Alcohol for ringworm. Ringworm Treatment: Natural Remedies, Symptoms, and Prevention Tips
What are the symptoms of ringworm. How can you prevent ringworm infection. What home remedies are effective for treating ringworm. How does apple cider vinegar help with ringworm. Can garlic be used to treat ringworm.
Understanding Ringworm: Causes and Symptoms
Ringworm, despite its misleading name, is not caused by worms but by fungi called dermatophytes. These resilient fungal spores thrive on keratin, a protein found in skin, hair, and nails. The infection manifests as a red or silvery ring-shaped rash with a clear center, often accompanied by itching and scaling.
Ringworm can affect various parts of the body:
- Tinea corporis: on the body
- Tinea capitis: on the scalp
- Tinea pedis: on the feet (“athlete’s foot”)
- Tinea cruris: in the groin area (“jock itch”)
How does ringworm spread?
Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread through:
- Direct skin-to-skin contact, especially among children
- Contact with infected animals, particularly pets
- Sharing personal items like towels, clothing, or combs with an infected person
- Prolonged exposure to contaminated soil
What are the primary symptoms of ringworm?
The main signs of ringworm infection include:
- A ring-shaped, scaly rash on the skin
- Intense itching in the affected area
- Distinct edges or small blisters around the rash
- A clear center or scattered red bumps within the ring
- Possible development of pus-filled sores around the rash
Effective Prevention Strategies for Ringworm
Preventing ringworm involves maintaining good personal hygiene and taking precautions in high-risk environments. Here are some essential tips:
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly
- Change undergarments and socks daily
- Keep your skin clean and dry, especially in warm climates
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing in humid conditions
- Refrain from sharing personal items like towels or sports equipment
- Wear protective footwear in public showers and locker rooms
- Avoid contact with animals showing signs of skin infections
- If infected, resist scratching to prevent further spread
Natural Home Remedies for Ringworm Treatment
While ringworm can be persistent, several home remedies have shown effectiveness in treating the infection and alleviating symptoms. It’s important to note that if symptoms don’t improve after two weeks of home treatment, consulting a healthcare professional is advisable.
Apple Cider Vinegar: A Potent Antifungal Solution
Apple cider vinegar is renowned for its antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent choice for treating ringworm.
How to apply apple cider vinegar for ringworm?
- Soak a cotton ball in undiluted apple cider vinegar
- Dab the soaked cotton ball directly onto the affected area
- Allow it to air dry
- Optionally, follow with coconut oil or castor oil to soothe any burning sensation
- Repeat this process 2-3 times daily
For those who find the undiluted vinegar too harsh, mixing equal parts vinegar and water can create a gentler solution. Additionally, consuming a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water twice daily may help fight the infection from within.
Garlic: Nature’s Antifungal Powerhouse
Garlic contains ajoene, a compound with potent antifungal properties effective against ringworm-causing pathogens. Combining garlic with honey and olive oil can enhance its healing potential.
How to prepare a garlic treatment for ringworm?
- Crush 2-3 cloves of fresh garlic
- Mix the crushed garlic with a tablespoon each of honey and olive oil
- Apply this paste directly to the affected area
- Leave on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off
- Repeat this treatment twice daily for best results
The Science Behind Ringworm: Understanding Fungal Infections
Ringworm belongs to a class of fungal infections known as dermatophytoses. These infections are caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that have evolved to utilize keratin as a nutrient source. This specialization allows them to infect the outermost layers of skin, hair, and nails.
Why do dermatophytes cause ring-shaped lesions?
The characteristic ring shape of ringworm infections is due to the growth pattern of the fungi. As the infection spreads outward from the initial point of contact, the center often begins to heal, creating the distinctive ring or arc shape.
How do environmental factors influence ringworm infections?
Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist environments. This explains why infections are more common in tropical climates and why certain body areas (like feet and groin) are particularly susceptible. Factors that increase risk include:
- High humidity levels
- Prolonged skin moisture (e.g., from sweating)
- Compromised skin barrier (cuts, abrasions)
- Weakened immune system
Beyond Home Remedies: When to Seek Professional Treatment
While home remedies can be effective for mild cases of ringworm, certain situations warrant professional medical attention.
When should you consult a doctor for ringworm?
- If the infection persists after two weeks of home treatment
- If the rash spreads rapidly or covers a large area of the body
- If you develop a fever or other systemic symptoms
- If the infection affects the scalp or beard area
- If you have a weakened immune system
What treatments might a doctor prescribe?
Depending on the severity and location of the infection, a healthcare provider may recommend:
- Topical antifungal creams or ointments (e.g., clotrimazole, miconazole)
- Oral antifungal medications for more severe or persistent cases
- Medicated shampoos for scalp infections
- Combination therapies for complex cases
The Impact of Lifestyle on Ringworm Prevention and Treatment
Lifestyle factors play a crucial role in both preventing ringworm infections and supporting treatment efforts. By making certain adjustments, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of contracting or spreading the infection.
How does personal hygiene affect ringworm risk?
Maintaining good personal hygiene is fundamental in preventing ringworm. This includes:
- Regular bathing or showering, especially after sweating
- Thorough drying of the skin, particularly in skin folds and between toes
- Frequent hand washing, especially after handling animals
- Regular laundering of clothing, towels, and bedding
What role does diet play in fungal infections?
While diet doesn’t directly cause or cure ringworm, certain dietary choices can support overall skin health and immune function, potentially reducing susceptibility to fungal infections:
- Consuming probiotic-rich foods to support beneficial gut bacteria
- Incorporating antifungal foods like garlic, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar into the diet
- Reducing sugar intake, as high sugar levels can promote fungal growth
- Ensuring adequate intake of vitamins and minerals that support immune function (e.g., vitamin C, zinc)
Ringworm in Special Populations: Children, Athletes, and Pet Owners
Certain groups are at higher risk for ringworm infections due to their activities or environments. Understanding these specific risks can help in developing targeted prevention strategies.
How does ringworm affect children differently?
Children are particularly susceptible to ringworm infections, especially tinea capitis (scalp ringworm). This is due to several factors:
- Close contact with other children in schools and daycares
- Less developed immune systems
- Tendency to share personal items like hats or brushes
- Difficulty in maintaining consistent personal hygiene
For children, prevention strategies should focus on education about not sharing personal items and maintaining good hygiene practices.
Why are athletes at higher risk for ringworm?
Athletes, particularly those involved in contact sports, face an increased risk of ringworm infections due to:
- Skin-to-skin contact during sports activities
- Shared equipment and facilities
- Prolonged exposure to warm, moist environments (e.g., locker rooms, sweat-soaked clothing)
Athletes should be particularly vigilant about shower hygiene, avoiding shared towels or personal items, and promptly treating any skin abrasions or injuries.
How can pet owners reduce their risk of ringworm?
Pet owners, especially those with cats or dogs, should be aware of the potential for zoonotic transmission of ringworm. Prevention strategies include:
- Regular grooming and health checks for pets
- Prompt veterinary care for any signs of skin problems in pets
- Washing hands thoroughly after handling pets, especially strays
- Keeping living areas clean and vacuuming regularly to remove shed fur and skin cells
The Future of Ringworm Treatment: Emerging Research and Technologies
While traditional treatments for ringworm remain effective, ongoing research is exploring new avenues for prevention and treatment of fungal skin infections.
What new antifungal treatments are being developed?
Current research in antifungal treatments is focusing on several promising areas:
- Novel antifungal compounds with improved efficacy and reduced side effects
- Nanotechnology-based delivery systems for enhanced penetration of antifungal agents
- Combination therapies that target multiple aspects of fungal growth and survival
- Biological treatments, including antifungal peptides derived from natural sources
How might advances in genetics impact ringworm treatment?
Genetic research is opening up new possibilities for understanding and treating fungal infections:
- Identification of genetic factors that influence susceptibility to fungal infections
- Development of targeted therapies based on the genetic profile of specific fungal strains
- Potential for gene editing techniques to enhance the body’s natural antifungal defenses
As research progresses, we may see more personalized approaches to treating ringworm and other fungal infections, taking into account both the genetic makeup of the pathogen and the individual’s own susceptibility factors.
Kill the Infection with Home Remedies
Contrary to its name, ringworm has nothing to do with worms.
Ringworm, also known as tinea infection, is a contagious fungal infection that breeds on the topmost layer of your skin. The infection is characterized by a red or silvery ring-like rash with a clear center. The rash is usually inflamed, itchy, and scaly. Ringworm spreads outward in progression, causing a single patch or several overlapping patches to develop on your skin.
Ringworm can affect different parts of the body and is characterized according to the area it infests:
- Tinea Corporis – on the body
- Tinea Capitis – on the scalp
- Tinea Pedis – on the foot, also known as “athlete’s foot”
- Tinea Cruris – on the groin, also known as “jock itch”
Though the condition is not serious, unlike eczema or psoriasis, having ringworm can be a cause of embarrassment, especially if the rash appears on your head or face.
Causes of Ringworm
Ringworm is an infection caused by a type of fungi called dermatophytes. Fungi live and thrive on keratin, a type of insoluble protein present in your hair, skin, and nails. It is for this reason that ringworm rashes usually occur on your skin, scalp, or nails.
Fungi are resilient tiny spores that can survive on the skin, in the soil, and on any household object. Any warm and humid area is perfect for fungus to thrive and multiply rapidly.
As ringworm infection is highly contagious, it can spread through the following ways.
- Skin-to-skin contact in humans, especially in children as they are usually in close proximity of schools and playgrounds
- Human-to-animal contact, from infected pets (dogs or cats)
- Human-to-infected object contact, sharing objects such as towels, clothing, bed linen, combs, or brushes with an infected person
- Human-to-soil contact—the infection can spread if a person has been exposed to infected soil for too long
Symptoms of Ringworm
Primary symptoms of ringworm infestation include:
- Ring-like scaly rash on the skin
- Severe itching on the rash
- The rash may have distinct edges or have small bumps such as blisters
- The center of the rash may be clear or can have scattered red bumps
- Pus-filled sores may also develop around the ring
Preventing Ringworm
Maintaining personal hygiene is important to avoid infection.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Change your undergarments and socks every day.
- Keep your skin clean and dry.
- Avoid wearing fitted clothes, especially if you live in a warmer climate.
- Don’t share personal items such as clothing, sports equipment, towels, or bed linen.
- Always wear footwear in places such as locker rooms, showers, and public bathing areas.
- Avoid touching animals that look scruffy or have bald spots on their coats. If your pet shows any signs of infection, talk to your vet for right diagnosis and treatment.
- If already infected, avoid scratching the rash to prevent it from spreading further.
Home Remedies to Get Rid of Ringworm
Getting rid of ringworm isn’t too hard. There are a number of home remedies that can provide relief from itching and pain in no time.
Read on to learn how to get rid of ringworm with home remedies.
Note: if there is no improvement after 2 weeks of using any of the remedies, consult your doctor. Depending on the severity of the infection, your doctor may prescribe you an antifungal medication.
Method 1: Use Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar always tops the charts when it comes to natural health remedies. Even in the case of ringworm, apple cider vinegar works effectively because of its anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties. Apple cider vinegar can be used for topical application or taken orally.
Note: As apple cider vinegar is highly acidic in nature, it might burn when applied. If you can’t bear the burning, dilute the vinegar with an equal amount of water, and then apply on the ringworm.
Single-Step Treatment: Apply Apple Cider Vinegar on the rash
- Soak a cotton ball with apple cider vinegar and dab it over the ringworm.
- Let it dry by itself.
- You can also follow it with applying some coconut oil or castor oil to soothe the burning sensation. Coconut oil and castor oil are antifungal and have healing properties.
- You can also take 1 tablespoon of vinegar mixed with 1 glass of water orally twice a day.
Apply apple cider vinegar 2 to 3 times daily. You should get immediate relief from the itching.
Regular application of apple cider vinegar will cure the infection completely in 4 to 5 days.
Method 2: Use Garlic
Garlic serves as an excellent herbal cure for treating an array of fungal infections. Garlic contains an antifungal compound called ajoene that fights against the pathogens that cause ringworm.
Adding honey and olive oil, both antibacterial, will increase garlic’s potency for curing the infection and healing the skin.
Things you’ll need:
- Crushed garlic (antifungal) – 2 teaspoons
- Honey (antibacterial and soothes skin) – 2 teaspoons
- Olive oil (heals skin) – 1 teaspoon
- Bandage
Step 1. Mix crushed garlic, honey, and olive oil
- Pour 2 teaspoons of crushed garlic in a bowl.
- Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and 2 teaspoons of honey to the garlic.
- Mix all the ingredients well.
Step 2. Apply the mix on the rash and cover with bandage
- Apply the mix on the affected area.
- Cover the rash with the bandage and leave it for 1 hour. The garlic will burn on the skin but hold on. The burning should subside after 30 minutes.
- Remove the bandage and rinse the rash with lukewarm water.
Use this remedy thrice a day to cure ringworm in 1 week.
Method 3: Use Clear Nail Paint
No kidding! Your clear nail paint can cure ringworm and prevent it from spreading too. This remedy follows a simple science. The nail paint acts as an asphyxiator, cutting off the oxygen supply to the fungus. No breathing = no living!
Single-Step Treatment: Apply clear nail paint on the rash
- Use a clean brush to apply clear nail paint on the rash.
- Let the nail paint stay on your skin for 8 hours, then rinse with water.
- Pat dry and repeat the application. Always use a clean brush to apply the nail paint.
Clear nail polish remedy will cure the ringworm in 1 week.
Method 4: Use Bleach
You can also use diluted bleach to cure ringworm. Use standard bleach that contains 6% hypochlorite.
Do not use bleach that contains sodium hydroxide as it is super harsh on normal skin and will wreck havoc on inflamed skin. Also, do not use bleach remedy on sensitive skin, on the scalp, or near your eyes.
Note: Do a patch test to check your skin’s sensitivity toward the bleach. If you see any allergic reaction, abort the treatment and try another remedy.
Step 1. Mix bleach in warm distilled water
- Pour 2 cups of distilled water in a bowl.
- Add 1/3 cup of bleach to the water and stir.
Step 2. Apply the solution on the ringworm once every day
- Soak a cotton ball with the bleach solution.
- Dab it over the rash.
- Leave the bleach on the rash for 6 to 7 hours or overnight.
