DEAR Hawanya Brent,
Now, let’s get to preventing ringworm infection. I feel that you have to know this. Remember that an ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. In order that you can prevent ringworm infection, you have to do the following measures:
1. Keep your skin clean and dry as possible. Try to change your socks and underwear at least once a day.
2. Avoid tight fitting clothes – especially underwear, pants and panty hose. So, make it sure that you wear something loose that can freshen you up. And for men, boxer shorts are really nice.
3. Dry yourself completely after taking a bath or shower. You can also dry yourself with towel. But, be sure to air dry your skin before you dress up.
4. Please avoid sharing clothes, towels, sheets, combs, hair accessories, sports gear, or any personal items. But, if you feel that you had a brush with ringworm, be sure to wash your clothes in hot water using fungicidal soap.
5. When in public bathing places, pools, or in showers, or in gyms be sure to wear slippers or sandals.
6. If you are in a sport that will require you some skin-to-skin contact, be sure to shower and shampoo your hair thoroughly.
7. Now, if you have athlete’s foot, put on your socks before your underwear. This will prevent the spread of fungi from your feet to your groin. And when you towel off yourself, be sure to dry your feet last.
8. Do not touch your pets with patches of missing hair. They could mean fungal infection. Remember that household pets can spread fungi that can give us ringworm infection. However, if you do touch your pets, wash your hands after. And if your pet has ringworm, bring that to the veterinarian. Be sure also to wear gloves and long sleeves when you handle your pet. Try to always vacuum the areas of the house where your pet would frequently go. You can also disinfect the surfaces and bedding by using a solution of diluted chlorine bleach, benzalkonium chloride, or strong detergents. Since you still have some issues that I need to resolve, like Lotrim and for your allergies, but, we ran out of space again, so please allow me to continue settling your problem on the next issue of my column. Until then!
Dr. Fritz
(Dr. Fritz Legarde Espedilla is an aesthetic dermatologist and surgeon and a clinical sexologist. She is also trained in hypnotherapy and Medical Acupuncture. She is also in the broadcast media (dxAB 1296) for more than a decade now. For your questions, you may send them to Dear Dr. Fritz, c/o Sun.Star-Davao Publishing Inc., Ebro-Pelayo Building, Jacinto St., Davao City, (former Department of Foreign Affairs office), across Ateneo de Davao University and beside Holy Child School of Davao, or you e-mail them to dokfritz@yahoo.com. Sorry if we cannot answer all your queries. Thank you for your understanding.)