Ringworm is caused by infection from the tinea fungus, which also causes athlete's foot and jock itch. Ringworm gets its name because the skin lesions typically have a ring-like appearance and expand from the borders with the inside being clear. Ringworm is very contagious and can spread from skin-to-skin contact or from sharing clothing and hats.
Step 1
Thoroughly wash all of your baby's clothes. Wash any clothing that touches the affected area of your baby, and make sure that you wash the baby's bedding every two to three days as well. Make sure you do your washing with hot water. This important to prevent the ringworm from spreading as well as lowering the risk of reinfection.
Step 2
Apply over-the-counter antifungal creams. These will contain medications such as terbinafine and miconazole. These should be applied once or twice daily. Make sure that you keep the affected areas clean and dry.
Step 3
If after one to two weeks your baby's ringworm is not improving, get a prescription for stronger antifungal creams. These contain the same ingredients as the over-the-counter varieties, but have a higher concentration of the medicine.
Step 4
Give oral antifungal medications. These are reserved for severe cases of ringworm that do not respond to creams and ointments and include terbinafine, ketoconaczole and fluticaconazole. Because babies can have a hard time swallowing pills, you should ask your pediatrician about getting the medicine in the form of granules, which can be added to food. Follow the directions on the package for dosing instructions.
Things You'll Need
- Antifungal creams and granules
