ringworm?

[krysna]

I'm 19 years old. I've had 3 ringworm outbreaks in less than a year, but I'm still not sure if it's ringworm. It always starts out with 1, 2, or 3 small red bumps. All the bumps have a white head and can be ruptured. If i scratch it or rupture the bumps by applying cream, it spreads. It is itchy, but only sometimes. But it never forms a circle. The bumps itself is in a circular form, but it is just a cluster of small raised bumps, not a ring with a clear center. When the bumps rupture it forms a crust over the bump. When i put Lotrimin on it, it stops growing and does eventually dry up but even though i used it for a while even after the ringworm cleared, i found another ringworm 5 months later (today). I'm really frustrated. My sister told me to use Triamcinolone acetonide for this new ringworm and the ointment is anti bacterial and not anti fungal. I'm a little skeptical to use it (i have seen pictures of numular eczema though and what i have does look like it once it spreads a little more). My doctor is far away so i haven't been to the doctor. Also, when the ringworm dries it gets darker and dry, and leaves a scar. I've had it on my lower back, lower stomach, and now right above my armpits. I put lotrimin on it for an hour, thne my sister wiped it off and put the Triamcinolone on it. I'm hoping the Triamcinolone will atleast dry it up and keep it from growing. Will it? And what do you think this is; ringworm or eczema? Thank you!

[krysna]

And thank you for your comment.

[krysna]

I didn't get diagnosed but by using the medication and seeing which ones helped to  clear the rash, i decided it is ringworm. I used Triamcinolone acetonide on it for the first day. After I stopped, it grew twice as big. So you were right to say that the steroids would make ringworm worse. So after the first day I used lotrimin and it still grew. It's been four days of me putting it on the whole day and it's drying up. The blisters are almost gone and the rash is now just scaly, red, stripping, and hurts to touch. When I needed to scratch I just scratched outside of it (more than an inch outside) and it stopped itching. So i'll continue using lotrimin for another 3 to 4 weeks and hope this never comes back.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
without examination we cannot differentiate whether it is ringworm or nummular dermatitis. From the description(dry, red, itchy), it seems like nummular dermatitis but exact confirmation has to be done first. Steroids like triamcinolone prescribed in nummular dermatitis can worsen the symptoms if it is ringworm.

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.

[babiiidee]

i have a ringworm on my right boob and it has never itched just red and a circle.. my dad gave me triamcinolone acetonide cream to put on it once i applied it on there it got itchy and burned a little bit. is that dangerous for me? should i be worried? can i lose my right boob? what do i do?