- Wash it off with a mild shampoo or an antifungal soap.
Apply every day to cure the ringworm in 7 to 10 days.
Method 5: Use Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil acts as a powerful germicide to kill the fungus causing ringworm. Tea tree oil is non-toxic and can be applied directly over the rash.
Tea tree oil is also used as a toenail fungus remedy.
Single-Step Treatment: Apply Tea Tree essential oil on the rash thrice daily
- Pour some tea tree essential oil over a cotton ball.
- Apply the oil over the rash and let it dry. You don’t need to wash it off.
- If applying the oil directly on the rash is causing any discomfort, you can dilute it with some coconut oil or olive oil. Mix ¼ teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon of olive/coconut oil.
Applying tea tree oil thrice every day will cure the infection in 2 weeks.
Method 6: Use Rubbing Alcohol
Popular as a cleaning agent, rubbing alcohol can also be used as a health remedy to treat ringworm. Rubbing alcohol kills fungus and disinfects the area. It instantly relieves the itch and also prevents the infection from spreading.
It may sting or burn the infected area, but it will dry out the infection completely.
Single-Step Treatment: Apply rubbing alcohol on the rash twice daily
- Pour out some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.
- Apply the rubbing alcohol over the ringworm.
- Allow the alcohol to dry by keeping the area uncovered.
Use it twice a day to get immediate relief from itching. However, continue using the remedy to cure the infection completely in 2 weeks.
Method 7: Use Black Walnut
Black walnut has been used as a traditional medicine to treat intestinal problems and open wounds, and also as an effective laxative. Black walnut hulls contain a compound called juglone that is antiviral and antibacterial and can be used externally to treat ringworm and internally to treat intestinal parasites.
However, do take a patch test to check for any allergic reaction. Please note that the black walnut remedy is not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.
You can either peel the outer hull (green in color) of a black walnut and rub its inside on the rash, or apply its tincture form for convenience.
Use the remedy twice every day to cure the infection completely in 2 weeks.
Tips
- As keeping yourself dry is very important to avoid spreading infection, allow your body to air-dry after taking a shower.
- You can also use iodine tincture thrice a day to get rid of ringworm.
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer can also be used like rubbing alcohol to treat ringworm.
References:
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/ringworm-of-the-skin-topic-overview#1
Summary of How to Get Rid of Ringworm
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An Evaluation of Antifungal Agents for the Treatment of Fungal Contamination in Indoor Air Environments
Abstract
Fungal contamination in indoor environments has been associated with adverse health effects for the inhabitants. Remediation of fungal contamination requires removal of the fungi present and modifying the indoor environment to become less favourable to growth. This may include treatment of indoor environments with an antifungal agent to prevent future growth. However there are limited published data or advice on chemical agents suitable for indoor fungal remediation. The aim of this study was to assess the relative efficacies of five commercially available cleaning agents with published or anecdotal use for indoor fungal remediation. The five agents included two common multi-purpose industrial disinfectants (Cavicide® and Virkon®), 70% ethanol, vinegar (4.0%−4.2% acetic acid), and a plant-derived compound (tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil) tested in both a liquid and vapour form. Tea tree oil has recently generated interest for its antimicrobial efficacy in clinical settings, but has not been widely employed for fungal remediation. Each antifungal agent was assessed for fungal growth inhibition using a disc diffusion method against a representative species from two common fungal genera, (Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium chrysogenum), which were isolated from air samples and are commonly found in indoor air. Tea tree oil demonstrated the greatest inhibitory effect on the growth of both fungi, applied in either a liquid or vapour form. Cavicide® and Virkon® demonstrated similar, although less, growth inhibition of both genera. Vinegar (4.0%–4.2% acetic acid) was found to only inhibit the growth of P. chrysogenum, while 70% ethanol was found to have no inhibitory effect on the growth of either fungi. There was a notable inhibition in sporulation, distinct from growth inhibition after exposure to tea tree oil, Virkon®, Cavicide® and vinegar. Results demonstrate that common cleaning and antifungal agents differ in their capacity to inhibit the growth of fungal genera found in the indoor air environment. The results indicate that tea tree oil was the most effective antifungal agent tested, and may have industrial application for the remediation of fungal contamination in residential and occupational buildings.
Keywords: Airborne fungi, indoor air quality (IAQ), vinegar, tea tree oil, inhibition zone
1.
Introduction
Populations in developed countries spend more than 90% of their time indoors and the installation and maintenance of HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems has become increasingly important. Fungal spores are common components of both indoor and outdoor air. However, fungi have become one of the leading causes of indoor air quality (IAQ) complaints in occupational settings [1,2,3]. Fungi are now frequently implicated as a causative agent in “sick building syndrome” [4] and fungal contamination of indoor environments has been linked to adverse health effects including headache, allergy, asthma, irritant effects, respiratory problems, mycoses (fungal diseases), and several other non-specific health problems [5]. More than 80 genera of fungi have been associated with symptoms of respiratory tract allergies with Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium amongst the most common allergenic genera [6]. Beyond allergenicity, many fungi produce microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) and mycotoxins that are believed to irritate the respiratory system. Research from animal studies and data from occupational settings have shown that exposure to mycotoxins can result in mucus membrane irritation, skin rashes, dizziness, nausea, and immunosuppression [7].
Fungi are able to grow in indoor environments where there is sufficient moisture and a nutrition source, such as wood, paint and insulation and release spores as part of their reproductive process [8]. Both temperature and water availability affect growth and sporulation characteristics of airborne fungi, with higher ambient temperatures and available water favouring faster growth. Release of spores is subsequently increased by intermittent periods of dryness where spores are dispersed, and moisture allowing for further growth and sporulation. Fungal species found indoors usually reflect those in the outdoor environment, although concentrations may change seasonally or locally where the indoor environment is favourable to the growth of particular species [3]. The most common genera are saprophytes, including those living on decaying plant material, Cladosporium, Alternaria, Epicoccum and Aureobasidium, while soil-based species, such as Aspergillus and Penicillium, are relatively low in number in outdoor air but are found at increased levels indoors [9]. Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. have been recognized as significant indoor air allergens [10]. Fungi typically enter a building through heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, windows, doors, and as contaminants on building materials. Prolonged high moisture levels in a building then provide the necessary conditions for fungal growth and sporulation to occur and mechanical disturbances can cause the spores to become airborne.
In Australia, there are currently no indoor air quality guidelines for fungi in air. However, there are a number of international guidelines available, both current and historic (as outlined in [3]) but typically World Health Organization guidelines are adopted [11]. As the relations between dampness, microbial exposure and health effects cannot be quantified precisely, “no quantitative health-based guideline values or thresholds can be recommended for acceptable levels of contamination with microorganisms” [11]. Instead, it is recommended that dampness and mould related problems be prevented and rapidly remediated when they occur to reduce the risk of hazardous exposure to microbes and chemicals. Other considerations include the relationship between indoor and outdoor levels as represented by simultaneously collected samples. The principle is that lower indoor than outdoor fungal levels indicate an acceptable indoor environment and the diversity of indoor fungal genera should be similar to that found outdoors [3,5].
To minimise the potential for exposure, it is essential to remediate an indoor space with visible fungal contamination. The remedial process involves the removal of visibly contaminated building material and the use of an antifungal product to treat surfaces, in conjunction with steps to modify the indoor environment to prevent future fungal growth [12]. The use of a HEPA vacuum cleaner is recommended in combination with damp wiping non-porous surfaces to remove the dispersed spores in buildings [13].
An antifungal agent, or fungicide, is a biocidal chemical compound or biological organism used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. The Australian Mould Guideline [14] is commonly adopted by industry and recommends damp wiping with a detergent, vinegar solution or alcohol solution for removing fungi from contaminated surfaces. It also lists antifungal agents such as bleach, alcohol (100%), quaternary ammonium compounds and formaldehyde as chemicals that are used in the treatment of fungi on surfaces but does not explicitly recommend the use of these agents for preventing future growth.
Fungicides perceived to be of “natural” origin are being investigated increasingly for use in fungal contamination remediation. Vinegar (acetic acid) is reported to have an antimicrobial effect on fungi in various applications. Vinegar vapour application has been demonstrated to prevent the germination of conidia of fruit decay fungi Penicillium expansum, Monilinia fructicola and Botrytis cinerea in strawberries, apples, and stone fruit [15] and Colletotrichum coccodes in tomato fruit [16]. Vinegar in water, in an undefined concentration, has been recommended by the Australian Mould Guidelines [14], for damp wiping hard surfaces in the remediation of an indoor fungal contamination. There is also growing interest in the antimicrobial efficacy of compounds such as essential oils. Tea tree oil (TTO) is purported to be a plant-derived antifungal agent that utilises the same mechanism of toxicity in fungi as 70% ethanol and vinegar, by killing the conidia and preventing germination of the spores [17,18]. There are some studies investigating the antifungal efficacy of TTO in the clinical setting: TTO has been used in the treatment of fungal infections such as vaginal and oral candidiasis and has shown strong antiviral activity on the Influenza A virus and E.coli Phage M13 Phage [19]. Tea tree oil has not been widely considered for environmental application beyond agricultural use, and there is limited information on its use in indoor fungal contamination [12,20].
The aim of this study was to assess the relative efficacies of five commercially available cleaning agents with published or anecdotal use for indoor fungal remediation. The five agents included two common multi-purpose industrial disinfectants (Cavicide® and Virkon®), 70% ethanol, vinegar (4. 0%–4.2% acetic acid), and a plant-derived compound (tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil).
2. Experimental Section
2.1. Antifungal Agent Selection
The antifungal agents used in this study are commercially available and commonly used products. Virkon® and Cavicide® are broad spectrum disinfectants currently used to sanitise surfaces and equipment in the medical and healthcare sector. Virkon® (Antec International Limited) is the brand name for a disinfectant containing peroxygenic acid (50% potassium monoperoxysulphate, potassium hydrogen sulphate and potassium sulphate) and is applied at a concentration of 1% for 10 min and claims to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi and spores. However, there is limited published information on Virkon’s® capacity to kill fungi and spores. For this study, Virkon® was prepared at a range of test concentrations: 10%, 5%, 3% and 1%. Cavicide® (17.2% Isopropyl Alcohol, 0. 28% Benzethonium Chloride; Bacto Laboratories Pty Ltd) is a broad spectrum disinfectant used undiluted for the cleaning of hard surfaces of medical and dental devices and claims to have bactericidal, virucidal, fungicidal and tuberculocidal properties. Cavicide® was assessed undiluted and at a concentration of 75%. Tea tree oil (100% Melaleuca alternifolia oil; Bosisto’s Pty Ltd) is commonly used as a “natural” topical antiseptic and also as a complementary medicine for fungal infections. Tea tree oil was tested both as a direct contact solution and in vapour phase given evidence in clinical settings of its potential antifungal effects in both forms, and growing interest in the antimicrobial effects of this “natural” product [12,17,18]. Vinegar (4.0%–4.2% acetic acid) and 70% ethanol were also chosen due to their common recommendation in fungal remediation and anecdotal support in disinfection of hard surfaces.
2.2. Environmental Fungi Sampling and Identification
Environmental air samples were collected onto malt extract agar (MEA) plates using a BioStage® single-stage viable cascade impactor, attached to a SKC QuickTake™ 30 Air sampler. Air samples were collected for 2 min each at a flowrate of 28.3 L/min [21]. Agar plates were incubated for 7 days at 25 °C. After 7 days, fungal colonies were tape lifted onto glass slides and stained with lactophenol cotton blue for 5 min before observation by phase contrast microscopy (Nikon Eclipse Ci; Coherent Scientific). Two genera representing the most commonly isolated fungi from environmental samples were selected for use in the study (an Aspergillus fumigatus from indoors, and Penicillium chrysogenum from outdoors). The fungi selected for use in this study represent extremely common airborne fungi, capable of growth on a wide range of substrates, and frequently isolated from indoor environments not only in Australia but worldwide [22,23].
To obtain pure cultures, three agar plugs 6 mm in diameter were cut from the edge of an individual A. fumigatus colony using the end of a glass Pasteur pipette and aseptically transferred to a fresh MEA plate and evenly placed apart. This was repeated for P. chrysogenum. The plates were wrapped in parafilm and incubated at 25 °C for 7 days and observed for the appearance of pure fungal colonies.
2.3. Antifungal Efficacy Using Disc Diffusion Assay
Ficker’s [24] disc diffusion assay was used to assess the inhibitory effect of antifungal agents on the growth of A. fumigatus and P. chrysogenum. Spore suspensions were prepared by flooding fungal culture plates with 3 mL of sterile distilled water and a sterile loop was used to agitate colonies. One hundred microlitres of each spore suspension was used to inoculate MEA plates which were left to dry at room temperature for 15 min. Inoculated MEA plates were sectioned into halves and 20 µL of each of the test agents were pipetted onto an autoclaved WhatmanTM filter paper disc 9 mm in diameter and placed in the middle of each section.
Phenol (88% solution) was used as a positive control for fungal growth inhibition and sterile distilled water was used as a negative control. Plates were sealed with parafilm and incubated at 25 °C for 7 days before observation for fungal growth and formation of inhibition zones around disks. Each test was repeated a minimum of 3 times for each agent (additional replicates n = 4−6 were performed where a positive result was found). An agent was categorised as having antifungal activity when the diameter of the inhibition zone was larger than 9.5 mm, 0.5 mm larger than the diameter of the paper disc [24]. This value serves as a frame of reference against which the antifungal susceptibility of the fungi can be compared. The larger the concentric area of inhibited growth, the greater the efficacy of the antifungal agent.
The antifungal activity of TTO in vapour phase was assessed using a modified method of [25]. A 100 µL spore suspension of each fungal species was spread onto fresh MEA plates and allowed to air dry for 15 min at room temperature. Twenty microliters of TTO was pipetted onto a 9 mm paper disc and placed on the inner surface of the petri dish lid, having no direct contact with the surface of the inoculated agar. Plates were rapidly sealed in parafilm to minimise escape of the volatile components, then incubated at 25 °C and observed after 7 and 14 days. Antifungal efficacy was determined by measuring the mean perpendicular diameter of the inhibition zone. To examine the growth inhibitory effect of TTO over time, the TTO vapour and solution disc assay plates for both fungal genera were re-incubated for an additional seven days after initial treatment, bringing the total incubation period to 14 days. Following re-incubation, the assay plates were re-measured for growth inhibition.
