Ringworm Can Be Treated With Oregano Oil

Ringworm is a skin disease caused by some species of fungi and not by worms. This disease is so called due to its appearance as a red circular rash when the fungus infects the skin.

It is a very common skin disease, typically caused by dermatophytes, and is very contagious. You can get it from direct contact with an infected person, animal or object touched by those who are infected. Children are more prone to catching this disease since they have closer contact with each other than adults.

Causes of Ringworm
Ringworm is caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that live and spread on the top layer of our skin and hair. They thrive best in moist and warm areas such as locker rooms, swimming pools and in our skin folds. There are different types of dermatophytes which affects different parts of the body. That’s why there are different types of ringworm, such as ringworm of the body, ringworm of the foot, ringworm of the scalp and ringworm of the nails.

Ringworm on the skin usually appears appears 4 to 10 days after being infected, while ringworm of the scalp appears about 10 to 14 days after infection. For the other types of ringworm, there is no data as yet.

Ringworm Symptoms
There are telltale signs before ringworm appears on the skin. Here are some of them.

• A small pimple that grows bigger. 
• Yellowish and crusty skin areas will develop.
• Ringworm of the body will usually start as a flat, round patch in any skin part, except the scalp and feet. As the rash develops, the center will clear up and a reddish ring shape is left. There are usually several patches which sometimes overlap each other.
• Ringworm on the foot is also regarded as athlete’s foot where it manifests as cracks or scales on the skin areas between the toes.
• If the scalp is infected, the hair will become brittle and can easily break off.
• Ringworm of the hand looks like that of athlete’s foot. The palm gets thick, dry, scaly and the skin between the fingers may be moist and open sores may appear.

How Ringworm is Usually Treated
This skin disease is mostly treated at home by using over-the-counter creams and medications. Creams are used for as long as it takes. If the cream is not effective, pills and drugs are prescribed by the doctor to kill the fungus. When the skin has blisters and cracks, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics to prevent bacterial infection. The creams for ringworm contain fungicides like miconazole or clotrimazole. An oral anti-fungal medication is also prescribed to control the condition. If the symptoms persist for more than 4 weeks, the patient is usually advised to get the help of a doctor.

There is however a disadvantage to using pharmaceutical drugs, creams and antibiotics. They are made of synthetic chemicals and can produce adverse side effects for the user. Aside from that, they are not that effective in controlling ringworm.

Oregano Oil – a Wiser Alternative
Fortunately, there is a natural product, made of 100% organic substances, that is proven to be an effective anti-microbial agent. This is oregano oil, sourced from the wild oregano plant Origanum vulgare. This plant has a very long history of being used as an effective treatment for common ailments like colds, fever, stomach disorders, respiratory problems and skin diseases.

This essential oil has been the subject of hundreds of scientific studies and has been found to effectively kill bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, including dermatophytes which cause ringworm.

The Germ-Killing Capabilities of Oregano Oil
Oregano oil can stop the growth of harmful microorganisms because of the potent chemical substances which it contains. It has significant amounts of phytochemicals, phenols and flavonoids. Its two most active agents are carvacrol and thymol. There are experiments and tests that proved it can kill pathogens that are very resistant to antibiotics and antifungal treatments. One big advantage of this oil is that it has no known side effects because it is an all natural product.

Another advantage of oregano oil is its considerable amounts of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. These chemical compounds will make your body stronger and boost its immunity to disease.

Using Oregano Oil in Stopping Ringworm
It is relatively easy to use this essential oil to control ringworm. This is how it is done.

A) Topical Treatment

• Mix 1 part of oregano oil with 1 to 5 parts of virgin olive oil.
• Get a cotton ball and dip it into this mixture.
• Apply this cotton ball directly to the affected skin area.
• Repeat this procedure 2 times a day until the ringworm is cleared.

B) Internal Treatment

• Place 2 to 3 drops of oregano oil under your tongue and let it stay there for about two minutes. An alternative way is to mix 2 to 3 drops of this oil with water or juice and drink it.

The combination of topical and internal treatment will facilitate your healing.