I have developed a round, red, itchy lesion on my leg. It has gradually increased in size over the last number of weeks and is now an unsightly ring. What is it and how can I get rid of it?
Conventional Remedy: From your description this sounds like a case of ringworm. Tinea corporis, the medical term for ringworm, is a fungal infection which usually affects the trunk, arms and legs. The characteristics of ringworm are pink or red plaques, the spreading borders of the lesion are often inflammed and the centre is clear giving it a circular or ringed appearance. This fungal infection can also affect the scalp resulting in an inflamed, pustular mass.
Ringworm infection can occur in outbreaks and may be linked to animal fungi such as microsporum canis, which may be found in the family pet. Horses are another common source of ringworm. Cattle ringworm is common in farmers.
Treatment for skin ringworm is with topical creams and ointments such as terbinafine, miconazole or clotrimazole. Scalp ringworm always requires treatment with oral antifungal agents for a six to 10-week period.
To confirm the diagnosis you should visit your GP. If there is any doubt as to the exact diagnosis or if it is not responding to initial treatment, he will arrange for a sample of skin cells (skin scraping) to be sent to a laboratory for microscopic examination. This test will identify the exact fungus causing the condition and the most suitable treatment to clear it.
Alternative Remedy: The condition you describe is probably ringworm although you should have this confirmed by a visit to your GP or a medical herbalist.
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin and can affect many sites. It may be caught from kittens and puppies and farmers are suspectible to cattle ringworm. This contagious condition responds well to treatment with herbal medicine. I advise patients to take herbs internally and apply them externally. Herbs such as Echinacea, burdock, blue flag root, marigold, clivers and thuja combine well to enhance the body's resistance while some have marked anti-fungal action.
Herbalists often make up their own creams for skin conditions. My own favourite for ringworm is to use a base of marigold cream and add in a combination of three herbs: blood root, thuja and golden seal. This combination exerts a powerful anti-fungal effect and also provides some relief from the itching which is a feature of this condition.
Caution should be exercised not to spread the infection to other parts of the body. Take care when drying yourself after a shower and don't share towels while you have this rash.
Helen McCormack, medical herbalist
The Irish Association of Medical Herbalists, tel: 061-924268
patientquery@irish-times.ie