2.4. Data Analysis
Comparisons of inhibition zones by antifungal agents and controls were performed using one-way ANOVA. Assumption of data normality were checked and met for parametric analysis. Post-hoc analysis was performed where required using Tukey Multiple Comparisons test. Significance for all tests was set at p ≤ 0.05. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v.16 and GraphPad Prism V. 4 software.
3. Results and Discussion
Tea tree oil applied as a direct contact solution was found to have the highest inhibitory effect on the growth of both A. fumigatus and P. chrysogenum after a seven-day incubation period compared to the other antifungal agents tested (). A. fumigatus growth was completely inhibited by TTO with a mean inhibition zone diameter (83 mm) significantly greater than other test compounds (p < 0.0001, R2 = 0.9761) and comparable to the results of the positive control phenol. TTO was less toxic to the P. chrysogenum (mean inhibition zone diameter of 43.5 mm ± 4.93), but more effective at inhibiting growth than the other compounds tested (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.9620). TTO when applied in vapour form, was found to be less effective than direct application in inhibiting the growth of condidate fungi (A. fumigatus mean inhibition zone diameter of 81 mm ± 4; P. chrysogenum mean inhibition zone diameter of 20.6 mm ± 12.85 for the vapour assay).
Diameter of growth inhibition zones of Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium chrysogenum after treatment using various antifungal agents. Mean ± SD (N = 40).
Virkon® was only effective at reducing fungal growth at a concentration of 10%, demonstrating a mean inhibition zone diameter of 19.25 mm (± 7.08) for A. fumigatus, and 18.67 mm (± 1.15) for P. chrysogenum (). Five percent, 3%, and 1% Virkon® solutions had no effect on the growth of either fungi.
Undiluted Cavicide® was found to have a similar inhibitory effect on the growth of both fungi, with a mean inhibition zone diameter of 16 mm (± 0) for both (). In contrast, 75% Cavicide had no inhibitory effect on the growth of either fungi.
Vinegar (4.0%–4.2% acetic acid) had an inhibitory effect on the growth of P. chrysogenum with a mean inhibition zone diameter of 15 mm (± 1. 15), but did not show an inhibitory effect on the growth of A. fumigatus (). Seventy-percent ethanol had no visible effect on the growth of either fungi ().
For some test agents, although growth remained unaffected, inhibition of sporulation was noted. Five percent, 3%, and 1% Virkon® inhibited sporulation of P. chrysogenum, but had no visible effect on the sporulation of A. fumigatus. Seventy-five percent Cavicide® inhibited the sporulation of A. fumigatus but not P. chrysogenum. Vinegar suppressed sporulation of P. chrysogenum but had no effect on the sporulation of A. fumigatus.
The potential longer-lasting growth inhibition effects of TTO on A. fumigatus and P. chrysogenum are shown in . TTO applied as a solution became less effective at inhibiting growth of P. chrysogenum after 14 days of treatment (p = 0.004), but not so for A. fumigatus. TTO vapour showed decreased growth inhibition as a function of time against both fungi, although only shown to be significant for A. fumigatus (p = 0.0002). Sporulation was observed on day 14 of treatment on all TTO exposed cultures.
Difference in growth inhibition zones of Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium chrysogenum 7 and 14 days after initial treatment with tea tree oil. Mean ± SD (N = 24).
The results of this study indicate that common cleaning and antifungal agents differ in their capacity to inhibit the growth of common indoor fungal genera. In fact, strains within a species may behave differently to biocides, as demonstrated by Tortorano et al. [26] for fifteen Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates. The broad spectrum disinfectant Virkon® did show evidence of antifungal activity against both genera, but only at the highest test concentration (10%), which is ten times the manufacturer’s recommended concentration for disinfecting surfaces. Five percent, 3%, and 1% Virkon® solutions had no effect on the growth of either fungi, a result which is corroborated by [27] who assessed the in vitro efficacy of 1% Virkon against bacteria, fungi, viruses and spores. Hernandez et al. [27] demonstrated bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative vegetative bacteria in 5 min, virucidal activity was shown against poliovirus and biocidal activity was shown against C.albicans after 15 min. However, there was no fungicidal activity against Penicillium verrucosum and Absidia corymbifera and Bacillus cereus spores even after 1 h of contact. The authors concluded that 1% Virkon® is a low level disinfectant as it has a rapid biocidal effect against vegetative bacteria and viruses but is incapable of killing endospores and fungi within a reasonable amount of time. Virkon® was also found to be ineffective at disinfecting Mycobaterium tuberculosis at both 1% and 3% concentrations on hospital instruments and surfaces [28]. Broadley et al. [29] reported that at 2%, 3%, and 4% concentrations, Virkon® was unable to provide a satisfactory kill of mycobacteria, but retarded the onset of growth, and was not recommended as a mycobactericidal agent. The chemical composition of Virkon® includes a stabilised blend of peroxy compounds, surfactant, organic acids and an inorganic buffer system. Its mechanism of action is considered to be the denaturation of cellular proteins through its high oxidizing activity [30]. Although Virkon® at 10% concentration was shown to be somewhat effective as an antifungal agent in the current study, it could pose potential hazards to workers or occupants due to its corrosivity and toxicity at such a high concentration and would have limited application in the indoor air environment.
Cavicide®, another broad spectrum disinfectant, similarly demonstrated some antifungal activity against both genera in the current study, but only when applied undiluted. No studies assessing the antifungal activity of Cavicide® have previously been reported. Some evidence for antibacterial activity has been reported in the literature, for example it was effective in lowering Staphylococci bacterial loads on bed rails in a hospital by up to 97% [31], which was attributed to its high alkaline nature, but was found to be ineffective against Bacillus subtilis [32]. Cavicide® is composed of isopropanol and diisobutyl phenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. It is used undiluted in laboratories and hospitals for surface and instrument disinfection. It has been reported to be 50% more effective in lowering the microbial load on patient bed rails in comparison to disinfectants containing quaternary ammonium compounds [31], although within six hours of application, the microbial load had exceeded acceptable levels, indicating that the frequency of application is an important variable for maintaining low microbial loads [31]. The antimicrobial efficacy of Cavicide® may be associated with its high alcohol concentration in conjunction with a pH of 12. As demonstrated for Virkon®, it seems the application of Cavicide® to the indoor air environment has limited viability due its chemical composition, despite Cavicide® being able to reduce fungal growth at the recommended concentration in both genera.
The Australian Mould Guidelines [14] recommend the use of vinegar or alcohol for the removal of mould from contaminated surfaces. However, this study demonstrates that vinegar has limited antifungal action while ethanol (70%) is ineffective as an antifungal agent for the treatment of two common fungal genera in the indoor air environment. Vinegar (4.0%–4.2% acetic acid) was found to inhibit the growth of P. chrysogenum but not A. fumigatus in the current study. Vinegar is a known antimicrobial agent and there is some evidence to suggest that it possesses antifungal properties. Sholberg et al. [15] found that vinegar vapour effectively inactivated the conidia of several decay fungi on fruit due to its acetic acid content (5%), by lowering the pH of the cell protoplasm and killing the conidia. In another study, bamboo vinegar was found to have a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the growth of bacteria and fungi due to its active compounds phenols, acetic acid and alcohols [33]. The use of vinegar as a fungal remediation agent may be warranted, however its lack of persistence on surfaces may limit its use to removal of fungal contamination on non-porous materials and prevent future growth. An important avenue of future work is to explicitly test the application of cleaning agents to a range of surface materials. Agar is used in virtually all laboratory studies as a model for many real world conditions, however it is not without limitations. Due to its high water content it may exert some degree of dilution in highly water-soluble compounds. Similarly, chlorine based disinfectants may be quenched by the organic content of the media. However, these effects are also likely to be noted in building materials or other test matrices, and further characterisation of compounds in real world conditions is warranted.
Ethanol is widely used for general surface disinfecting and has reported biocidal efficacy against bacteria, fungi and viruses in the concentration range of 50%–90% [34]. In the current study, 70% was found to be completely ineffective as an antifungal agent against common airborne fungal genera. In contrast, in the food industry, ethanol has been shown to inhibit mould growth on bread, which is usually spoiled by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium [35]. It has also been used to prevent postharvest decay of fruits [15,36]. Ethanol vapour was found to inhibit germination of the fungal conidia (Penicillium chrysogenum) isolated from pastry products, but this was found to be reversible over time as some spores remained viable [37]. Ethanol interacts with cellular membranes increasing membrane permeability and causing leakage of solutes and cell lysis. Higher concentrations of ethanol are required to kill fungal spores than bacteria, which show a maximum kill efficacy of 70% ethanol [34]. Dao et al. [38] found that ethanol as both a liquid and vapour could significantly inactivate fungal spores (Penicillium chrysogenum, P. digitatum, and P. italicum) and recommended further investigation into the use of ethanol vapour in place of ethanol solution to prevent mould growth in workplaces.
Tea tree oil as a direct contact solution, was the most effective at inhibiting fungal growth of both test species among all the agents assessed in the current study. This result is in agreement with previously published data on the antimicrobial efficacy of TTO in vitro from a clinical setting [17,18]. The mechanism of TTO’s antifungal action is believed to be by the alteration of the cell membrane structure, causing it to become permeable, which leads to the leakage of cellular material and disruption to cellular functions [39]. Hammer et al. [17] found that TTO had both an inhibitory effect and a fungicidal effect on filamentous fungi. The authors found both germinated conidia and non-germinated conidia of the fungal isolates demonstrated susceptibility to TTO. In the current study, results show that P. chrysogenum is less susceptible to TTO than A. fumigatus. The reduced susceptibility of different conidia to antifungal agents is possibly due to the thickness, composition and density of the conidial wall.
Furthermore, tea tree oil was found to be more effective as a direct contact solution at inhibiting the growth of A. fumigatus and P. chrysogenum, than in vapour phase. This challenges previous reports of TTO in vapour phase having a greater inhibition effect than TTO in solution on fungal growth [40]. Shao et al. [41] also reported that TTO vapour displayed a greater inhibitory effect on fungal growth than in direct contact. Soylu et al. [25] proposed that TTO vapour may be more readily absorbed by fungal mycelium since it is not diluted by the water content of agar medium as per the direct contact phase in solution. The main compounds reported to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity of TTO are terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole [41]. TTO was found to exhibit antifungal activity in contact and vapour phase on the mycelial growth of B.cinerea by rupture of the cell wall and by increasing membrane permeability [41]. Hammer et al. [17] found that TTO had both an inhibitory effect and a fungicidal effect on filamentous fungi including Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium spp at Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of 0.06%–0.12% (v/v) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentrations (MFC) of 2%–8% (v/v). Both germinated conidia and non-germinated conidia of the isolates demonstrated susceptibility to TTO. Time-kill assays showed that the duration of exposure of the fungi to TTO could influence the fungicidal action. However, there is limited information on TTO in indoor applications. Tea tree oil was the overall most effective antifungal agent and could be explored for remediation of fungal contamination. Consideration should be given to any potential health effects for occupants from exposure to TTO by direct contact (dermal) with residue or inhalation of vapour. TTO constituents may have skin sensitizing properties (e.g., limonene), although scientific evidence regarding the inhalational health effects of these aromatic compounds remains limited [17,42].
Suppression of sporulation as distinct from growth was a notable occurrence in the current study. Sporulation inhibition is not typically reported in the literature as an antimicrobial effect, but may still be considered a form of remediation as inhibition of spore formation would be expected to reduce the ongoing inoculum potential and generation of allergenic particles from fungi. Carson et al. [18] and Inouye et al. [43] reported the ability of TTO vapour to inhibit fungal growth and affect sporulation. Inouye et al. [44] reported that TTO vapour could affect fungal sporulation by a direct absorbing effect on aerial hyphae and demonstrated that sporulation inhibition was an effect of inhibition of respiration rather than the inhibition of growth. Similarly, in a study of essential oil effects on fungal cultures, some plates showed no growth inhibition whilst sporulation was completely inhibited with TTO [40], demonstrating the greatest inhibitory effect on sporulation of the three compounds tested. While only 10% Virkon® displayed a growth inhibition effect, all concentrations of Virkon® were found to have suppressed the sporulation of P. chrysogenum in the current study. Similarly, both test concentrations of Cavicide® were found to inhibit the sporulation of A. fumigatus. In contrast, vinegar was found to only inhibit the growth and sporulation of P. chrysogenum Antifungal agents displaying inhibition of sporulation with limited growth inhibition effect should not necessarily be discounted as effective antifungal agents. Sporulation inhibition could provide an important benefit in fungal remediation by reducing contamination persistence and by reducing the ongoing allergenicity of fungi present in indoor environments.
There is limited published information more broadly on the use of antifungal agents in indoor fungal contamination. Chakravarty and Kovar [12] tested five antifungal agents, Sanimaster®, 17% hydrogen peroxide, 70% isopropyl alcohol, bleach and Sporicidin® used in indoor fungal remediation by companies in the USA. They studied the inhibitory effects of growth and spore germination of six fungal species commonly found indoors; Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium globosum, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium chrysogenum and Stachybotrys chartarum. The six species were inoculated into pine wood blocks and incubated at 25 °C. There was a significant inhibitory effect on growth and spore germination exhibited by all five compounds tested within 12 h of treatment. However, when the agents had been rinsed off with distilled water, the fungal spores recovered and became viable after a 24-h incubation period. Two weeks after the treatment, fungal growth was found to be entirely uninhibited. This reversible inhibitory effect is described as mycostasis, in which the growth of the spores is inhibited by the antifungal compounds without any effect on viability. The authors concluded that most antifungals are effective on hard non-porous surfaces but viable spores within porous surfaces may be unaffected and become dormant when an antifungal is applied. Huang et al. [20] found that TTO applied on the filter surface of a HVAC system inactivated environmental fungal spores and prevented the re-entry of the dead spores back into the air by adhesion. There could be potential for the use of TTO on HVAC filters to control bioaerosol concentrations in occupational and residential settings and is classified as ‘generally regarded as safe’ (GRAS) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
A 2.4% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) treatment was tested on Alternaria alternate, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium herbarum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Stachybotrys chartarum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and found to inactivate all the spores of the stock cultures to undetectable levels after 5 min contact time on non-porous surfaces and after 10 min contact time on porous surfaces [45]. These results suggest that hypochlorite disinfectants are effective in the reduction of fungal proliferation and allergen levels in the indoor environment. Sodium hypochlorite has also been recommended for use in very low concentrations (0.04%) to inactivate fungi on grains, nuts and vegetables [46].
