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Ringworm on my cheek or acne?
For possibly 6-8 weeks I have had several very small bumps on my cheek like pimples that had not truly surfaced yet. The odd thing about it was that the pimples were in a circular form. I didn't think much of it. It seemed like 1 or 2 of them would come out, be red for a few days like any other pimple and eventually fade away, but for 6-8 weeks I have still had this going on. Over the weekend my aunt who hadn't seen me since, thought perhaps I had ringworm. What do you think? When I look at photos online they look very severe, scaly, dry etc. My cheek does not hurt, is not itchy unless I put a spot treatment on it, which usually dries your skin so that's why I figure it gets slightly itchy, but it is not consistently itchy. The only symptom I can see of ringworm is the circular presentation. Would you say this could be ringworm, some other infection, or just an extensive break out? Thanks!
Best Answer
Heck yes it can be ringworm. Ringworm can cause folliculitis and present like this, especially early stages of it, or certain strains.
Try applying an OTC anti-fungal ointment on the boils (clotrimazole `% twice daily or terbinafine once daily). If it's ringworm, you will see marked improvement after 1-2 days. You should keep applying the cream for the full treatment period though to make sure all the spores are gone. Run all clothes and bedlinens through a HOT dryer. And absolutely NO steroid creams on it, if it's ringworm.
Do see your dermatologist about it, but make sure they consider ringworm; as evidenced above, the diagnosis can be tricky, because it's not the "typical" appearance of ringworm with the red ring + central clearing.
Try applying an OTC anti-fungal ointment on the boils (clotrimazole `% twice daily or terbinafine once daily). If it's ringworm, you will see marked improvement after 1-2 days. You should keep applying the cream for the full treatment period though to make sure all the spores are gone. Run all clothes and bedlinens through a HOT dryer. And absolutely NO steroid creams on it, if it's ringworm.
Do see your dermatologist about it, but make sure they consider ringworm; as evidenced above, the diagnosis can be tricky, because it's not the "typical" appearance of ringworm with the red ring + central clearing.
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From the symptoms it can be nummular dermatitis or dermatitis skin. Ringworm usually does not present as bumps. The other possibility is of granuloma annulare. Apply some calamine lotion on the bumps and consult a dermatologist for examination. If it is nummular dermatitis, then antihistaminics and topical steroids may be needed whereas the treatment of fungal infections like ringworm is antifungals drugs.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your dermatologist. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.