Wrestling Hygiene

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Preventing Ringworm

 

Ringworm is a skin infection due to a fungus. Often, there are several patches of ringworm on your skin at once.

Causes

Ringworm is common, especially among children. However, it may affect people of all ages. It is caused by a fungus, not a worm like the name suggests.

Many bacteria and fungi live on your body. Some of these are useful, while others can cause infections. Ringworm occurs when a type of fungus called tinea grows and multiplies on your skin.

Ringwork can affect the skin on your:

  • Body
  • Feet
  • Groin area
  • Scalp

Ringworm can spread easily from one person to another. You can catch ringworm if you touch someone who has the infection, or if you come into contact with items contaminated by the fungus, such as combs, headgear, unwashed clothing, and shower or pool surfaces. You can also catch ringworm from pets that carry the fungus. Cats are common carriers.

The fungus that causes ringworm thrive in warm, moist areas. Ringworm is more likely when you are often wet (such as from sweating) and from minor injuries to your skin, scalp, or nails.

Symptoms

Symptoms of ringworm include:

  • Itchy, red, raised, scaly patches that may blister and ooze.
  • The patches tend to have sharply-defined edges.
  • Red patches are often redder around the outside with normal skin tone in the center. This may look like a ring.

If ringworm affects your hair, you will have bald patches.

If ringworm affects your nails, they will become discolored, thick, and even crumble.

Exams and Tests

Most of the time, your health care provider can diagnose ringworm by looking at your skin.

Treatment

To care for ringworm:

  • Keep your skin clean and dry.
  • Apply doctor proscribed creams as directed.
  • Don't wear clothing that rubs against and irritates the area.
  • Wash sheets and nightclothes every day while you are infected.

Your health care provider may prescribe pills to treat the fungus if you have:

  • A severe case of ringworm
  • Ringworm that keeps coming back or that lasts for a long time
  • Ringworm in your hair

Infected pets also should be treated.

Outlook (Prognosis)

In mild cases the proscribed skin medicine usually treats ringworm within 3 day - 1 week. If your ringworm infection is severe or it does not respond well to self-care, it will usually respond quickly to antifungal pills and could take a lot longer.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor right away if you have any signs of a bacterial infection, which can result from scratching. These signs include swelling, warm skin, sudden worsening in redness of the patches, red streaking, pus, drainage, and fever.

Call your doctor if:

  • You have ringworm on your scalp
  • Your skin does not improve after 2 weeks
  • The rash spreads and you have diabetes or a weakened immune system due to disease or certain medications
*A doctors note will be required in order to return to wrestling practices and matches

Prevention

To prevent ringworm:

  • Keep your skin and feet clean and dry.
  • Avoid touching pets with bald spots.
  • Shower immediately after practices and workouts "Don’t wait". 
  • Shampoo regularly, especially your whole body. (recommended: Head and shoulders, Selsun Blue or any shampoo with anti-fungus fighters).
  • Do not share clothing, towels, hairbrushes, combs, headgear, or other personal care items. Such items should be thoroughly cleaned and dried after use.
  • Wear sandals or shoes at gyms & lockers.
  • Wipe down wrestling shoes & headgear regularly with a disinfecting wipe
  • Wrestling shoe should only be warn on a wrestling mat.