This work broadly highlights the need for consistency in advice given for remediation of fungal damage and the importance of verifying anecdotal evidence or “common knowledge advice” of antifungal agents and cleaning procedures. Importantly, any adopted antifungal agent would need to be implemented in conjunction with technical measures, such as improving ventilation and reducing humidity in the indoor air to prevent future growth.
Alcohol and ringworm.
Mocroft Love to do some charity work. Have a passion for writing and do it in my spare time. Answered on Nov 27, Ringworm can be caught from an animal or infected person or from using their bed linen. It is a type of fungi causing a rash that might appear anywhere on the body , including he scalp. It is silver or pink in colour and can spread easily if careful precautions over hygiene are not taken. It is not killed by alcohol , but by antifungal medicine. This might be a cream, gel or spray depending where on the body the rash appears. Ringworm is an infection that can be seen on the skin. It is a rash that is round and red in color. It does not have a worm in it.
Discussion in ‘ Grappling Technique ‘ started by Bushido , Dec 27, Log in or Sign up. I need some solid advice here!!! Bushido , Dec 27, Joined: Feb 8, Messages: 12, Likes Received: 1, Balto , Dec 28,
Alcohol and ringworm. Report Abuse
Mocroft Love to do some charity work. Have a passion for writing and do it in my spare time. Answered on Nov 27, Ringworm can be caught from an animal or infected person or from using their bed linen. It is a type of fungi causing a rash that might appear anywhere on the body , including he scalp. It is silver or pink in colour and can spread easily if careful precautions over hygiene are not taken. It is not killed by alcohol , but by antifungal medicine. This might be a cream, gel or spray depending where on the body the rash appears. Ringworm is an infection that can be seen on the skin. It is a rash that is round and red in color.
Cause the dog might just have it.
- It might make your nausea worse or upset your stomach, but it won’t make anything bad happen that doesn’t already happen when drinking alcohol at other times.
- To understand the challenge and opportunity of cleaning animal shelters, it is necessary to keep in mind a few key concepts: viruses, ringworm.
- Ringworm is a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of the skin.
- Chat or rant, adult content, spam, insulting other members, show more.
I got one a few months ago and was going crazy trying to look for fungus cream until I said forget it and tried rubbing alcohol. But it will come back. The absorbine jr and ajax comet has been the best remedy for me as it seems to kill the fungus immediately. I rubbed 1 drop into the spots 3x a day for 2 days and mine are gone. Wash your clothes in water as hot as allowed. Can anyone speak to there being any truth that you need to take on an anti candida like diet :S seems extreme. Alcohol wipes or swabs are not effective against lice or nits. It hurt some but dried it up Alcohol and ringworm. You have to immerse the brush in very hot water. Pat dry with clean towel, and let area completely air dry for a bit. It was very itchy and red. It’s Alcoohol here and the begonia looks brighter and seems to look healthier, I know that’s it early days but I will leave it for a while and see what happens. It is rinhworm uncommon among Best way to monitor cpu temp, and humans get ringworm from their cats or other pets. The new Formula Absorbine Plus Jr does not say on the label it is meant to treat fungal infections such as jock itch or athletes foot. I had that magnesium oil not the expensive one and it cleared it up after one or two applications.
A ringworm rash can be uncomfortable, but it is common and treatable. Early intervention is critical to prevent spreading the infection to others. Here are six simple ways to treat ringworm. Most cases of ringworm can be treated at home. Visit your local drugstore or Amazon. Over-the-counter antifungals can kill the fungus and promote healing. Effective medications include miconazole Cruex , clotrimazole Desenex and terbinafine Lamisil. After cleaning the rash, apply a thin layer of antifungal medication to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day or as directed by the package. Spread the treatment beyond the border of the rash by a couple of centimeters and allow the medication to absorb into your skin.
Alcohol and ringworm. How I Got Rid of Ringworm
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Click here to return to the Medical News Today home Peeing alot at night reddit. Psoriasis and ringworm are very different conditions. Ringworm is a fungal infection that will go away with treatment. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition that comes and goes The gaming house a person’s life. When someone develops a rash, they may find it difficult to work out what caused it.
A doctor can examine or order tests to determine which condition they andd. In this article, we look at the differences between ringworm and psoriasis and compare them with other conditions that can cause Normal body temperature adults fahrenheit rashes.
Both rimgworm and ringworm can cause red, scaly patches to appear anywhere on the body. Both can also lead Alchool intense itching.
A person who has never had ringworm before or is having their first psoriasis flare may rringworm know ringworrm condition they have.
Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. It causes red, scaly plaques that may have a gray hue or peel. During a psoriasis flare, a person develops scaly, Apcohol, irritated patches of skin because of the skin’s rapid shedding. Psoriasis is not contagious. Researchers are not sure what causes psoriasis, but it tends to run in families.
Certain factors, such as stress or alcohol, can trigger amd flare. Ringworm causes a red, circular, and often scaly rash. Ringworm is highly contagiousspreading quickly through contact with another person who has the condition. Both psoriasis and ringworm can develop in similar places. Ad type of psoriasis called inverse psoriasis can affect the area around the groin. When ringworm Alcohol and ringworm the groin area, it is called jock itch.
Ringworm is often circular. It typically begins as a rash with a clearly defined border that looks like there is a worm under the skin. The center of the rash appears sunken and may be gray or scaly.
While psoriasis rashes can also be round, the shape is less regular and does not resemble a worm. People develop ringworm after coming into contact with someone else who has the infection. Children, anyone in close contact with children, and people who come into contact with others, such as at the gym, are rigworm likely rinwgorm get the infection.
Unlike ringworm, psoriasis plaques can change in color and texture. They are often red at first and then may become grey and scaly, or crack and bleed. Both ringworm and psoriasis rashes are itchy, ad the ringworm itch is often Alcohil intense. Psoriasis can be painful Alcoho may tingle or burn. Some people develop other symptoms with psoriasis, such as a fever or muscle aches. A skin injury can trigger a psoriasis flare. This means that a rash that begins as something else can become psoriasis.
For instance, a person who has eczema and psoriasis may find that eczema leads to psoriasis flares. Acne usually causes well-defined round sores. The bumps can be very small or quite large and may be painful. Acne lesions usually come to a head and then shrink over several days. Psoriasis does not come to a head.
While acne begins under the skin, psoriasis is immediately visible on top of the skin. Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes dry, scaly patches annd form on the skin. Wnd patches sometimes appear after a change in the weather or rinfworm to something that irritates the skin.
Eczema can be itchy and scaly but is not typically gray or silvery like psoriasis. Sweating or being exposed to high temperatures can lead to a Alcoyol rash. For example, a person might develop a heat rash on their legs after sitting in front of a space heater. The rash is not usually painful and goes away on its own in a few days. In some cases, a person might need to use Alcoohl cream to speed healing.
An allergic reaction can trigger an outbreak of hives. Allergic reactions typically appear suddenly, either because of Alcohil that came into contact with the skin or a food allergen. Although psoriasis plaques can look very dry and scaly, dry skin does not cause them. Dry skin can crack open and bleed, and may peel. Unlike psoriasis, dry irngworm does not change color or shape.
Some types The slayers streaming psoriasis, including guttate psoriasis, look like tiny blisters. A blister due to skin irritation, such as from a shoe rubbing the foot, typically develops over several days, then bursts and goes away. If the blisters do not go away or are spreading, it could be psoriasis or another skin disorder. Both psoriasis and rinfworm need medical treatment. People should see a doctor if they suspect they have either condition.
Doctors can treat ringworm using antifungal creams Movie maker chip oral antifungal medication. With the correct treatment, ringworm usually goes away within 2 to 4 weeks.
People with low immunity or debilitating conditions may develop severe infections due to ringworm. To prevent the infection from getting worse, they may need more aggressive treatment. Alcohol and ringworm is a chronic condition. Flares come and go over time. There is no cure, though people can manage their symptoms using creams, medications, or light therapy. They can also reduce the risk of flares by avoiding triggers, such as stress or drinking alcohol. Psoriasis and ringworm are two possible causes Alcohol and ringworm a red, scaly rash.
If someone cannot tell the difference at home, they should speak to a doctor for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Prompt treatment can help, even when the rash is due to a chronic condition, such as psoriasis. It is essential that people seek help as many skin rashes look alike and it is vital to receive the correct treatment. Doctors can prescribe antifungal medications to treat ringworm. Some rashes, especially those due to psoriasis, may need several types of treatment.
Finding the right combination of treatments can be difficult at first. A skilled and compassionate dermatologist can help people find treatment options that suit their lifestyle and improve their skin. Article last reviewed by Tue 2 October Visit our Psoriasis category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Psoriasis.
All references are available rnigworm the References tab. Aaron, Ane. Body ringworm tinea corporis. About psoriasis. Das, S. Kim, J. Page, E. Description of skin lesions. Psoriasis — a simple explanation. Psoriasis: Signs and symptoms. Psoriasis treatments.
How I Got Rid of Ringworm | Patient’s Lounge
Jul 27, · Does Rubbing Alcohol Kill Ringworm? Ringworm is a fungal infection that develops on the top layer of the skin. It is a red, circular itchy rash that appears in a ring-like form. The name comes from the ring shape as there is no actual worm under the skin, so nothing can be killed, simply treated. Ringworm is caused by small fungal infections. Jun 01, · Most households have rubbing alcohol in the medicine cabinet. Use a cotton ball to apply rubbing alcohol to the ringworm patches at least twice a day. Herbs for Ringworm Garlic. Garlic is a wonderful anti-fungal herb. While some brave souls will use a bandaid to attach a sliver of fresh garlic to a spot of ringworm, this will likely burn the skin. Apr 19, · Ringworm treatment using Mustard Seeds Another effective home remedy for ringworm is mustard seeds. A paste should be prepared from these seeds and applied externally over the ringworm patches after thoroughly washing the skin with sufficient hot water Ringworm treatment using Butea Seeds The seeds of the herb butea are valuable in fartinvite.com: Open.
Ringworm on a cat will cause them to lose fur in patches. Use isopropyl alcohol to avoid further enlargement of ringworm rashes, based on my experience.
How to Get Rid of Ringworm?
What Are the Treatments for Ringworm?
The treatment you need for ringworm depends on where the infection is on your body and how serious it is. In many cases, your doctor may recommend a drug you can buy over the counter (OTC) at your local drugstore. Others need a prescription.
Over-the-Counter Treatments for Ringworm
If the infection is on your skin – as in the case of athlete’s foot or jock itch – your doctor will likely suggest an OTC antifungal cream, lotion, or powder.
- Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)
- Miconazole (Aloe Vesta Antifungal, Azolen, Baza Antifungal, Carrington Antifungal, Critic Aid Clear, Cruex Prescription Strength, DermaFungal, Desenex, Fungoid Tincture, Micaderm, Micatin, Micro-Guard, Miranel, Mitrazol, Podactin, Remedy Antifungal, Secura Antifungal)
- Terbinafine (Lamisil)
- Ketoconazole (Xolegel)
In most cases, you’ll have to use the medicines on your skin for 2 to 4 weeks to make sure you kill the fungus that causes ringworm. It’ll also lower your chances of it coming back.
Prescription Treatments for Ringworm
If you have ringworm on your scalp or in many different places on your body, OTC treatments may not be enough. Your doctor will write you a prescription for an antifungal medication that you’ll have to take by mouth for 1 to 3 months.
Griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG), Terbinafine, and Itraconazole are the oral medicines doctors prescribe most often for ringworm.
- Terbinafine. If your doctor puts you on these tablets, you’ll have to take them once a day for 4 weeks. They work in most cases. Side effects usually are mild and don’t last long. They might include nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, and rashes. You won’t get a prescription for this if you have liver disease or lupus.
- Griseofulvin. You’d have to take this for 8 to 10 weeks. It’s also available as a spray. Side effects include nausea, vomiting, mild diarrhea, headache, and indigestion. Griseofulvin can cause birth defects, so you can’t take it if you’re pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Men should use condoms during sex for up to 6 months after stopping treatment. It also can cause birth control pills not to work. Use condoms or another form of contraception if you’re on it. And, you shouldn’t drive or drink alcohol while you’re taking it.
- Itraconazole. This is prescribed in pill form for 7 or 15 days. It’s not for use in children, the elderly, or those with severe liver disease. While taking it, you may experience nausea, vomiting, indigestion, diarrhea, or headache. See your doctor if you don’t see any improvement in your symptoms or infection after you’ve finished your treatment.
Home Care for Ringworm
While you’ll need antifungal medications treat ringworm, there are some things you can do to help stop its spread:
- Keep your hands clean. Wash your hands each time you touch your rash and before you touch anyone else.
- Wash your clothes, bedding, and towels. Wash everything you’ve touched or worn in hot water and laundry detergent.
- Shower after workouts. This is especially important if you play contact sports.
- Wear shower shoes. Protect your feet at the gym or pool.
- Have your dog checked for fungal infection. Dogs can spread infection to you.
Can You Drink Alcohol on Fluconazole?
What is Fluconazole (Diflucan)?
Fluconazole is an FDA-approved medication that belongs to a class of drugs called azole antifungals. Doctors like gynecologists and general practitioners prescribe Fluconazole to treat various fungal infections of the vagina, mouth, esophagus, lungs, urinary tract, abdomen, and other organs.
However, Fluconazole is most commonly used to treat vaginal candidiasis (also known as a vaginal yeast infection, vulvovaginal candidiasis, candidal vaginitis, and oral thrush).
Vaginal candidiasis is a fungal infection that’s caused by a yeast called Candida. Your body naturally produces Candida, which lives in your mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, as well as on your skin. It’s normal.
But, sometimes, Candida can multiply in specific environments. That’s when you get a yeast infection that is associated with uncomfortable symptoms:
- Vaginal itching
- Vaginal soreness
- Pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Pain or discomfort during urination
- Abnormal vaginal discharge (usually a thick white, cloudy, clumpy discharge)
Fortunately, Fluconazole is typically a fast and effective treatment for most vaginal yeast infections. If your symptoms do not improve or get worse, you should call your doctor to make sure that you are fighting a fungal infection and not something else.
