It's embarrasing....but.............

[starfire]

Does anyone have a sure-fire cure for the ringworm fungus?

I picked it up shortly after coming here (probably early to mid November)
Have no idea where it came from.

So far I have used:
OTC.... lamosil - stopped it from spreading but didn't go away. Used entire tube.

Iodine.........heard that was what the oldster's parents put on theirs when they were a kid. Used it two weeks. Couldn't take the orange spots any longer.

OTC...lotramin......(I think that's what it was).........Didn't even hold it in check.......got worse.

White Vinegar.........You hear about that working on tonail fungus....figured maybe all fungus doesn't like acidic conditions. Actually I got better response from that than any of the previous "remedies" but....still there.

Went to Dr. Insisted on the "pills"....can't remember the name of them. Took one every day for 14 days. Condition ALMOST gone - just discolored skin left - no bumps - but soon a bump or two popped out.....

Called Dr. office.........He called in a prescription for Clotrimazole cream (1%). Tube was ALMOST empty and I forgot to use it ONE day. red bumps started re-appearing.

Called Dr. office...........He called in ANOTHER prescription for the SAME cream.

I swear the stuff is getting worse again!!!! I'm ready to pull my hair out.

Polly, do you know if persistant ringworm considered an "infectious disease"? If so, I am very tempted to try to see the doctor who took care of my skin infection in my face last year.

I'm about at my wits end. I believe the longer this goes on the more resistant the fungus becomes.......like antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Love, Shirley

[kate_ce1995]

Again, engineer here who knows very little about biology, but do fungi need oxygen to survive? I have heard the effective treatment for some parasites in the skin is to paint the skin with clear nail polish. They starve for oxygen and die. Don't know if thats appropriate here, but its a thought. Or maybe try vasaline instead...glob it on thick and then cover it with gauze for a few days so you don't get it all over.

How frustrating!
Katy

[Jean]

Shirley,

I can NOT vouch for this, but know it works well on fungal infections in my birds; gentian violet. You can get it from behind the counter at many pharmacies. Of course, you'd have to put up with very purple skin!

There's some evidence that it works on fungi that other meds don't help.

If I was you, I'd definitely try what Polly or you doctor recommends first.

Love, Jean

[starfire]

Well, I do believe there is some med out there that will do it, but I am losing faith that my particular GP is going to find it for me. LOL

Kate, I don't know if fungi need oxygen or not. I am not adverse to painting my "spots" with clear nail polish. I'll try to find out - LOL

Jean, I hesitate to try the gentian violet only because of the purple spots. I doubt I'd like those any better than the orange iodine ones. One question...How long would it take for the purple to disappear?

I am going to wait for some more suggestions and I'm still interested to know if a stubborn case will fit into the description of "infectious disease". I have a lot of faith in Dr. Callahan.

Love, Shirley

[MaggieRedwings]

Hi Shirley,

That does not sound like a lot of fun. I remember in the "olden days" back in early 50s when the public health nurse would come to the school and line us all up for lice and ringworm check. Rare they did this in Catholic school but for some reason they did.

For anyone having ringworm Iodine or Genetian Violet were always recommended. I also remember one kid who's mom used that black salve in the metal tim on it and it did go away.

Those were the days - Ringworm, lice and Pink Eye. The conditions that the nums would stand back in horror of for fear they would get them or the whole class would.

Love, Maggie

[starfire]

Ah, Maggie, you understand. I never had ringworm or lice when I was young. WHY NOW!!!

Also, I really do think fungi become resistant to "cures". Can't really prove it but it sure seems so. My daughter picked up one when she was quite young but I got rid of it in no time. Can't remember what I used though.

Love, Shirley

[jenilake]

Hi Shirley,

I posted in another thread about a rash I have been fighting, it is a fungal infection. I have it on my face and ears. It is very itchy and ugly.

I went through the lamisil....4 tubes. Then I went on the internet and typed in fungus. I got to a site called, www.fungrx.com

I ordered the fungrx oil and antifungal supps. Three bottles of each.

I believe mine is candida related or a reaction to sulfites in wine.

What ever the cause, I hate this!!! I have to tell you I put this oil on every spot for two weeks and now they are going away. The site tells how the oil works, and why the lamisil doesn't. The oil brings the fungus up to the surface of your skin, from deep in the skin. It dries and flakes each layer, until it is gone.

