My Cousin Has RINGWORM!

[LDebagoria]

I was talking to him last night when I noticed this ring-shaped mark on his scalp! I was like- "Brian, what the hell is THAT?"

I'm worried that I could've contracted it b/c I'm staying at his house! And shaving off a chunk of my hair is NOTHING that I feel like doing!!

 

[MeccaMedinah]

I don't think that you'd need to shave any hair at all. The doctor would just prescribe you some medicine that you'd have to take on a strict schedule.

 

[OneInAMillion]

Yea, I caught ringworm once in 5th grade (somewhere on my back) and the doctor gave me a cream and it was cleared within a week. In the unfortunate event that you did contract it, I don't think you would have to shave your head.

 

[SweetDreams]

As long at you don't touch it, or he doesn't touch you after scratching it, you should be fine.

 

[vikkisecret]

I got ringworm before when I was like 10. My grandma got some stuff that she called "monkey blood".....I can't remember the real name for it but he should be able to purchase it a drugstor. I'll get back to you for the real name. I dries it right up within a week.

 

[vaqtea]

Ringworm in the hair is very serious! My little niece had them all in her hair and they left little bald circle patches. Her whole household had to get treated. I was over their house for like 35 minutes (before they new she was infested ) the next week I had a ringworm on my arm. Then my husband had one then both of my kids. Its very contagious so beware!

 

[vaqtea]

One more thing .... Ringworms that are in the hair have to be treated by an anti-fungal medication taken orally. Over the counter meds will not work! I'm not trying to scare you or nothing but I wish I knew that ringworms were so contagious in the beginning. I wuld have been bleaching everything in sight!

 

[lthomas1]

My son had one in the first grade and it went away in about a week after treatment. I never caught it at all. You do not have to shave your head.

 

[lsubabiedee]

well, chances are that u might not get infected b/c u are exposed to many ringworm spores on a daily basis....like i never got it in my head from when my kitten had it, but i got it on my arms and back, but then i stopped getting them although im positive that the spores are still in my apartment

 

[LDebagoria]

Thanx for all of the info ladies! I was mortified at first!

 

[Cinnabuns]

I know that this may sound silly but I never knew where they came from? Does anyone know?

 

[DigitalRain]

I know that this may sound silly but I never knew where they came from? Does anyone know?

Anywhere. Animals (especially cats), soil, other people. Ringworm is a fungus that lives on the skin, basically another form of athlete's foot. My son got it last year on his chin. I had to disinfect everything and pray that I didn't get it in my head. I

 

[goldensugar23]

that is true to is a form of athletes feet.I knew someone who had it on their back...like really big!!

she got rid of it by using pure tea tree oil and a loofa!

 

[ftballwidow]

After doing a lot of research on this I found out:

Kids usually black male boys get it on their heads and adults usually get it on other skin (not their heads). I have 3 sons and 2 of them have had it. It is no joke. I had to do research, I got sick and tired of reading things that imply it has to do with hygiene. The reason black boys get it is our hair texture (easy for the fungus to get in) and I would guess because usually boys hair is shorter. like someone said topicals don't work. Actually both do help. the oral and the topical because it is being attacked both ways (a derm doctor said that). Funguses are everywhere. I forgot the numbers on how many adults will get one in their lifetime. Usually brown toe nails (especially baby toes) are funguses. Just like some go to gyms and get athletes foot and some don't. Once you get it hygiene is important, but it has nothing to do with actually getting it. It is so contagious. (But remember usually KIDS get it on their HEADS and some of us just don't get ringworm. ) My doctor told me that if she was to culture my walls at home, there would be fungus. I know I'm all over the place in this post. Feel free to ask questions. I have known about this stuff for over 20 years ( a male cousin had it - you don't even want to know the story) and now my 2 out 3 boys showed up with it - had to research it. I really believe that by the time you figure out what it is (if you are the parent of kids who have it)...if you were going to get it you would already have it. I never got it on my skin or scalp. Sulfur kills it also (go mtg). I'm thinking of keeping a little sulfur grease on my boys scalp 1 or 2x a week. Maybe that will keep it away. Another thing i read in my research usually hitting puberty- it goes away. Back to the --usually adults don't get it on their scalp.

 

[MSee]

My daughter got it once and T-tree oil is what I used to get rid of it.