You may have a bacterial infection (rather than fungal) that could require different medications like rifampin or erythromycin.
Other fungal infections that Fluconazole treats include the following:
- Oropharyngeal and Esophageal Candidiasis
- Peritonitis
- Candidemia
- Disseminated Candidiasis
- Pneumonia
- Cryptococcal Meningitis
Doctors may also prescribe Fluconazole to ward off fungal infections in patients who are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation before bone marrow transplants.
Fluconazole can come as a tablet to be taken orally, or it may come in the form of a gel that is inserted into the vagina. Courses of the medication vary from one single dose pill to three-day to week-long gel inserts.
A three-day insert has a higher concentration than a six-day insert, for example, but a longer course may be more effective in treating more serious yeast infections. Your doctor may also prescribe you a double dose or an even stronger dose, depending on the severity of your infection.
You will likely see several different brand names of Fluconazole, including Diflucan. There are other antifungal medications out there, too, such as Ketoconazole.
Talk to your health care professional for medical advice on the best option for you.
SUMMARY
Fluconazole is an antifungal medication most commonly used in the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. It comes in tablet and gel forms. The length of treatment depends on the severity of your infection.
Fluconazole Statistics
4.1
Million
Estimated number of prescriptions for fluconazole in the United States.
$23.17
Average
Total drug cost of fluconazole.
$6.44
Average
Out-of-pocket cost of fluconazole.
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How Does Fluconazole Work?
Fluconazole works by interacting with 14-demethylase, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme that is responsible for catalyzing the conversion of lanosterol to ergosterol. Because ergosterol plays a big role in the fungal cell membrane, Fluconazole stops the synthesis of ergosterol.
However, Fluconazole is not always effective in treating all strains of yeast infections. It is typically effective in fighting Candida species and Cryptococcus species but is less effective against C. glabrata and not at all effective in fighting C. krusei, for example.
Side Effects of Fluconazole
As with all prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications, there are some adverse side effects to Fluconazole. Some of the common side effects of Fluconazole include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Upset stomach
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Loss of appetite
- Skin rash
- Skin inflammation
- Skin itching
- Unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth
If your side effects are unbearable or you are experiencing an allergic reaction to Fluconazole, consult your doctor before taking your next dose.
SUMMARY
Fluconazole cannot treat all yeast infections. Your doctor will recommend the right antifungal for your type of yeast strain. If you’re prescribed Fluconazole, watch out for side effects. Tell your doctor if the side effects become unbearable.
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Can You Mix Fluconazole and Alcohol?
Fluconazole may interact with certain drugs, including antibiotics, blood thinners, sedatives, diuretics, and antiseizure drugs. But there are no known interactions with Fluconazole and alcohol. Still, you should be mindful of drinking alcohol in moderation.
Plus, drinking alcohol may make candida infections worse, which can render an antifungal medicine like Fluconazole less effective. Certain foods and drinks that affect the yeast levels in your body, such as alcohol, can cause yeast to grow.
Side Effects & Risks of Mixing Fluconazole With Alcohol
While alcohol may not interact poorly with Fluconazole, it can still have negative effects on you that can make you feel worse than you already do. Alcohol can affect your brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and other parts of your body. It can lead to heart disease, liver disease, and other liver damage, for example.
Treatment for Fluconazole & Alcohol Abuse
If you or someone you know struggles with Fluconazole and alcohol abuse, reach out to medical help. Treatment is available. Some treatment options include the following:
- An inpatient rehab treatment facility is a live-in center that offers access to resources and support from medical personnel and trained therapists.
- An outpatient rehab center offers the same support as an inpatient facility without residency.
- An alternative addiction treatment program might include holistic medications, spiritual retreats, religious practices, etc.
- A detox program can help wean you off of your alcohol or substance addiction in a slow but safe and steady way.
- A group therapy treatment center offers guided conversations and psychological practices. They offer the support and inspiration of others in similar situations with the help of trained professionals.
- Traditional talk therapy can help you identify and unpack any conscious and subconscious triggers of alcohol or substance use, as well as resolve repressed memories and emotions that may be at the root of your addiction.
SUMMARY
Drinking alcohol while taking Fluconazole renders the antifungal medicine ineffective. Alcohol causes yeast to grow, worsening candida infections. It is advised not to drink alcohol while taking Fluconazole.
Common Questions and Answers
Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Fluconazole and alcohol:
Does alcohol make Fluconazole less effective?
There are no known interactions with alcohol and Fluconazole, given the drug information available. However, you should not drink alcohol if you are feeling sick or uncomfortable while fighting off a fungal infection because alcohol can have adverse effects that may make you feel worse. Alcohol, as with some other foods and beverages, can affect your body’s yeast infection.
Does alcohol make a yeast infection worse?
Alcohol may make a yeast infection worse because it affects your body’s level of yeast. When you’re trying to regulate your yeast, alcohol may take a toll on your body’s efforts.
What else should I avoid while taking Fluconazole?
Fluconazole may have some negative drug interactions with certain medications such as some antibiotics, blood thinners, sedatives, diuretics, and antiseizure drugs. It’s important to talk to your doctor about any other medications you are taking before taking Fluconazole.
Alcohol and the skin | DermNet NZ
Introduction
Excessive alcohol (ethanol) intake or alcohol abuse can result in many health problems and is implicated as a cause or aggravating factor for several skin conditions.
What is alcohol abuse?
Alcohol abuse has been defined as recurrent alcohol use where it impacts on work, school or home, or to the point it is physically dangerous, gets you into trouble with the law, or continues despite the problems it has created.
Health problems due to alcohol
Alcohol intoxication
Effects of alcohol intoxication include:
- Heart: slow heart rate or irregular rhythm, low blood pressure
- CNS: headache, confusion, memory loss, disorientation, poor coordination, emotional lability
- Gastrointestinal: nausea and vomiting
- Respiratory: asthma, slow or heavy breathing.
Chronic alcohol abuse
Effects of chronic alcohol abuse include:
- Heart: high blood pressure, heart failure, irregular heart rhythm
- Haemostasis: clotting is impaired with reduced survival and aggregation of platelets and reduced thromboplastin
- Endocrine: low testosterone levels with loss of libido, testicular atrophy, impaired fertility and reduced facial hair, high oestrogen levels with gynaecomastia, change in fat distribution and loss of body hair
- Oesophagus: ulcer, varices, cancer
- Liver: hepatitis, cirrhosis, gall stones
- CNS: dementia, poor coordination, Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome (Vitamin B1 deficiency) associated with psychiatric and visual disturbances
- Immune system: direct toxic effect on bone marrow, reduced number and function of T-cells, reduced survival of immunoglobulins.
Infographic below shows effects of alcohol on the body (provided by Healthline).
Vascular effects of alcohol
Facial redness
One of the earliest signs of alcohol abuse is a persistently red face due to enlarged blood vessels (telangiectasia). This appears because regulation of vascular control in the brain fails with sustained alcohol intake.
Flushing
Transient flushing is also a common side effect of alcohol, particularly in heavy drinkers. It is due to acetaldehyde, the main breakdown product of alcohol. Acetaldehyde is thought to cause flushing by stimulating release of histamine.
Up to 40% of northeastern Asians experience flushing and elevated heart rate after drinking even minimal amounts of alcohol, due to accumulation of acetaldehyde. This is because of a mutation in acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDh3), the enzyme that converts acetaldehyde to acetate.
Vascular effects of alcohol
Skin changes due to liver disease
Spider telangiectasis
Spider telangiectasis is given that name because of its appearance. Blood vessels (the spider legs) radiate out in all directions from a central blood vessel (its body). Like other blood vessels, spider angiomas blanch when pressure is applied. They may pulsate. They are most frequently found on the face, v of the neck, chest, arms, hands and abdomen.
Large numbers of spider telangiectases are associated with liver cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) due to elevated oestrogen levels. A study of 82 patients with liver cirrhosis showed significantly higher numbers of spider telangiectases in alcoholic cirrhotic patients than non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients, indicating there may be an additional effect such as vasodilation to account for this difference.
Small numbers of spider telangiectases are seen in healthy children and adults. They are more common in women, especially during pregnancy, as they are influenced by the female hormone, oestrogen.
Palmar erythema
Chronic alcoholic liver disease may lead to reddening of palmar skin. This is also thought to be due to oestrogen, as it sometimes observed during normal pregnancy.
Caput medusa
High pressure within the venous system in the liver leads to high pressure in the venous system elsewhere in the body including the veins around the umbilicus (belly button). When these veins are dilated the appearance has been likened to ‘caput medusa’ (head of Medusa), referring to Greek mythology where a once beautiful woman was cursed and her hair turned into snakes.
Jaundice
The skin and sclera of the eyes often turn yellow in patients with alcoholic liver disease. The colour, known as jaundice, is due to bilirubin, a product broken down from haem derived from red blood cells. The metabolism of bilirubin is impaired in acute and chronic liver disease. Jaundice lessens as liver function improves.
Skin changes due to liver disease
Hyperpigmentation
Skin darkening (hyperpigmentation) around the eyes, mouth and on the legs may be associated with chronic liver disease. The reason this occurs is unclear.
Generalised pruritus
Generalised skin itching (pruritus) may occur due to the build up of poorly metabolised substances that stimulate nerve endings in the skin. These substances may include bile salts, histamine, corticosteroids and opioids.
Nail changes
Nail changes associated, but not specific to alcohol-related liver disease include:
- Clubbing: the nail bulges out instead of dipping in slightly before it meets the skin at the root of the nail, resembling a club. The angle between the nail plate and proximal nail fold is called the Lovibond angle and is normally less than 180° (indicating a dip and rise where the nail and skin meet).
- Koilonychia: the opposite of nail clubbing. Instead of bulging out, the nail plate is flat or sunken in (concave or spoon-shaped). This finding is often related to iron deficiency.
- Terry nails: two-thirds of the nail is white and the last 2mm is pink. This may be due to reduced capillary blood flow in the nail bed.
- Muehrcke nails: white bands running parallel to the lunula (moon of the nail) with normal pink nail between the bands. This sign may be due to low protein in the blood (hypoalbuminemia).
- Red lunula: change in colour of the moon of the nail to red, possibly due to increased blood flow and vasodilation
Nail changes sometimes associated with liver disease
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) results in photosensitivity, skin fragility, blistering, erosions, crusts, milia, scleroderma and increased hair growth (hypertrichosis) on sun-exposed sites such as face and hands.
Alcohol is the most common cause of acquired or type 1 PCT in susceptible individuals and is associated with chronic liver disease. Porphyrins build up because of deficiency in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (UROD), an enzyme important in the sythesis of the blood protein haem.
Other factors that may trigger type 1 PCT include oestrogen, iron and viral infections (especially hepatitis C). Familial or type 2 PCT is due to genetic deficiency in UROD.
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Skin cancer
Along with increasing the risk of liver, pancreatic and breast cancer, alcohol increases the risk of skin cancer including squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Alcohol is also associated with an increased risk of oral cancer.
The reasons why excessive alcohol consumption may cause cancer include:
- Alcohol suppresses the immune system and impairs adequate nutrition, reducing the body’s natural defense against skin cancer.
- Its main metabolite, acetaldehyde, is a carcinogen (cancer causing chemical). Acetaldehyde produces reactive free radicals and damages DNA.
- The effects of ultraviolet radiation may be enhanced by photosensitising byproducts of alcohol.
- Alcohol abuse is associated in many people with tobacco smoking.
Skin cancers
Nutritional deficiency
Nutritional deficiency can develop when alcohol replaces normal food in the diet and the digestive tract and liver do not digest and process food the way they should resulting in malabsorption. With little calorie or protein intake the skin becomes dry and loses elasticity.
Vitamins are essential to maintain healthy looking skin:
- Vitamin A deficiency results in xerosis (dry skin) and follicular hyperkeratosis (rough follicles).
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency results in waxy skin and a red thickened tongue.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency presents with angular cheilitis (cracked corners of the mouth), atrophic glossitis (inflamed tongue) and a rash on the face that resembles seborrhoeic dermatitis.
- Pellagra is a deficiency of niacin (vitamin B3) and presents with the three ‘d’s: diarrhoea; dementia and dermatitis on sun-exposed areas. Cheilitis and glossitis are also a feature.
- Scurvy, due to Vitamin C deficiency, results in swollen gums, follicular hyperkeratosis, corkscrew hairs and bleeding in the skin.
- Zinc deficiency causes a condition known as acquired acrodermatitis enteropathica (or an acrodermatitis enteropathica-like condition) with dermatitis around the mouth, hands, feet and anus.
Signs of vitamin deficiency
Oral changes due to chronic alcohol use
Changes found in the mouth often relate to nutritional deficiency or poor oral hygiene. These include:
- Dry lips (cheilitis)
- Inflamed swollen gums/gingiva (gingivitis)
- Tooth decay (caries)
- Beefy red smooth tongue associated with Vitamin B deficiency
- Hairy tongue associated with overgrowth of bacteria
In addition, swelling of the parotid gland may be a result of chronic alcohol use.
Oral changes associated with chronic alcohol use
Skin conditions affected or caused by alcohol
All of these skin conditions may occur without any history of alcohol abuse.
Rosacea
Alcohol induces vasodilation and facial flushing in people who have rosacea. However, alcohol is not the cause of the skin disease in most people.
Although the classic ‘drinker’s nose’ (rhinophyma) was thought to be related to excess alcohol consumption, it has never been proven. In a case-control study of 175 people with rosacea and 145 people with normal skin, there was no significant difference in alcohol consumption between the two groups.
Rosacea
Psoriasis
High intake of alcohol is a risk factor for new onset of psoriasis. The distribution of psoriasis has been observed to be particularly prominent on the fingers and hands of heavy drinkers. People who have psoriasis and drink more than 80g of alcohol per week have been found to have more severe treatment-resistant psoriasis, including erythrodermic psoriasis. The reasons for the association may be relative immune suppression induced by alcohol and/or that it induces proinflammatory cytokines.
Heavy drinking reduces options for treatment of psoriasis, as some medicines are contraindicated if the drinking has led to liver disease (methotrexate) or to high levels of triglyceride (acitretin). Patients with psoriasis and high alcohol intake are also more likely to suffer from depression.
