Ringworm - YUCK!

[Mr. Bloom]

OK, this is gross, but...

For several weeks, I had what I thought was a spot of eczema on my ankle. It started clearing up, and then nearly 4 weeks ago, it flared up and took on classic ringworm appearance and was very itchy!

So, I started treating it with Lamisil AT and the itching is gone, but it's still got a prominent appearance.

Everything on the net that I see says:
- it's contagious
- treat it for 1 to 2 weeks
- it will go away.

Lamilsil says treat it for 7 days...and I'm approaching 30. I started using tea tree oil this week as well.

It's four weeks, the itching is gone, it's not festering, but should it be gone or does it leave a "scar"???

[OakLeaf]

When you thought it was eczema, did you try a steroid cream?

[Blueberry]

I wonder if it's possible you have this: http://www.aad.org/public/publicatio...ityriasis.html (although you don't have the other spots). Could explain why it's not reacting to treatment well.

Of course, I'm not a doc. But my primary care treated me to ringworm for months before sending me to a dermatologist who diagnosed this...

CA

[beccaB]

I grew up in the south and everyone gets that. It's a fungus and not quite as
yucky as a parasite (I beleive). I caught it from a kitten I adopted. Her fur fell out where she had it, but it grew back.

[Biciclista]

Ringworm can definitely leave a scar. I've never seen a ringworm lesion that big on a human though. I hope it's really healed (and that it's just ringworm!!!).

I've had it more than once (seems you build an immunity but there are several varieties) I've been a foster mom for kittens with ringworm lots and lots of times. (my specialty, as it were)

[SadieKate]

Um, several weeks. Lamisil 30 days. Why haven't you gone to the doctor?

[Mr. Bloom]

Yes, I started treating it with steroid creams and that fixed the itch and the rash seemed present, but dormant. A week after i stopped using the cream, it it became inflamed and itchy. Then it took on classic ringworm appearance. The symptoms have responded well to lamisil, but it the appearance hasn't.

It has occurred to me that the lamisil is keeping it moist and not allowing the area to exfoliate... Thoughts?

[OakLeaf]

I wonder if it's possible you have this: http://www.aad.org/public/publicatio...ityriasis.html (although you don't have the other spots). Could explain why it's not reacting to treatment well.

Of course, I'm not a doc. But my primary care treated me to ringworm for months before sending me to a dermatologist who diagnosed this...

CA

I had that when I was in law school. The lesions were all on my upper body - mostly the torso, some on the neck and face. That's really the classic pattern from the information the dermatologist gave me at the time. (But then, that was a long time ago. Plus, IIRC it did respond well to the steroid/salicylic acid cream he prescribed.)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

After not healing up in 30 days, I would go to a dermatologist.
Good luck!

[Mr. Bloom]

Hmmm... I coincidentally have a physical on Monday...but GP's avoid skin issues and dermatologists are very hard to get into around here. Hmmmmm...

[makbike]

A fungal test is in order. I must confess, I do not know how they do these on humans but would think it may require a skin scraping of sorts. Ringworm is highly contagious thus your environment must be treated as well. Your GP should be able to run the test in their office if they suspect it is indeed fungal.

Good luck.

[Biciclista]

Fungus is the least of your problems:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/op...ml?ref=opinion

The late Tom Anderson, the family doctor in this little farm town in northwestern Indiana, at first was puzzled, then frightened.

He began seeing strange rashes on his patients, starting more than a year ago. They began as innocuous bumps — “pimples from hell,” he called them — and quickly became lesions as big as saucers, fiery red and agonizing to touch.

They could be anywhere, but were most common on the face, armpits, knees and buttocks. Dr. Anderson took cultures and sent them off to a lab, which reported that they were MRSA, or staph infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) sometimes arouses terrifying headlines as a “superbug” or “flesh-eating bacteria.”

[Mr. Bloom]

Diagnosis - Ringworm. Doc said that Lamisil and Lotrimin and so readily available that resistant fungal strains are evolving. So, stronger creams were ordered. He said give it two weeks.

ON A BRIGHTER NOTE:

I've never been OLDER than I am right now...BUT... I've NEVER been HEALTHIER than I am right now

For the first time - IN MY LIFE - my blood work was in range in ALL CATEGORIES!
Cholesterol: 183
Triglycerides: 137 (ALWAYS a problem for me in the past)
HDL: 37 (Until I started riding, this was usually below 20)
LDL: 119
LDL/HDL: 3.22 (10 years ago, it was 9.2!!!!)
VLDL: 27

CYCLING and Healthy Eating has been good for Mr. Silver!

Can you tell I'm excited?

Maybe I should go celebrate with Fried Chicken Fingers, French Fries, and a Large Milkshake

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Congratulations on your blood tests- that is really a wonderful life change for you! You have every right to be super proud of all your efforts.

[Running Mommy]

YAY!! Great blood work mr. silver! Good job.
As for the ringworm.... ehhh... yucccckkk... Bet silver and silver daughter are just LOVING that..oy