amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

kandemama · 10-29-2004, 01:10 PM

Hi Mamas,

I apoligize in advance for this but hopefully someone will be able to help me. I got out of the shower this morning and felt like my armpits were really itchy, so looked in the mirror and to my horro, I have broken out with ringworm all over my armpits!!!!! I am 99% sure this has happened becase last weekend my daughter had her friend over that has had chronic ringworm issues, and she took a shower because they had a soccer game earlier and she was sleeping over, and I think she must have used my deoderant! AGGGGGHHHHHHH!

I itch like crazy and I am so afraid I am going to make it spread or give it to my kids or something. Its only in my armpits but I don't know what to do!!!!

HELP!!!!

Gross gross gross but I am desparate!

Thank you in advance!

mzfern · 10-29-2004, 01:56 PM

Ew ew ew ew!

Sorry, I don't have much advice -- only lots of sympathy.

Quick google search turned up this:
How Are Ringworm Infections Spread?
Transmission of these fungal agents can occur by direct skin-to-skin contact with infected people or pets, or indirectly by contact with items such as barber clippers, hair from infected people, shower stalls or floors.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Are The Symptoms Of Ringworm Infections?
Ringworm of the scalp usually begins as a small pimple which becomes larger in size leaving scaly patches of temporary baldness. Infected hairs become brittle and break off easily. Occasionally, yellowish cup-like crusty areas are seen. With ringworm of the nails, the affected nails become thicker, discolored and brittle, or it will become chalky and disintegrate. Ringworm of the body appears as flat, spreading ring-shaped areas. The edge is reddish and may be either dry and scaly or moist and crusted. As it spreads, the center area clears and appears normal. Ringworm of the foot appears as a scaling or cracking of the skin especially between the toes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How Soon Do Symptoms Appear?
The incubation period is unknown for most of these agents, however ringworm of the scalp is usually seen 10 to 14 days after contact and ringworm of the body is seen four to 10 days after initial contact.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Does Infection With Ringworm Make A Person Immune?
Since so many species of fungus can cause ringworm, infection with one species will not make a person immune to future infections.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Is The Treatment For Ringworm Infections?
Your doctor may prescribe a fungicidal material to swallow as tablets or powders that can be applied directly to the affected areas. Griseofulvin is commonly prescribed for treating fungus infections.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Can Be Done To Prevent The Spread Of Ringworm?
Towels, hats and clothing of the infected individual should not be shared with others. Young children who are infected should minimize close contact with other children until effectively treated. When multiple cases occur, seek advice from your local health department.

-->Of course, no natural solution is suggested. Best of luck feeling better fast!

~Katherine

Mama_Flutterby · 10-29-2004, 03:44 PM

Oh you poor thing!!

Here is a url for some home remedies for ringworm

http://tips.tipking.com/health/Treat...fections.shtml

GL hun ~ I hope it clears up, it sounds like it's very irritating and bothersom.

thea · 10-29-2004, 05:27 PM

I had ringworm a while back. I put tea tree and lavender oil on it a couple of times a day, and it went away. Either oil would work on its own, I just used whichever I was in the mood for.

MomMom · 10-30-2004, 12:55 AM

nak
OMG! So sorry! Maybe that is what is wrong w/my dd's thumb and nail! At first I thought it was from her biting,but then it got worse. It sure did get her to stop biting. Starting yesterday I am soaking it a medicine cup w/about 30 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract and water 2x's a day for as long as she'll let me. Maybe using a rinse with the GSE would help you.Good luck!{{{HUGS}}}

kandemama · 10-30-2004, 02:28 PM

Thank you all. I have been using vinegar and over the counter anti-fungal cream, plus taking extra C and ecinecea to boost my immune system. I am sooooo scared I am going to spread it to one of my kids somehow. I have laundered every sheet, towel and article of clothing in my house adding vinegar to the wash, and am keeping my fingers crossed.

flamboozle · 11-01-2004, 12:18 AM

All the more reason not to use deodorant, jk

I can't believe that someone else thought they could share personal items like that!

MGray · 11-01-2004, 08:48 AM

We went through this recently. My dog had it and then my older DD got it. I was so confused as to why she got it and no one else in the family did. Then I discovered that the dog sleeps on her bed. ARGGG!!

Anyway - I took a T of olive oil and mixed in tea tree oil and that helped a great deal. I alternated this with perscription ant-fungal and between the 2 of them, it went away really quick. I would have used only the TTO, but we had some social events that I wanted to get it cleared up fast so we could do.

My kids also are all suseptable to seborric dermititis (cradel cap, but they aren't babies) which is also fungal. The other day, I mixed up a T of almond oil with TTO, geranium EO and Eucalyptus Lemon and sprayed it on everyone's head. It made their hair all oily and didn't smell very good, but it cleared it up really well. 2 of the kids had a really bad case and the next day it was significantly better. I sprayed it in the evening and then the next evening, I washed their hair with a TTO shampoo and they were telling me how the itchies were all gone. SO, you may want to try the combo. Oh, and if that hadn't of worked, I was gonna add oregano EO to the mix because it is a powerful anti-fungal.

Lavender isn't the best choice for cradel cap (seborric dermititis) cause it will encourage new skin growth which is the opposite of what you want. But it would probably be fine for ringworm.

Good luck, I feel your pain!
Melinda

~Hope~ · 11-01-2004, 10:33 AM

Good luck getting rid of it!

We have dealt with this twice.
First time, tea tree oil cleared it right up.
Second time, it did not.
We used powdered sulfur mixed with water and made a thick paste.
(You can buy sulfur at a drug store, my mil had some around the house to repel snakes.)

Hope

kandemama · 11-01-2004, 12:26 PM

Thanks. I am using a combo of tea tree oil and OTC anti-fungal cream. The surrounding skin seems to have broken out in a rash as a result of all these products on my skin. Does anyone have a guess as to how long it will take to go away?

chococat · 11-01-2004, 01:39 PM

Our life saver was collodial silver.

My dog had ringworm and I rubbed collodial silver on it daily and gave it to him orally. I also added pau'd arco tea into his water and dog food, as well as black walnut powder to boost his internal healing.

His ringworm went away and nobody else got it. I also perplexed the vet because I returned the noxious dip she gave me unused.

deb215 · 11-07-2004, 02:54 PM

toss your razor, bar soap, deodorent etc. anything that she could have used (or ask her what she used)

an OTC antifugal cream should work good, maybe goldbond powder or cream would work well also.

good luck and hope the yuckys go away quickly

kandemama · 11-07-2004, 08:07 PM

Thank you mamas for all your great advice. I am happy to say that its almost gone, and I think it was tea tree oil that did the trick. I used OTC anti-fungal before work (so the fumes from the tea tree would not know people out) and when at home I used tea tree. I have washed everything in my house with vinegar added to the wash and used a clean towel each time I showered. I am very thankful that neither of my kids got it.

The really scary thing about the child that I think I got it from is that her and her brother have been passing it back and forth to each other for over a YEAR! I was really mad at that mom for not letting me know they still had it, but I think I will tell her about the tea tree and vinegar and hopefully it will help them too.

Thanks again!