Psoriasis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Seborrhoeic dermatitis has been observed to be more frequent in heavy drinkers.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Nummular dermatitis
Nummular or discoid dermatitis occurs more frequently in alcohol abusers, particularly in those with abnormal liver function tests.
Nummular dermatitis
Skin infections
Skin infections occur more frequently in patients who drink alcohol excessively due to impairment of the immune system, nutritional deficiency and increased trauma. These include:
Bacterial skin infections that may lead to septicaemia (spread to the blood):
Fungal skin infectionsare common but rarely cause sepsis. They include:
Tuberculosis is also seen more frequently in alcoholics. Skin involvement is called cutaneous tuberculosis.
Skin infections sometimes associated with heavy alcohol use
Urticaria
Urticaria (hives) may occur within minutes to hours of drinking alcohol and is sometimes due to allergic reaction. Flushing and overheating after drinking alcohol may also indicate cholinergic urticaria. This is a physical type of urticaria is brought on my heat, exercise or stress.
Urticaria
Sensitivity to alcohol
Alcohol can give rise to allergic or allergy-like symptoms. Along with urticaria (see above), patients may develop low blood pressure, diarrhoea, shortness of breath and low heart rate (anaphylaxis). Even tiny amounts of alcohol may induce urticaria in people who have had a severe reaction previously, although allergy testing is often negative.
Some apparent allergic reactions to alcohol are due to inherited defects in alcohol metabolising enzymes or allergy to other contents of the drink such as colouring agents, preservatives or flavouring.
Interactions of alcohol with dermatological medications
Some medicines used to treat dermatological disorders should not be taken with alcohol. Examples include:
- Metronidazole: provokes unpleasant symptoms including flushing, palpitations, sweating, dizziness, headache, nausea and vomiting
- Sedating antihistamines: increased drowsiness and dizziness, impaired driving
- Tricyclic antidepressants: increased drowsiness and dizziness, impaired driving
How to Remove Ringworm Fungus » How To Clean Stuff.net
Karen asked: How do I remove ringworm fungus from carpet and other fabrics? Thank you!
When ringworm fungus enters your home, classroom, or daycare center, every precaution and cleaning measure needs to be taken to stop it from spreading. Ringworm is a fungus that grows on skin and sheds spores, which is how it transfers to others. These spores can be difficult to remove once they have spread, which is why proper cleaning is necessary. The spores can shake loose virtually anywhere in the environment, which is why keeping the ringworm covered is so important, but good air circulation is also needed for the infection to heal so the clothing must to be loose-fitting. The good news is that a thorough cleaning to start out paired with taking precautions to keep the ringworm covered can resolve this problem and only as-needed cleaning will be required from there. Once a thorough cleaning has been done, close contact with the infection or items that are in contact with the infection is the greatest risk of it spreading. Those in tropic areas that remain humid and warm year-round should take additional precautions as the spores can survive longer in that environment.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Skin
You Will Need:
- Antifungal (choose one):
- Commercial product (sprays, creams, etc.)
- White vinegar
- Turmeric
- Breathable clothing
Steps to Remove the Fungus:
- First, choose a ringworm treatment (antifungal) from the list above.
- There are a variety of creams and sprays available over-the-counter at a pharmacy. To use one, follow the instructions on the label of any package you choose. If treating an infection on your pet, be sure to get a product that is specifically recomended for their species. Do NOT use human treatments on pets! Vetericyn is a pet treatment that is advertised as being “safe for use on all animal species” except humans.
- To use white vinegar, simply spray or wipe undiluted white vinegar onto the ringworm three times each day.
- To use turmeric, mix a little water with powdered turmeric to make a paste that is about the consistency of toothpaste. Spread the paste over the ringworm, then put a bandage over the area. Leave the bandage and paste on for 20-30 minutes, then wipe it off. Do this process three times per day.
- Keep the area covered with breathable clothing, such as a long-sleeve shirt or pants, as much as possible to prevent the spread of spores. However, do not cover the area with Band-aid as it is not breathable and will lock in moisture, which the ringworm needs.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Clothing
The steps below are for clothing that is washable. If your item is dry clean only, then that will have to do unless you want to wash it anyway. Some dry clean only fabrics can be safely be washed when needed. See our guide How to Wash Dry Clean Only Fabrics for more information. Otherwise, using a home dry cleaning kit can allow you to expose the item to the heat of the dryer for longer, increasing the effectiveness of killing the fungus. Another option is to use sunlight as described in the Additional Tips section below, however do not increase the amount of exposure time as sunlight can bleach some fabric dyes.
You Will Need:
- Antifungal spray
- White vinegar
- Laundry detergent
- Borax
- Sugar-free mouthwash
Steps to Remove the Fungus:
- A good precautionary step, though not necessary, is to spray the affected piece with antifungal spray. Sprays that are used to kill other fungi, such as athlete’s foot would work. A home remedy that you can use is white vinegar. Dilute the white vinegar with an equal amount of water in a spray bottle. (You should always test a cleaning solution on a small hidden area of a fabric first, such as an inside seam, to look for any adverse reaction.)
- Allow the spray to sit on the clothing for a few hours to penetrate the spores and kill them.
- Then, launder as usual. Washing without anti-fungal spray should still kill the spores. If the garment can tolerate hot water, that is best.
- Fill the washing machine as normal with laundry detergent, water, and clothing. If you would like an extra antifungal punch, add Borax to the wash according to the directions on the label. Borax can be used in addition to your normal laundry detergent.
- If you don’t have Borax, you can add a sugar-free mouthwash that contains alcohol instead. Just be sure to dilute it in water first to avoid getting dye stains on your clothes.
- Allow the cycle to run for a few minutes to disperse the soap throughout the water and clothing.
- Stop the washing machine and allow the items to soak. The detergent will break down the spores.
- Continue the cycle and dry as normal.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Cloth Upholstery and Mattresses
- The simplest way to clean cloth upholstery is simply to take it outside so the sunlight can do the work for you. However, that does require moving the item, which may not be the easiest solution.
- Another great way to kill any ringworm that might be on cloth upholstery is to use a steam cleaner.
- If neither of the above methods are possible, you can spray the upholstery with either a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water or with an antifungal spray. (It is always best to test a product in a small hidden area first to look for any adverse reaction.) Lysol makes a spray that can be used on upholstery, Lysol MaxCover. However, keep in mind that Lysol should not be used in a home that has a cat.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Leather
You Will Need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- A spray bottle
- A cloth
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Leather cleaner
- Leather conditioner
Steps to Remove the Fungus:
- Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture over the leather and let it sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off the spray.
- Another option is to use isopropyl alcohol. To do so, wet a cloth with the alcohol, then wipe it over the surface of the leather.
- Alcohol can have a drying effect on leather, so it is best to clean the leather immediately afterward with leather cleaner, then follow up with a leather conditioner.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Carpet
You Will Need:
- Anti-fungal spray (All Stop makes a carpet cleaner, or OdoBan can be used on carpets)
- Carpet cleaner/steamer
Steps to Remove the Fungus:
- Although it seems that soft carpeting would make a great host for ringworm fungus, remember that ringworm also requires moisture. It is not likely that the spores will thrive on the carpet because there is no moisture to support them.
- If you wish to clean your carpet, begin by spraying it with an anti-fungal spray.
- Next, fill the carpet cleaner/steamer with hot water and clean the entire area. Both the spray and the hot water will help to kill and remove the spores. Carpet shampoo can also be added for additional cleaning power.
- Clean the carpet as normal and allow it to dry completely.
- It is also possible to have the fungus removed by having a professional clean the carpets. Be sure to tell them that you are trying to remove the fungus, so they can use the appropriate products.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Hard Surfaces
You Will Need:
- Anti-fungal spray (Ex: Lysol, OdoBan, or All Stop)
- Paper towels
- Rubber gloves
Steps to Remove the Fungus:
- Spores have even less chance of surviving on a hard surface, so focus on the areas that are used and touched most often.
- Protect your hands with rubber gloves.
- Spray the surface with an anti-fungal spray.
- According to the Lysol website, their disinfectant spray can kill 99.9% of fungi. However, Lysol should not be used in homes that have a cat.
- According to the OdoBan website, their Ready-To-Use spray disinfectant is a fungicide that can kill the athlete’s foot fungus (which is the same type of fungus that causes ringworm).
- White vinegar can be used instead, as it is an antifungal, however it should never be used on a surface that can be damaged by acid, such as marble, granite, or natural stone. If you are not sure it is safe for your specific surface, test it in a small hidden area first.
- Isopropyl alcohol can also be used to kill ringworm, however, it should never be used on wood as it can damage the finish.
- Let the spray sit on the surface for several minutes. If using Lysol, let it sit for 3 minutes. If using vinegar, let it sit for 10 minutes.
- Wipe the area clean with a paper towel.
Removing Ringworm Fungus from Jewelry
Cleaning jewelry is tricky as each metal and stone has it’s own care requirements and could react differently to various cleaners. The safest method for gold, silver, brass, copper, stainless steel, or plastic jewelry is to use white vinegar. Put the item in a bowl of white vinegar or spray it on the surface and let it soak for 10 minutes. Rinse the item afterward and polish it dry. This method should never be used for jewelry that contains stones however, as the acid can etch or damage some stones. Also, any jewelry item that has glued parts should never be soaked as the glue can come loose.
- Gold items can be placed in the sun for 30 minutes, as long as they do not have any stones that can be bleached in sunlight.
- Silver jewelry that does not have any stones can be wiped with isopropyl alcohol, then rinsed with water.
- Brass and copper items should never be put in the sun as they can tarnish, and they should never be cleaned with alcohol as it can removed their lacquer.
Additional Tips and Advice
- To stop ringworm from spreading, keep it covered completely with the topical ointment and a breathable bandage until it is gone. Treat any new areas immediately and watch for other signs of exposure.
- Pets can also carry ringworm and their areas will need to be treated as well. Avoid over-handling pets that have been effected.
- All Stop is a line of non-toxic products that are designed to remove the ringworm fungus. There are products designed for all areas of the home. The products can be purchased online and area available separately or as a complete kit.
- To dry vacuum an area for the removal of ringworm, be sure to use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter to ensure that the spores are contained within the vacuum once they are sucked up rather than being sprayed back out into the room through the vacuum exhaust.
- Your body naturally works to fight off fungal infections. You can help it do this by boosting your immune system.
- Treat all soft items, such as blankets, stuffed toys, or a pet bed, as you would clothing. For any items that have loose parts like buttons or toys with sewn or glued eyes, put them in a pillowcase for washing.
- Another option for any movable item is to take it outside. Sunlight is a natural antifungal. Leaving items in the sun for just 30 minutes can kill the fungi and fungal spores on the surface of the item.
- Heat is also effective for killing ringworm, so any item that can withstand high heat can be steamed or ironed as well. If you don’t have a steamer, you can (carefully!) hold an item over the spout of a steaming tea kettle. If you don’t have an iron, a hair straightener might work instead.
Sources
- Clean & Green by Annie Berthold-Bond
- 1,801 Home Remedies by Reader’s Digest
- Extraordinary Uses for Ordinary Things by Reader’s Digest
Microsporia or “ringworm” – GBUZ LO “Vsevolozhskaya KMB”
Microsporia or “ringworm”
Every year, from the end of July to October, there is an increase in the incidence of microsporia or, in common parlance, ringworm. Most often, this disease is diagnosed in children aged 3 to 12-15 years. In 2016, over 20 cases of microsporia were registered on the territory of the Vsevolozhsk region.
Microsporia is a fungal disease that affects the skin and hair, and in rare cases, the nail plates.It is transmitted by contact from sick animals or sick people and is highly contagious.
The name of this fungal disease comes from the name of its causative agent – a fungus of the genus Microsporum, and the folk “ringworm” is due to the peculiarities of its manifestation.
Microsporia is one of the most common fungal infections and is ubiquitous. Most often, children suffer from it. The main source of the disease is cats (usually kittens), less often dogs. Seasonal fluctuations in incidence are associated with litter in cats, as well as more frequent contact of children with animals in the summer.Infection with microsporia occurs through direct contact with a sick animal or objects infected with wool or scales. The incubation period for microsporia is 5-7 days.
Manifestations of microsporia in animals are characterized by areas of hair loss on the face, ears, and paws. Although outwardly healthy cats can often be carriers of the fungus.
Smooth skin microsporia and scalp microsporia are isolated.
Microsporia of smooth skin
An edematous, convex red spot with clear boundaries appears at the site of the invasion of the fungus.Gradually, the spot increases in diameter, along its edges a ridge is formed, represented by small nodules, bubbles and crusts. Then the central part of the spot becomes pale pink, scaly, and the lesion itself takes the form of a ring with a diameter of 0.5 to 3 cm. Most often, the lesions are located on the skin of the face, neck, forearms and shoulders. There are no subjective sensations or mild itching worries.
Microsporia of the scalp
Foci of microsporia of the scalp are usually located on the vertex, in the parietal and temporal regions.Usually there are 1–2 large foci ranging in size from 2 to 5 cm, with rounded or oval outlines and clear boundaries. On the 6-7th day, microsporia affects the hair, which becomes brittle and breaks off 4-6 mm above the skin (hence the name “ringworm”). The skin in the lesion is slightly reddened, edematous, its surface is covered with grayish-white small scales.
If you find the symptoms described above in yourself or in a child, you need to contact a doctor as soon as possible – microsporia diagnosis and treatment is carried out only by a dermatologist.
To confirm the diagnosis of microsporia, fluorescent, microscopic and cultural (inoculation) studies are used.
With a timely visit to a doctor, a full-fledged treatment is prescribed and a quick and complete recovery occurs. Within 14-20 days, the external manifestations of the disease disappear, but for another month, patients should be under the dispensary supervision of a doctor with laboratory confirmation of cure.
Do not self-medicate – this leads to the spread of the skin process and an increase in the recovery time!
For the period of treatment, it is necessary to isolate sick children, removing them from visiting children’s institutions, contacts with other children.Patient’s belongings are subject to disinfection.
Relatives and persons in contact with the patient must be examined. Particular attention should be paid to pets, as they are often the source of infection.
A dermatologist conducts an appointment at the children’s clinic of the Vsevolozhsk polyclinic, at the Health Center in Vsevolozhsk on a schedule, at the outpatient clinic in Krasnaya Zvezda on Wednesdays, in the outpatient clinic with. Pavlovo on Fridays.
