Is this really ringworm?

[katem98]

Hi all. My DD is almost 21 months. Started off with a little dry patch of skin a few weeks ago, didn't think too much of it as a long term sufferer of eczema myself and so took us to the pharmacy, spoke to a pharmacist who advised Epiderm, used that for 2 weeks and no improvement really (the over the counter stuff never worked for me either, fwiw).

Went to the GP today about an ongoing chesty cough for DD and mentioned her skin, he took one quick look and said ringworm. Prescribed us Daktacort cream 1% Hydrocortisone.

Does this look like ring worm? Has anyone successfully treated ring worm with this cream? I've had a look online and apparently not even close to the best thing for it and shouldn't be used in under 10s! Here are some pictures of the patches of skin on DD, she does have other patches but not red/ inflamed.

Bump

Hi @katem98
My daughter 7mo developed a round rash on her cheek last week. Went to GP 2 days ago and she said it’s ringworm. Prescribed clotrimazole 1% which actually seems to be making it look more red and aggravated. Im wondering whether it’s actually ringworm. You mentioned you daughter has a cough too (as does mine). Is this a side effect of ringworm? I’ve added a picture of my daughters rash - does it look similar to your daughters?

Hi @Lelgold. Yes, my daughters rashes started off just like this. I read on another thread from years ago that they developed for someone else's DC after having continuous colds. I wonder if it's linked?

@katem98 🤦‍♀️ how frustrating - just want it to clear up. Sounds like these rashes tend to stick around for a while from what I’ve read!!

Clotrimazole and daktacort (miconazole) both treat fungal infections. Ringworm is a fungal infection. The addition of hydrocortisone will also help with any eczema type symptoms.

Use the cream sparingly as prescribed.

I'm not sure where you read it shouldn't be used in under 10's, as it is certainly used for infants. Often for fungal nappy rash. It might be prescription only for infants, but can be used under doctors guidance.

It does look like ringworm, but if in doubt, consult a pharmacy for another opinion. They are great with advising on rashes.

Thanks @hedgehoglurker
does anyone have any idea how long it’s contagious for once treatment has started?

It looks like ringworm, it's very typical on the back and Canesten cream should sort it. (ask pharmacist about the age, I'm not a medical professional)

It does look like ringworm. I had one patch nearly 20 years ago. Diagnosed by the pharmacist and was given cream. I had to use it daily and it took many weeks but then it just wasn't there.

To put your mind at rest op, I am pristine clean at home and personally. I had just started working at a large college and think I picked it up there. Nobody else in the family got it.

I picked it up from an animal abroad. It was terrible to get rid of as I gave it to my husband and, despite taking all the recommended precautions, we kept reinfecting each other. The prescribed creams didn’t work so we were both prescribed a course of tablets, which did. Not sure if tablets are an option for infants.

Thanks all. I wonder if tablet meds would be a possibility? I'm being really impatient, I've used the cream twice daily since Tuesday and no improvement whatsoever. I bath my children once nightly or every other night, never any less. Now I'm thinking about it, we did visit a cousin who has 3 cats, maybe one of them had it?

Even with the tablets, it wasn’t a quick fix. You can actually pick it up from gardening or playing in the garden. Not just contact with humans or animals.

My DS had a similar rash that I thought might be ringworm but the GP diagnosed discoid eczema and hydrocortisone cleared it up. It was slightly raised and rough feeling.

It does look like Ringworm. A fungal infection, highly contagious and can take up to four weeks to clear up. A good over the counter anti fungal cream will help unless it’s infected when antibiotic creams are needed.
Don’t share towels, wash her towels and bedding separately. There’s good advice on the NHS website on how to cope with it.
My granddaughter (7) has it, she’s type 1:diabetic with a compromised immune system, her gp has prescribed antibiotic cream, and is keeping an eye on it, due to her being a diabetic, may need anti fungal tablets.

@ChickenMaths I did wonder whether it was discoid eczema. I'm a long-term eczema sufferer and much of my eczema patches looked like this.

That sounds horrible for your granddaughter @Daffodilsandtuplips. I hope she gets rid of it soon!

My husband had ring shaped eczema. The GP was super confident it was something fungal. We were on holiday in a hot humid resort and he kept applying the anti-fungal stuff though it was patently obvious it was not helping. He seemed to think it would have been even worse if he didn't apply it. He wouldn't listen to me. Eventually he ended up at a dermatologist who told him the reason it looked so bad was the anti-fungal treatment that had beem prescribed and it was actually eczema. It soon quietened down with soothing steroids.

Most GPs are pretty hopeless with skin things. My son had the GP try to burn off a skin cancer. It grew back. He was in a bit of a panic. It turned out to be eczema.

@scarletisjustred Oh gosh that sounds absolutely dreadful! Your poor son.

The only thing that filled me with hope is that this particular GP ran a wart clinic at some point so assumed he had an interest in skin issues

My DS had circular patches like this which I thought might be ringworm. Turned out to be discoid eczema. Aveeno cleared it up in a few days

Thanks @Sparkm. I'm really wondering whether it's eczema. Bathed her earlier and the patches seem to be everywhere

The thing is, if it is ringworm steroid creams make it worse.
Every website I’ve looked at stresses not to use steroids.
Antibiotic fungal cream yes if infected but not steroids.

You need an antifungal cream, and you need to wash all bedding and towels in a hot wash. A jock itch or athlete's foot cream will often do the trick.

DD's clothes need to be kept in a separate laundry basket and washed hot. She shouldn't re-wear clothes.

Towels need to be washed or put in the laundry basket after use.

@katem98 this was my son's leg at its worse.

@Sparkm Crikey! How long did that take to clear up?

Only a couple of days once we started the Aveeno.

My son (11) has developed this rash on his neck.
I believe it to be ringworm and have been using clotrimazole 1% cream for 2 weeks now with no changes (if anything it’s beginning to look worse).
Does anyone have any advice on what I can do next to clear it? Or if it does look like ringworm? He suffers badly with eczema.
Thank you in advance!