I went to so many docs and like with everything else they couldn't help me. I was feeling so hopeless and depressed. Not just dealing with getting older, and what that does to our bodies and minds. Now I was feeling UGLY!! I have felt fat before, but not ugly. I guess I'm getting a little out of control here, but I felt like I was the only one dealing with this awful problem.

I hope you go to the website and read about it and order some. Money back guarantee for a year too.

I can go outside now.

Love and hope,
Kathyp

[annie oakley]

Hi Shirley....I used Nystatin. It is a antifungal cream that is an RX and works great. Mike had it awhile back and that's what we used. Along with a cortisone crem in between. Make sure you keep from scratching it girl. Love Oma

[kate_ce1995]

Well, I can't vouch for the ringworm line up, but they still do the lice line up for elementary kids here. Geoff's youngest is a lice magnet and got sent home (with her big sister who had none) after one of these checks. Turns out one kid at her table was loaded and 2 of the other 3 kids had gotten some as well. Seems like if someone within 100 feet of her has it, she'll get it despite good hygiene. GRRRR. Makes one itchy whenever that topic comes up.

Katy

[barbaranoela]

We just met one of the aides @ the office and her daughter has RING WORM????

My brother had this when he was in grade school and his entire head of hair had to be shaved off and yes- that GeNTIAN Violet was the IN thing-

Well between ringworm and my ERUPTION OF PSORIASIS--we should make some bunch of scuzzy looking folks---

Thats what I am battleing now-----psoriasis----

barbara

[Peggy]

I don't know anything about ringworm cures but I just had to comment on the title of this post!

Surely you jest Shirley

How can anything on this site be considered embarrasing?

Hope you find something soon!

Love
Peg

[starfire]

OK, I'm feeling better about it all Thanks everyone.

Kathy, I'm going to that site right now.

Love, Shirley

[Liz]

Hi Shirley. When I was a kid it was thought that ringworm was carried by cats so if you have a cat you maybe should think about treating it as well because it could very well be reinfecting you. Gentian violet was the recommended treatment in those day, & it worked. It is supposed to be related to tinea so you could try a treatment for that.

Barb, psoriasis is often related to stress levels, & of course you wouldn't be under stress now, would you

I don't know about USA but there is almost an epidemic of lice in the schools here. Funny thing is, they prefer clean hair I am told. Always check my grandchildren out when they visit. Almost had a panic attack once when one of them started scratching & after checking found, you guessed it
Had to get my daughter to check me too as my scalp was itching. She did not find anything but I got dose with the lice stuff just to be sure. Much better that the kerosene that was used back in the olden days. I had very long thick hair & used to get fine tooth combed every saturday just in case I had picked anything up during the week. Yikes Not a very good experience I can tell you.

Love

Liz

[starfire]

Thanks Liz, but I only have a bird and I don't think he has the fungus.

Actually, the only animal I am around fairly often is my brother-in-law's little chin-poo and she is handled a LOT by several people and they don't have the problem, so I doubt it is from her. I've read that the fungus lives in the ground so perhaps I got it working in the flowers. I just don't know.

Another reason I don't think I'm being re-infected is because the original spots are the only ones I have. I have about 5 spots on my lower legs and they all came close to the same time. The bumps keep coming back in in those spots (or some of those spots, I should say) and the discoloration has never disappeared completely, although it has improved at times.

Thanks,
Love, Shirley

[Polly]

Hi Shirley!

Did the doc actually see it and diagnose ringworm? Is it a red, raised, itchy, scaly/bumpy circle with a paler depression in the center? Generally, the treatment is one of the "azole" creams for at least 2 weeks. But I have found that it often takes much longer. I had it some years ago, and it took at least 6 weeks of daily cream applications to go away. Whenever I stopped before 6 weeks, it came back. Maybe you just need to try one cream for a longer time. Not all cases go away with topical treament; some need systemic Rx - which you have already done once. Not to worry - fungal infections can be VERY stubborn. And yes, they are considered to be infectious diseases. Perhaps our ringworm infections lasted longer because of our impaired immune systems? Anyway, there are no serious consequences you need to worry about.

Love,

Polly