The telephone number of the dermatovenerologic office of the Vsevolozhsk polyclinic is 25798.
Vasilyeva Lyudmila Gennadievna, regional dermatovenerologist.
MICROSPORIA (ARTICLE) | GBUZ “Kuzbass Clinical Center of Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine”
Caution Microsporia! Currently, in some areas there is a significant increase in cases of microsporia. The largest number of cases is mainly children under 17 years of age. In all cases, the cause of microsporia disease was contact with sick stray cats and dogs.They live in attics, stairs, at garbage dumps, wander from one yard to another, infecting each other. From sick animals, children become infected, who bring them home, play with them, put them to bed. Then the owners throw the sick cat or dog out into the street, instead of taking it to the veterinary hospital.
Microsporia is a fungal disease characterized by skin and hair lesions. The causative agents of fungal diseases persist for a long time in the external environment and are resistant to the effects of chemical and physical factors: to ultraviolet radiation, freezing, exposure to low concentrations of disinfectants.Unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, an abundance of homeless animals, high temperature and air humidity contribute to the spread of the causative agent of this infection.
Microsporia is currently the most common fungal infection of the skin. Microsporia mainly affects children of preschool and school age.
How the infection occurs
Human infection from a sick animal occurs through contact with it. The main source of infection with this disease is stray cats and dogs.
Manifestations of microsporia in animals are characterized by areas of baldness on the face, outer surfaces of the auricles, as well as on the front, less often hind legs. Often, outwardly healthy cats can be carriers of the fungus, and then only a luminescent study, which can be done in a veterinary clinic, helps to identify microsporia. Infection occurs through direct contact with a sick animal or objects infected with wool or scales (combs, hats, underwear, etc.)etc.). The causative agent of microsporia, the microsporum fungus, is very stable in the external environment. In hair, in skin flakes, wool, in sandpits, in the dust of entrances, basements and attics, it retains the ability to infect for several years.
From a sick person to a healthy one, this disease can pass through various contaminated objects – hats, combs, bedding, clothes.
Infection is also possible in hairdressing salons if the necessary hygiene rules are not followed.
The incubation period for microsporia is 5-7 days. In our republic, mainly 2 forms of the disease are registered – microsporia of smooth skin and microsporia of the scalp.
Microsporia of smooth skin.
At the site of the introduction of the fungus, an edematous spot appears, pale pink in color with clear boundaries in the form of a rising roller of bright red color, that is, the focus has the form of a ring.
At the same time, vellus hair can be affected, which complicates the treatment of the disease.The number of lesions is from 1 – 3 to several dozen, their diameter ranges from 0.5 to 3 cm. Most often, the lesions are located on the skin of the face, neck, forearms and shoulders. Moderate itching may be troubling.
Microsporia of the scalp.
The lesion of the scalp occurs mainly in children 5 – 12 years old. The foci of microsporia of the scalp are located mainly on the vertex, in the parietal and temporal regions. Usually these are 1 – 2 large foci ranging in size from 2 to 5 cm, with rounded or oval outlines and clear boundaries.On the periphery of large foci, there may be screenings – small foci with a diameter of 0.5-1.5 cm.
At the onset of the disease, a desquamation site forms at the site of infection. After a week, the process spreads to the hair itself, which becomes brittle, breaks off the level of the surrounding skin by 4-6 mm and looks as if trimmed (hence the second name of the disease – “ringworm”).
Preventive measures
• Children with microsporia should not go to school or kindergarten until they are fully recovered.
• It is necessary to follow the sanitary and hygienic rules, that is, to use only individual hats, clothes, have a separate bed, towel, comb, washcloth and other personal items.
• Children should not be allowed to interact with stray animals. Introduced kittens or puppies should be shown to a veterinarian. Do not let children take animals to bed.
• In case of contact with a sick animal, wash your hands with soap, grease scratches and abrasions with 5% iodine, change clothes, boil removed things or iron them with a hot iron.
• Wash domestic cats and dogs with soap as needed, keep fleas away and be sure to show your veterinarian at least once a year.
• If peeling spots or lesions appear on the skin or head, consult a dermatologist immediately.
TO PREVENT THE FURTHER SPREAD OF THE DISEASE AMONG THE ENVIRONMENT
• It is necessary to boil all underwear and bed linen used by the patient; it is best to destroy hats.
• A sick child should not interact with other children during treatment.
• If the patient uses a shared bathroom, then after bathing it must be washed with hot water and disinfected with 5% chloramine solution.
• All family members and contacts in childcare facilities are subject to a dermatological examination.
REMEMBER! Untimely access to a dermatologist, self-medication complicates the diagnosis, leads to the spread of rashes and the transition of the disease into a chronic form, which ultimately can lead to irreversible hair loss and the spread of infection in the environment.
The following factors reduce the local protective potential and increase the risk of developing microsporia:
• Atopy (genetic predisposition) is a genetically determined condition in which, under the influence of a number of stimuli, an excessive amount of immunoglobulins of class E is synthesized, which activates a cascade of allergic reactions. As a result, an inappropriate local reaction develops, which weakens local immunity.
• Local or systemic use of glucocorticosteroids.
The use of drugs that reduce immunity, one way or another, reduces the protective potential of the skin and increases the risk of infection. Most often this occurs under the influence of glucocorticosteroid hormones, which are used in the form of various ointments or creams to treat other skin pathologies. To prevent infection, these drugs should only be used as directed by a physician and strictly followed by recommendations and instructions.
• Ichthyosis is a hereditary skin disease in which excessive keratinization of the skin occurs due to a violation of a number of regulatory mechanisms. As a result, a kind of scales are formed on the skin (similar to fish scales), the skin loses its elasticity and is injured at the slightest movement.
• Diseases of the connective tissue and blood vessels. Changes that occur in the connective tissue frame of the skin and in the wall of blood vessels against the background of a number of autoimmune diseases impair local blood circulation and reduce the number of immune cells and protective factors on the skin surface.
• State of immunodeficiency. The state of immunodeficiency can occur against the background of taking drugs that reduce immunity (with cancerous tumors, after organ transplantation, against the background of severe systemic disorders), or after serious diseases of the organs of the immune system. In addition, the immune function is impaired when infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, as well as in some genetic abnormalities.
Factors predisposing to the development of microsporia are:
• Excessive sweating.Sweat changes the environment, increases acidity, changes the electrolyte balance on the skin’s surface. In addition, moisture softens the keratin, making the stratum corneum more susceptible to infectious agents.
• Professional risks. Frequent and prolonged contact with sick or stray animals significantly increases the risk of infection with zoophilic forms of microsporia.
• High humidity environment. The high humidity of the environment not only creates favorable conditions for the growth of the fungus, but also, as noted above, softens the epidermis, reducing its protective potential.
After the penetration of a pathogenic fungus into the body, the incubation period begins, which can last from 2 weeks to 2 months. At this time, the development and reproduction of the fungus occurs, the cellular components of the infectious agent begin to form. This period is not characterized by any external clinical manifestations. Symptoms of the disease occur after a sufficient accumulation of the fungus and the development of a productive inflammatory reaction, which, in fact, forms the clinical picture.
Treatment of microsporia should be carried out under the supervision of a dermatologist. In the overwhelming majority of cases, it is outpatient and does not require hospitalization of the patient. It is only necessary to regularly visit the attending physician to control the course of the disease. Hospitalization may be needed only in the presence of any concomitant pathologies or (short-term) – for the final diagnosis.
The course of treatment for microsporia itself can take quite a long time.This is due to the high resistance of the pathogen to various medications. In this regard, the treatment is approached in a comprehensive manner, using various methods. This allows you to quickly eliminate the causative agent of the disease and prevent possible relapses (repeated exacerbations of the disease). A cosmetic defect after a previous illness can persist for some time and sometimes requires additional consultation with a cosmetologist.
Traditional methods of treatment
Since ringworm is a fairly common disease in rural areas and has been known for a long time, there are quite a few folk ways to combat this disease.Most of them can be used as adjuvant therapy. It should be understood that many medicinal plants do not so much destroy the causative agent of the disease, but rather contribute to the speedy regeneration of the skin. This helps to quickly get rid of the cosmetic defect.
The main folk remedies for the fight against ringworm are:
• Garlic juice. A slice of garlic is cut longitudinally and rubbed with juice on the affected area of the skin. This procedure is performed once a day (preferably in the morning).After that, during the day, lichen can be lubricated with birch charcoal or plantain.
• Garlic vinegar. This remedy is widely used in the treatment of many dermatological diseases. To prepare it, cut a few cloves of garlic and pour 0.5 liters of apple cider vinegar. The resulting mixture should be infused for 1 – 2 weeks, shaking occasionally. After cooking, rub the affected skin area with vinegar. To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can add a few drops of camphor oil to the infusion before use.
• Japanese Sophora. To prepare this product, you need 50 g of the fruits or flowers of this plant. In the absence of contraindications, it is recommended to make an alcoholic infusion. For 50 g of grass, 0.5 liters of vodka is needed (the strength is at least 35 degrees). Infusion lasts 3 – 4 weeks in a dark place. After preparation, the infusion is filtered and taken orally, 3 teaspoons per day. A certain therapeutic effect in microsporia can be given by the usual brewing of tea with the addition of Japanese Sophora.
As you can see, most of the recipes above use garlic. The fact is that this plant contains a large amount of substances that have a beneficial effect on biochemical processes in the skin. It also has some disinfecting properties (which, however, are ineffective against the microsporia pathogen).
All folk remedies for ringworm are used until signs of recovery appear. Since this process can take several months, it is recommended to seek the advice of from a dermatologist.
With its help, it will be possible to successfully combine traditional medicine with highly effective pharmaceuticals, which will lead to a speedy recovery.
The main criterion for stopping the course of treatment is not the disappearance of symptoms, but a special microbiological analysis. In case of damage to the scalp, 3 scrapings are done with a five-day break. In addition, the hair is illuminated with a fluorescent lamp (Wood’s lamp), which detects fungi.With the localization of lichen on the skin, 3 scrapings are done with a three-day break. If all tests are negative, the patient is considered fully recovered and the course of treatment is stopped. This decision must be made by the attending physician.
Hygiene with microsporia
The development of microsporia is facilitated by non-observance of the rules of personal hygiene, as well as a decrease in the body’s defenses, metabolic and endocrine disorders.
Prevention of microsporia consists in regular examination of children in kindergartens to identify patients, in limiting contact with stray animals and in maintaining personal hygiene.Buying pets without a veterinarian’s examination can lead to outbreaks of microsporia in the family, which requires a more careful approach to their purchase.
Treatment of microsporia is prescribed by a doctor. Griseofulvin tablets should be used with foods containing fats for the most complete absorption of the drug. Therefore, drink griseofulvin with milk or ice cream. When lichen is localized on the scalp, after hair removal, you should wash it every day with tar or other antifungal soap.You can wash your hair with lotions and shampoos containing selenium sulfide, at a concentration of at least 2.5%. Selenium has the ability to destroy fungal spores, and helps to accelerate recovery. However, selenium products can only be used if there are no suppurations and crusts.
In severe lichen, you should wash your hair with selenium shampoo every day, in mild cases, two or three times a week is enough.
All family members living in the same area with a patient with microsporia can also wash their hair with selenium shampoo to prevent infection with a fungal infection.Separate all personal items of the person sick with ringworm – combs, combs, towels, hats, bedding, etc.
Take special care to ensure that children do not grab potentially infectious objects. Do not allow other family members to play or be in close close contact with the sick person.
Do not scratch the affected area, even if you really want to – be distracted by doing any work that requires a high concentration of attention. If a child is sick, distract him with play.Unfortunately, nothing can be done during sleep at night to prevent scratching of the affected area.
Therefore, during sleep, put on protective gloves on your hands so as not to damage the skin with your nails when scratching. If microsporia is found in one of the family members, it is best to be examined by everyone living in the same territory with the patient.
When treating ringworm on smooth skin, in addition to those prescribed by a doctor, you can use ointments with miconazole or clotrimazole.These ointments can relieve the subjective condition. Do not use ointments with hormonal ingredients, such as cortisone. The hormone will not speed up healing, but it can be a disservice. Hormones relieve inflammation, as a result of which, after applying ointments with their content, the redness disappears on the skin, which people consider a successful recovery and the disappearance of signs of infection. But the treatment must be continued, because if you quit it, then after a while a relapse will occur.
Treatment should be carried out until there is no fungus in the scraping and the symptoms of infection on the skin completely disappear.A sign of recovery is a flattening of the rash and drying up of the abscesses, if any. In this case, the skin can close with scales and begin to peel off strongly.
Complete recovery can be defined as follows – close your eyes and run your finger over the place where the lesion was. If the skin is flat and does not feel different from the surrounding tissue, then we can assume that ringworm is defeated. During treatment, a child or adult can go to school and work.
It is necessary to carefully observe hygiene, and do not allow colleagues and classmates of the child to touch the lesion.Do not give a comb, clothes, shoes and other personal items to healthy people, as they can be infectious.
90,000 clotrimazole and alcohol | mixing alcohol and clotrimazole
clotrimazole and alcohol
Clotrimazole sold under the trade name Lotrimin is, among others, an antifungal agent. It is used to treat vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, diaper rash, tinea versicolor, and various types of ringworm, including athlete’s foot and itching. It can be taken orally or applied as a cream to the skin or vagina.
Common side effects when taken by mouth include nausea and itching. When applied to the skin, common side effects include redness and burning. It is considered safe to apply to the skin or vagina during pregnancy. There is no evidence of harm when taken orally during pregnancy, but the issue is not well understood. When taken by mouth, great caution should be exercised in case of liver problems.It belongs to the azole class of drugs and acts by destroying the cell membrane of the fungus.
Source
What happens when you mix clotrimazole and alcohol
Side effects of mixing clotrimazole and alcohol may include:
- Dizziness
- Dizziness
- Dizziness
- Itching
- urticaria
- Heartbeat
- Respiratory depression
- Cardiac arrest
- Coma
- Seizures
- Death
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What is the effect of alcohol on one’s own genetic makeup and tolerance.It is never recommended to mix clotrimazole and alcohol due to the potential for mild, moderate, and severe side effects. If you have an adverse reaction to mixing clotrimazole and alcohol, you should definitely go to your local emergency room.
