Am I right in thinking this is ringworm?

[Muddledmotherhood]

Went to the chemist today, where I got a very brief answer. He basically looked at it and said, hmm yeah kinda 😳 we’re on holiday at the moment so I can’t just pop down to my GP either which is frustrating.

To me it looks like it but then I can’t be certain. I’ve purchased a topical cream that is meant for it and I’m praying it works! I’ve literally no idea about ring worm tbh and I thought the chemist might have been a bit more helpful.

Am I right in thinking all clothes and bedding need to be hot washed at the highest temp, are there any other things I should know, to stop it from spreading or coming back?
Thanks in advance.

[gamerchick]

Looks like it to me. It's nothing to panic over though, it's just a fungus and it's pretty early on. Just treat it and keep it covered if you're worried about it spreading. It's easy treated.

[Randomnumbers7483]

Yes, looks exactly like it to me. I had exactly that on my arm.

You need an anti-fungal Canesten type cream. Canesten cream itself would be perfect (the stuff that comes in the box with the pessary) as it is 2% so stronger than the 1% stuff they sell for skin fungal issues. Put it on a couple of times a day and it should be gone in a couple of weeks.

A topical or steroid cream will just make it worse. You definitely need anti-fungal.

[Muddledmotherhood]

Thank you 😊 I will keep applying the cream for the 4 weeks and pray that it goes away.
I can’t work out where it has come from the only thing that I can think of is I’ve caught it possibly from a public bathroom that used recently. We have indoor cats at home though so I’m wondering if it’s from them possibly?!
Hopefully it will clear, hasn’t been the best start to our holiday 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Randomnumbers7483]

I also wouldn’t stress over washing at high temp, just put everything through a normal wash and wash your hands if you touch the ringworm as it is contagious. If it is anywhere that will come into contact with other skin (back of knee so you bend your leg and the other area of skin can touch it for example) then you do need to keep it covered over or you will end up with it spreading.

[snowbear66]

It looks a bit like eczema as well but could be ringworm.
Ringworm is a kind of fungal infection like athletes foot. Just avoid sharing clothing or towel.
I had similar, cleared up after a week of using anti-fungal/topical steroid cream, don't worry.

[Muddledmotherhood]

This is the one they sold me, just seen it says 1% on it though. Which canesten cream is it please, they have so many out now, I’m never sure which is the correct one ?

[Randomnumbers7483]

Ah, if you have cats definitely check them over. Ringworm on cats will look like little bald spots in their fur. You can catch it from them. Even if they are indoor I believe they can get it if their immunity is low of something, same as we can get Thrush if we are run down - we don’t need to actually “catch it” from somewhere.

[Randomnumbers7483]

The cream you have will work, it just may be a bit slower as it is half the strength of the Canesten one. It is the same ingredient just at a weaker strength.

[Muddledmotherhood]

Ah thank you, I did google it earlier and they had a huge list of needing to steam the mattress, white vinegar all the clothes. Was thinking Christ may as well burn it all, but good to know that I just need to make sure everything is washed. It’s on my back, so luckily isn’t touching any other part of my skin thank goodness.

I did wonder if it was eczema, I get it bad on my hands and when I was younger my whole body was covered in it too! I’ve also been reacting to certain chemicals in my skincare so it’s hard to pin point which it could be. The shape of it made me instantly think of ringworm though.

[ClinkyMonkey]

DS and I both had ringworm a couple of years ago and it looked very much like your photo. Pharmacist gave me an antifungal cream which did the trick. We had to keep using it for a week (maybe 2) after the rash cleared to make sure it was gone. Other than being careful about touching rash, then touching someone else, we just went about our normal business. No hot washes etc. Maybe you're thinking of thread worms.

[Randomnumbers7483]

If you google Canesten Thrush Combi or Canesten Thrush Duo the external cream that comes in the pack will be twice as strong as the one you have - it is 2%. I don’t know if you can buy it on its own though?

[ClinkyMonkey]

Sorry, loads of cross posts - I'm very slow!

[Randomnumbers7483]

Yes, you can - just found it in Superdrug!

[winnybella]

Ringworm or pityriasis rosea mother patch perhaps? Is it on your chest or tummy?

[Muddledmotherhood]

Ooh thank you, will go and grab that tomo!

Oh that’s okay then, I thought I was going to be washing for the next 7 days on the trot. It was on a page from google about all these these cleaning things I needed to do, I did check the NHS webpage and it didn’t state any of that though, so that’s handy to know that it isn’t necessary.

It’s just on my lower back a little near my waist. Weirdly it doesn’t itch at all though, just feels a little tight.

[Muddledmotherhood]

Forgot to ask am I right in thinking everything needs to be washed daily, even the clothes that I wear?

I read about having to soak your brush too but I’m guessing that is if you have the infection in your scalp?

[llangennith]

DD2 caught ringworm from the stables and spread it to me before we got it diagnosed by the doctor. Tablets didn't work for us so we were prescribed a 7 day course of tablets which cleared it up.
Beware of it spreading to your scalp as it can kill off hair follicles.
Go to the doctor!