescribed to you.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com
About the Author
To protect your family and pet from ringworm you need to be armed with knowledge. If you would like to know any more information about Ringworm on Face please visit http://www.ringwormscure.com.