Alcohol and clotrimazole
Alcohol and clotrimazole have different effects depending on the dose: many people feel agitated and aggravated by low doses of alcohol and clotrimazole, and even mixing small amounts of clotrimazole and alcohol is not recommended.
Mixing alcohol and clotrimazole
The primary effect of alcohol is influenced by an increase in the concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which is found in the spinal cord and brain stem, and a decrease in its effect on neuronal transmitters, which are excitatory. When alcohol is combined with clotrimazole, this primary effect is enhanced, increasing the burden on the body with unpredictable results.
Alcohol and clotrimazole affect dopamine levels in the brain, causing both mental and physical distress.Large amounts of clotrimazole and alcohol have more pronounced adverse effects, but the basic medical recommendation is that smaller doses can be just as harmful, and there is no way to know exactly how clotrimazole and alcohol will affect a person before they take it.
Simultaneous use of clotrimazole and alcohol
People who take clotrimazole and alcohol together will experience the effects of both substances. Technically, the specific effects and reactions that result from frequent consumption of clotrimazole and alcohol depend on whether you drink more alcohol than clotrimazole or more clotrimazole than alcohol.
Using significantly more clotrimazole with alcohol will lead to sedation and lethargy, as well as synergistic effects resulting from the combination of the two drugs.
People who use alcohol and clotrimazole may experience effects such as:
- decreased motor reflexes from clotrimazole and alcohol
- dizziness from alcohol and clotrimazole
- nausea and vomiting 9000 people 9000 may also experience great euphoria, depression, irritability, or all three.The combination of alcohol and clotrimazole results in significantly more lethargy, which can easily turn into coma, attacks of respiratory depression, and death.
Alcohol versus clotrimazole
Taking clotrimazole in sufficient quantities increases the risk of heart failure. In addition, people under the influence of clotrimazole and alcohol may have difficulty forming new memories. With alcohol and clotrimazole in the human body, they get confused and don’t understand their surroundings.Because of the synergistic properties of clotrimazole, when mixed with alcohol, it can cause confusion, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. Chronic use of clotrimazole and alcohol can lead to irreversible changes in the brain.
clotrimazole versus alcohol
Studies investigating the effects of drugs such as clotrimazole and alcohol have shown that the likelihood of parasomnia (performing tasks while sleeping) increases dramatically when clotrimazole and alcohol are combined.When drugs are mixed in the body, serious and dangerous side effects can occur, and sleep disturbances are a common side effect of concurrent use of alcohol and clotrimazole.
When a small to moderate amount of alcohol is combined with clotrimazole, sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea can occur. According to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most emergency room visits and hospitalizations caused by excessive alcohol use have been associated with other substances, such as clotrimazole.
How long after taking clotrimazole can alcohol be consumed
To avoid residual toxicity, it is recommended to wait until clotrimazole has completely cleared your system before consuming alcohol, even in small amounts.
Clotrimazole and alcohol overdose
Clotrimazole and alcohol overdose is very common and often fatal. If you overdose on clotrimazole, or if you are worried after mixing {drugs and alcohol}, call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.If you are concerned about someone who has taken too much clotrimazole or mixed alcohol with clotrimazole, call or take a first aid specialist for immediate medical attention. The best place for you or someone you care for in a medical emergency is medical supervision. Be sure to tell the medical team that this is a mixture of clotrimazole and alcohol. The combination of alcohol and clotrimazole increases the likelihood of a person being transferred to intensive care.
clotrimazole and alcohol
Is it safe to combine terbinafine and alcohol?
Terbinafine is a drug used to treat fungal infections. Because this drug can cause liver stress, the combination of terbinafine and alcohol is not recommended. The combination can be especially problematic for people with autoimmune disorders like lupus and those with liver problems.
Typically used to treat fungal infections of nails, toenails and scalp.It is also used to treat fungus that occurs on other parts of the body, such as the groin and feet. The drug is usually provided in tablet or granular form. Terbinafine should usually be taken for at least three or four weeks before any results are seen. In some cases, it may take months before patients notice relief of symptoms.
The initial duration of terbinafine treatment varies with the condition being treated.The usual daily dosage for adults and children over 75 pounds (35 kg) is 250 mg once daily. Conditions such as fungal infections of the nails or scalp require treatment for six weeks. If the fungus is in the toenails, the treatment time is doubled to 12 weeks. Some conditions, such as a fungus of the foot or ringworm infections, may require as little as two weeks of treatment.
A person who chooses to combine terbinafine and alcohol may be at risk of various liver problems, including the possibility of complete liver failure.Symptoms that may require urgent treatment include pale stools, abdominal pain, very dark urine, or yellowish skin and eyes. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. The physician should be informed that the patient has taken a combination of terbinafine and alcohol.
For people struggling with depression, terbinafine and alcohol can make these feelings worse. Sadness, mood changes, and a general feeling of unhappiness can be side effects of this drug.For many people, drinking alcohol can cause similar problems. Taken together, these two things can lead to the person feeling overwhelmed by feelings of unhappiness and despair.
Terbinafine is potentially liver toxic, so tests are usually done periodically during treatment to check the patient’s liver function. The drug itself poses a sufficient risk that very few doctors will allow a patient to take this drug without a full liver check before treatment.If the patient combines terbinafine and alcohol, the results can be fatal.
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Yakutsk | Relax without alcohol!
Alcohol addiction is one of the largest problems in the world. The contribution of the risk factor alcohol abuse to the mortality rate of the Russian population is 11.9%. Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for chronic non-infectious diseases (including cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver disease, etc.)), the cause of many crimes, accidents (including road traffic), accidents (at home, at work) and personal tragedies of citizens (birth of children with pathology, family breakdown, loss of work) … The prevalence of alcoholism in our region leads to an increase in alcohol-associated pathology, a reduction in life expectancy, a deterioration in the quality of life of society as a whole. That is why the WHO recommendation is “try not to drink alcohol”!
You can read about the dangerous effects of alcohol on the human body in section “On the dangers of alcohol “.
The results of epidemiological studies indicate that the lowest rates of cardiovascular mortality are observed with the use of very small doses of alcohol (1-2 doses / day). At the same time, there is evidence that people who do not drink alcohol at all have a low risk of cardiovascular diseases, and any dose of alcohol increases blood pressure, blood triglycerides and body mass index.
What is the alcohol dose and how much is the safe alcohol dose ?
In fact, there are no norms or safe levels of alcohol consumption.We usually talk about the amounts of alcoholic beverages that can increase the risk of health effects to some extent . In our country, as in most European countries, for the equivalent of the standard dose of is taken 12 g (18 ml) of 96% ethyl alcohol, which corresponds to 330 ml of beer (containing ≈ 5% ethanol) or 150 ml of wine (≈ 12% ethanol ) or 45 ml of spirits (≈ 40% ethanol). It should be noted that this does not mean the average alcohol consumption over several days, but the maximum safe one-time consumption per day.The concept of standard dose can help us to estimate the risk of drinking a particular alcoholic beverage , but we are not talking about any norms of consumption! It is considered safe to consume ≤ 2 standard doses of alcohol per day for men and ≤ 1 standard dose per day for women. It is worth remembering that even accidental alcohol consumption exceeding the limits increases, for example, the risk of accidents and accidents! There are no safe daily doses of alcohol.
In addition, alcohol is contraindicated for a fairly large number of citizens : children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, patients with many chronic diseases (especially liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract), in the presence of injuries (alcohol will slow down the recovery process), people with specific mental and physical stress (transport drivers, dispatchers, athletes, etc.), as well as people who do not control the amount of alcohol consumed, and those who become violent and uncontrollable after drinking alcohol.
If alcohol has so many consequences, should you choose it as a way to relax? Ask yourself a question – “ Will I solve problems if I just forget about them for a while? “. The answer is unequivocally negative – alcohol will not help change the situation for the better. This is an illusion. If you can fix the problem, you need to find the resources to do it! If the situation is not in our control, we must try to accept it! This is where the ability to relax will help!
The ability to relax is really a necessary skill, because there are many moments for psycho-emotional stress.And chronic stress can lead to health problems. There are plenty of effective stress relief options, it’s important to find the one that’s right for you! This can be classes in the pool or in a yoga studio, handicrafts, a walk in the woods, etc. Read about this in section “ Methods for correcting the psychoemotional state “.
Summing up everything that has been said, remember that alcohol does not help to solve the problem, but aggravates it! And you have the right not to explain the refusal of alcohol, it is enough to say: “Thank you, no!”.
If you or a loved one has problems with alcohol consumption, it is important to seek medical help in time: to a psychiatrist-narcologist at a regional hospital or to the Kirov Regional Narcological Dispensary ((8332) 53-66-62 – registration ). In the polyclinic of the narcological dispensary for residents of the city and the region, there are free help groups for relatives and friends of patients with alcohol dependence. Classes are held at the address: g.Kirov, Student proezd, 7 every Thursday at 17-30.
90,000 lichen rosacea – 22 responses to Babyblog
A week ago (October 20) I had a rash on my body.
I went to a dermatologist, diagnosed with pink lichen. It is not contagious, it occurs against the background of the disease, it will pass by itself in 1.5-2 months.
I read about him on the Internet, it seems that everything fits together:
“The causative agent of lichen rosacea is unknown (presumably a virus).The development of the disease is promoted by cooling, overheating, and activation of latent infection.
Lichen occurs more often in spring or autumn after a short prodromal period, manifested by malaise, subfebrile body temperature. The rash is preceded by a primary erythematous-scaly, well-defined round or oval lesion called the “maternal” plaque. After 7 – 10 days, many small spots of “babies” of pinkish or pinkish-yellow color appear on the chest, back and extremities.The rash is most profuse on the sides of the trunk, back, shoulders, and hips. A characteristic feature of the rash is a gentle peeling in the center in the form of folded scales, reminiscent of crumpled tissue paper, and the formation of figures such as medallions. The duration of the course is 4 – 6 weeks, after which the rash disappears spontaneously. Itching is subjectively possible. The skin of the face, scalp, hands and feet is usually not affected. “
“A dairy-plant diet is recommended for patients with lichen rosacea, alcohol and spicy foods are excluded.In the midst of the development of pink lichen, it is not recommended to wet, especially with soap, the affected areas of the skin. When treating lichen, it is not recommended to wear synthetic clothing, it is desirable to be released from heavy physical work in conditions of high external temperatures. And also during the period of illness, exposure to the sun is not recommended. “
Now I understand the most basic immunity to restore, but for the last three weeks I ate varied and ate fruits regularly, although, of course, I did not want to eat anything during my illness…
Links where to read about him – http://www.womenhealthnet.ru/virus/690.html
Animal allergies: symptoms, treatment
Which animals do not cause allergies
Let’s start with the good news – there are representatives of the fauna in the world with whom you can hug and kiss, even if you are allergic. Of course, adjusted for the most diverse “buts”. For example, reptiles and amphibians do not cause allergies in humans. And here is the first “but” – the immune response is impossible to predict, and an allergy to freshwater animals, the same turtle or a funny, like an eternally surprised alien, axolotl is also possible.
The second “but” is to consider hairless cats or dogs – sphinxes or Chinese crested dogs – harmless for allergy sufferers. This is not true, because even these amazing animals salivate and the skin epithelium sloughs off, so the risk of an allergic reaction (sensitization) remains.
The third “but” – even if you make harmless friends – fish that do not secrete potentially dangerous protein and do not have hair, do not forget that food for them is a powerful allergen.
What is left? Guinea pigs and chinchillas are also considered conditionally suitable for allergy sufferers, in addition to the aforementioned scaly, nosed and tailed ones (they do not have sweat glands and sebum is not produced, and contact with saliva is unlikely).
Reasons
What is the reason for such a powerful reaction of the body to a fluffy bobby or a sweet purring cat? Modern allergology believes that the cause is associated with a protein found in the saliva of pets, as well as in the sebaceous glands of the skin. Dry saliva and dandruff fly through our apartments in the form of dust, settling on furniture and interior items. With our breath, these particles enter the body, the immune system reacts to them, as to foreign biological substances, enemies, producing antibodies.As a result, gradually (and for some people rather quickly) sensitization develops – hypersensitivity.
It is important to remember that allergies can be caused by the protein of almost any animal, from familiar dogs and cats, guinea pigs and hamsters, to exotic – raccoons, ferrets, possums, ornamental rats. Birds, as well as farm animals, also contain a protein that acts in the same way, and therefore, upon contact with them, an allergic reaction can also develop.So, if you go on a trip to fashionable farms nowadays, then be careful.
Another factor that can lead to the development of an allergic reaction to pets is their diseases, especially fungal diseases. For example, ringworm, or mycosis, is a fungal disease in which a dense crust forms on the skin of animals (and in humans when infected), containing a large number of spores of the fungus – a strong allergen, to which many are very sensitive. 3
Symptoms
Allergy – increased sensitization, that is, sensitivity to a foreign protein, develops in different ways. In some, the body gives a reaction upon repeated contact with this or that pet, in others it takes several years before symptoms of an allergic reaction appear. 1 And some people have symptoms even when there are no pets in the house at all. The fact is that the protein particles of saliva and dandruff are very small, they easily attach to almost everything that surrounds a person, and are transported over long distances.Therefore, if you have pets, and you go to visit a friend with allergies, be careful – you can bring him allergens on your clothes.
The symptoms of the reaction are varied. On average, the first signs of hypersensitivity or exacerbation of an allergic reaction appear within a few minutes after contact with an animal or with things that have its saliva or dandruff. Further, the signs grow and manifest themselves with the most striking symptoms. 3
Someone first has skin symptoms – itching, swelling, redness at the site of contact, and then a runny nose, itching in the eyes and ears come.In others, the onset of an allergic attack is accompanied by itching of the mucous membranes, dry mouth, and skin manifestations may not be at all. Someone immediately develops bronchospasm or bronchial asthma.
Signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction to animals
Allergic rhinitis.
Various ocular reactions: from dryness and itching to burning and discharge.
Skin manifestations: dryness and itching or various rashes and blisters.
Breathing problems: sore throat, coughing, mucus, asthma.
Allergic enteropathy in children: nausea and vomiting, abdominal cramps, stool disorders. 1.3
Treatment methods
Treatment of such an allergy is based on two principles.