Exact Answer: 2 To 4 Weeks
People suffer from various types of diseases and infections. This is why it is very important to be aware of all the diseases, their causes, and how long they last. Some diseases get healed soon while some take longer to heal.
It can be quite irritating to suffer from infections and wait for them to get healed. Many people suffer more because they don’t have enough knowledge about a particular disease or infection rather than because of the disease itself.
One of those infections is ringworm. It can happen to anyone and can last for weeks. We get to see many people who suffer from ringworm and don’t know the right duration it takes to heal.
How Long Does Ringworm Last?
| Type of Ringworm | Duration |
| Mild Ringworm | 2-4 Weeks |
| Severe Ringworm | 2-3 Months |
Ringworm is a fungus that causes skin infections. Fungi are microorganisms that thrive in moist, warm settings. They’re normally harmless, although they can occasionally spread disease. When they infect the skin, they generate a rash that is slight yet bothersome. Tinea infections are a type of fungal skin infection.
Ringworm can grow in various parts of the body. It can occur on the scalp, skin, nails as well. It has a different medical name for all of them. When it grows on the skin, it is known as tinea corporis. If the ringworm grows on the scalp, doctors call it tinea capitis. And, if you have ringworm on the nails, it is called onychomycosis.
Most people suffer from mild ringworm. And, in such cases, ringworm can last for 2 to 4 weeks. After that, they begin to heal. But, some people suffer from severe cases of ringworm as well. In that situation, the ringworm can take more than 2 or 3 months to heal.
A red, scaly patch or lump appears on the skin when ringworm is present. It may take on the appearance of one or more rings with raised, rough, scaly edges over time. Although ringworm is named after the ring pattern, not everyone who is sick gets it. Itchy, stinging, burning, or painful skin can flake, peel, or split.
Ringworm on the scalp might begin as a small pimple-like irritation and progress to patchy, dry, or scaly patches. Dandruff-like flakes could be present. It can cause hair to fall out or stubble to form, resulting in a bald area. It can also swell, tenderize, and redden the scalp.
Why Does Ringworm Last That Long?
The main reason why ringworm takes more than two or three weeks to get healed is that it is caused by fungi that grow on the scalp, nails, or skin. Moreover, ringworm can spread by getting in contact with an infected person as well.
Fungi is present in various parts of the body. But, when the temperature becomes warm and moist, the Fungi starts growing out of control and causes infection. Ringworms can easily spread as it is contagious.
Not just this, when a person is already suffering from ringworm and touches that area and then another part of the body, it spreads there as well. Only a few people are aware that not just humans, animals also suffer from ringworm.
Ringworm thrives in warm, damp places like public showers, and swimming pool areas. It can spread through close physical contact. That is why it is so common among persons who participate in contact sports. Combs, hats, and apparel are the items through which that can be handed on.
A doctor can identify ringworm easily only by having a look at it and asking questions. A small sample of the flaky diseased skin may be scraped off by the doctor to be examined under a microscope or tested in a laboratory.
A mild infection can be treated using over-the-counter antifungal creams, sprays, or powders. Prescription treatment, either topical or tablet or syrup form, may be required for more serious infections.
When you get the right treatment, ringworms will get healed easily. So, it can be said that the time for which the ringworm lasts also depends on its treatment.
Conclusion
No matter which disease or infection you suffer, you must be well aware of the time for which it lasts. It is quite obvious that every infection takes a different duration of time to get healed and the same is the case when it comes to ringworms.
When a person suffers from ringworm, it is better for others to not come in contact with that person. This is because the second person might also develop ringworm as it is contagious.
It is good to stay away from moist and hot temperatures to avoid getting ringworms.
References
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016524271300127X
- https://acclaimdermatology.com/blog/ringworm
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/41981222
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