HUMAN DISEASES REDEFINED

85. Ringworm

Since the constant presence of moisture at the skin surface is one of the causative factors for the formation of ringworm, a cure of hyperhidrosis (profuse sweat) should also help in overcoming this problem to some extent.

However, some additional measures, involving a change in the pattern of bathing, will be required for a complete eradication of this disease.

When we bathe , we scrub the skin, with or without the use of soap. A thin layer of cells from the outer surface of the skin gets removed due to this action. If we pour more water over the body, this ‘organic dirt’ would get washed out. If this happens, no one would develop any ringworm.

But some people, after scrubbing the skin, do not properly wash off the dirt, thus leaving the organic dirt to stay here and there on the skin itself.

The dirt of this kind being an organic matter, forms a good source of food for microbes, some fungus in this case.

When the person sweats, it moistens the organic dirt, making it receptive to the air-borne fungal spores. The latter germinate there, ‘eating up’ the dirt, and spreading to form a colony of what we call ‘ringworm’.

The prevention method requires (a) cleansing well the dirt and soap from the body while taking a shower, and (b) the avoidance of over-scrubbing the skin.

If these two are taken care of on a daily basis, the ringworm will disappear in due course on its own.

Any extra ointment may not be necessary for a cure of the problem. However, if the patch happens to be a large one, then, one can rub over the patch some gingerly oil, once or twice daily for two or three weeks, until it disappears for good.

The gingerly oil, on its own, similar to any other essential oil, is a good germicide, and does not create any side-effects.

See Sweaty Armpit, Hyperhidrosis, and Psoriasis.