Chronic Ringworm, Hereditary Predisposition, Help!

[PT1964]

My doctor told me that I have a genetic predisposition to ringworm. I have fought this unfriendly fungus off and on for over 10 years. (43/F)  I have taken Griseofluvan, Diflucan, and tried every topical cream, oil, and alternative remedy I can find. I took Griseofluvan for over 4 months with no improvement, and quit the treatment because of the toxic effects. The doctor said there was nothing she could do, that it was systematic, and I would never get rid of it. I resolved myself to live with the rash, and until recently I have managed to maintain the rash to one area on my arm over the last 5 years. This was bearable because I could hide it under a shirt. But now I have a horrible patch of new lesions on my thigh. There are 4 new typical lesions, expanding rapidly, about 1/2" diameter each and expanding into the circular ring formation. The OTC treatments are having no effect. Isn't there some other drug that I can take to get rid of this? What about Amphiteri-something-B? Is this going to take over my body and infect my heart, lungs, or brain? Please help -- I fear the ringworm may eat me alive!

[krisoula21]

Maybe you can try Tea tree oil.You can put in lotions for skin and in shampoo and conditioner for head.GOOD LUCK

[malee168]

My now 11yr old daughter has had what I now is ringworm all over different places of her body since she was 6yrs old. She was exposed in a daycare and never got rid of it since. We have been to many Drs about it, they all say not ringworm, but when I have them culture it. it always is positive for it. She has spread it to all of us in the family and always gets them. I believe it is harboring in her hair, but the Drs say its really dry scalp and since she hasnt lost pacths in her hair it wasnt it. She has the dry round patches in her hair but no hair loss and yet agiain when they cultured it before it was postive for ringworm. What should a mother do? She has spread it to class mates and has become very self consious of her self because of it.

[Moydokes]

My grandson's case sounds so similar to your daughter's. We finally found success with Terbinafine after his ringworm appeared to morph into EAC (ERYTHEMA ANNULARE CENTRIFUGUM). According to his dermatologists, the EAC skin disease was, more than likely, feeding on the ringworm fungus. Treatment was based on hundreds of hours of research, and yet was still somewhat guesswork. But, it worked beautifully for him. It cleared everything up in less than 2weeks. We continued low doses of terbinafine for several weeks, and then discontinued. For about 6 months, his skin was totally clear, then we noticed a few ringworm lesions starting about 3 weeks ago. We tried all the topicals for a couple of weeks, even the prescription cream, but his ringworm doesn't respond to them at all.  So last week, we started him on a low dose of the terbinafine again, and his lesions are almost all cleared up already. Hope this helps you. My grandson has no exposure to cats, and I nearly wore myself out washing sheets daily, etc. Nothing I did had any effect.

[amanda772]

I found that my ringworm (huge mass on both shoulders) developed when I was carrying a lot of stress and anger due to something that occurred in my life a few months earlier.

Once the psyco-emotional burden was dealt with, a normal anti-fungal/natural treatment and a healthy diet with negligable sugar and flour consumption helped me get rid of it.

I think it was mostly my stress that was inhibiting my immune system.
Check out www.emofree.org (? or just google 'EFT')

[amanda772]

I found that my ringworm (huge mass on both shoulders) developed when I was carrying a lot of stress and anger due to something that occurred in my life a few months earlier.

Once the psyco-emotional burden was dealt with, a normal anti-fungal/natural treatment and a healthy diet with negligable sugar and flour consumption helped me get rid of it.

I think it was mostly my stress that was inhibiting my immune system.
Check out www.emofree.org (? or just google 'EFT')

[PT1964]

Thanks for your quick reply. You mentioned other areas of the body, so I thought I would add to my "history". When I was about 19, I had horrible athletes foot on just one foot. It lasted for two years, never responded to treatment, then suddenly disappeared. In my 20s, I had vitiligo (white patches on back). This was treated with lamisil and resolved quickly. I have always had a predisposition for vaginal yeast infections, though after childbirth this is much better. (Avoiding coffee and sugar helps). About 10 years ago, i developed the first ringworm on my body (hip). About 6 months later, on my scalp. Oral meds cleared up the scalp and my hair grew back, but body tinea persisted. It has always remained as one "transient" lesion. It moved from my hip to my arm then another spot on my arm. It was never in more than one spot at a time. All of the oral meds (5 years ago) did nothing except make me sick and kill a few liver cells. For five years, this one spot has stayed in the same spot on my upper arm, medial. This recent situation is scary--4 big patches in a week just pop up on my thigh (right during swim suit season LOL). I am sure the common oral meds will do nothing again. Was curious about Ampho-B as an option. I wonder if there have been any studies on chronic hereditary predisposition to fungal infections?

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi

I do understand your concern. This does not sound systemic to me unless this involves other areas of the body such as the mouth, the esophagus, the lungs etc. At this point. Amphotericin B may not be indicated. Fungal infections do recur and they may persist. In your case, the rash appears on the arm and thighs (is this correct?). This may be controlled with a topical antifungal medication. You may have to use medications with a combined steroid and antifungal properties. Oral medications may be resumed when the rash persists and progresses despite the topical medications.