How Does Ringworm Antifungal Works?

Ringworms can affect any parts of your body. The different types of ringworm include ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis), barber's itch (tinea barbae), ringworm of the face (tinea faciei), ringworm of the body (tinea corporis), athlete's foot (tinea pedis), ringworm of the nails (tinea unguium), jock itch (tinea cruris), and ringworm of the hands (tinea manus). Ringworm antifungals can help you eradicate the distressing appearance of ringworm on your skin.

There are a variety of ringworm antifungals that are potent enough to kill the fungi and eliminate the symptoms associated with ringworms. Ringworm antifungals can be commercially prepared or it can be extracted from a natural source. All these antifungals work effectively against ringworm, and it's up to you to choose what type of treatment you will use because the main reason for using antifungals is to eradicate the fungi that causes ringworms and relieve the annoying symptoms of ringworms.

Here are some ringworm antifungals that will help you solve your problem:

1) Use a natural essential oil. Essential oils are extracted from plants. They are preferred by most holistic experts because they are potent antifungals and they are safe to use. Essential oils include tea tree oil, citronella oil, palmarosa oil, and coconut oil.

2) Administer imidazoles. Imidazoles inhibit ergosterol synthesis, which is a very important component in fungal cell membrane. When ergosterol is absent on the cell membranes of fungi, it will cause destruction of fungal cells. Imidazoles include Miconazole (Micatin, Desenex, Daktarin, Monistat-Derm, and Decocort) and clotrimazole (Mycelex and Lotrimin), which are topical treatment for ringworm. Ketoconazole (Nizoral) and Griseofulvin (Gris-PEG, Grifulvin V, Fulvicin P/G, and Griseofulicin) are also examples of imidazoles and they are systemic treatments for ringworm.

3) Application of allylamine medications. Allylamine inhibits the production of squalene epoxidase, an important factor to complete fungal cell membrane. Thus, allylamine promotes fungal cell lysis. Terbinafine (Lamisil AT, Lamisil, and Lamisil Dermgel) and Naftifine (Naftin) are examples of allylamine medications.

4) Take griseofulvin. Griseofulvin prevents fungal cell mitosis. It is usually indicated for severe cases of ringworm. Griseofulvin is a systemic treatment for ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis), ringworm of the body (tinea corporis), athlete's foot, onchomycosis or ringworm of the nail (tinea unguium), jock itch, and barber's itch (tinea barbae).

5) Choose tolnaftate. Tolnaftate is believed to act like allylamines, which blocks the production of squalene epoxidase. It is used for the treatment of jock itch (tinea cruris) and athlete's foot (tinea pedis). It can be in the form of creams, powder, liquid aerosol, and lotions.

6) Lastly, treat your environment. Ringworm antifungals do not only pertain to medications or treatment that will directly act on the body of man. It is very essential to treat the contaminated environment with ringworm antifungal. A very good disinfectant would be bleach and water solution (1:10 or 1:100); this will effectively kill fungal spores on the areas exposed to the infected person or animal. Environmental treatment should be done on regular intervals to prevent the possibility of fungal spore transmission and reinfection.