Relief for Scalp Ringworm

Updated on September 01, 2008
D.C. asks from Dallas, TX
12 answers

My 5 year old grandson developed a quarter size circle on his scalp. The doctor said it was ringworm and recommended Lamicil, which is for athlete's foot. My daughter, his mom, says she's still treating it but it's been about a month and the patch remains. Also the hair is not growing back in that area. I know ringworm is a fungus and will take a while to treat but is there some other treatment anyone out there knows of with better results?

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So What Happened?

WOW!! I was overwhelmed by all the varied responses I received to my request. You guys totally ROCK! And Mamasourse is an incredible network of caring, informed mamas. I love it. An extra special thank you to Veronica C at the dermatologist office. Well because we saw what we thought was another small patch appearing on his scalp, we were able to immediately get him in to see his pediatrician who prescribed an oral liquid medication. He takes 2 tspns twice a day for 6-8 wks. Seems this was the 1st she had heard about it, though his dad says he called her. Hmmm...but that's another story. But she also said only an oral medication would effectively treat it. He's only been on it a week so real results haven't been seen yet...but gosh we feel so much better. Thank you so much to everyone who answered. I'll keep all the remedies in mind in the event we need any for future use.

Featured Answers

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M.D.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter had a 50 cent piece ringworm on her scalp. I can't remember what I treated it with, but I do remember it was for athlete's foot as well. It was in a round container and I would scoop out a little and put it on the spot. It took a long time for the hair to start growing back in. I don't think there is a worse place to get ringworm because it is so visible.

M. D.
Independent Wine Consultant
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R.B.

answers from Dallas on

Hi D., I'm a married mother of two wonderful kids and once when my kids changed daycares, my daughter came home with the ringworm which is not good for girls because of the hair loss. My husband and I used Tinactin Cream(also for athlete's foot) that you can purchase over-the-counter. I think the key is to wash regularly and apply the cream to the ringworm daily with out using other hair products in the head that could help the fungus grow (dryness decreases the chances of fungual growth). The Dr. can prescribe oral treatment as well if the ringworm lingers too long but I would try the cream first. You should see the hair start growing back within a month though. This is a sign that the treatment is working and you should continue the treatment for 2-3 months.
Good Luck!!

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S.N.

answers from Dallas on

My 2-year old son recently had ringworm on his scalp as well. His pediatrician said that a topical cream won't work on the scalp, so he prescribed an oral medication. My son had to take it for 6 weeks to make sure the fungus was dead, but it worked. The patch appeared to be gone around 3 or 4 weeks into the treatment, but he had to continue the medicine for the full 6 weeks. The hair grew back just fine in that spot. I think the longer it goes untreated, the less likely it is that the hair will grow back. I think the medication is called Griseofulvin.

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C.H.

answers from Dallas on

Ask your pharmacy for something stronger.
It should go right away.
Lamisil is not working.

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T.A.

answers from Dallas on

My son got ringworm on his scalp when he was little, and the doctor said that any topical treatment or ointment wouldn't work because the scalp's natural oils would interfere. So, the doctor ended up prescribing a medication by mouth, Unfortunately, that was so long ago, I don't remember what the name of it was. I know it took a little longer to heal, but it finally did. My son is now 13 years old and still to this day has a scar. Ask your dr. for an oral treatment. Hope this helps.

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S.S.

answers from Dallas on

A couple of years ago my son got it on his arm. The pediatrician said over the counter do not work & gave us a prescription for a topical cream- Econazole Nitrate Cream, 1%. It worked immediately & never came back. BTW, I have a friend who had athletes foot that never went away no matter what over the counter he used, I gave him the cream & it cured his athletes foot!

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

I had what turned out to be ringworm on my arm last year. I happened to mention it to my doctor on a routine visit, and she prescribed a nystatin cream for it.

It's available by prescription and it's not expensive. It only took a little and I still have the rest of the tube for any recurrence.

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T.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi, my son had one on his head to and it took like 3 months to go away. Bad thing about it it that you can still see the circle scar when he gets his hair cut. His doc said it would go away but it's been a year because i remember wanting it to go away before school started last year and it didn't.

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M.P.

answers from Dallas on

If the circle is bald in the middle too, it might not be a ringworm. If thats the case, ask the dr about alopecia.

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S.P.

answers from Dallas on

I know all about this...we just had a kitten literally covered in it. My children were prevented from getting it and I was practically paranoid about it myself but I'm slightly immune compromised and ended up with some anyway.

I read all of the OTC ointments to see which said it would cure in 1 week. Then I bought one of those in the store brand. Instead of following the directions of putting it on once a day-I put it on every time I went in the bathroom. At night I put it on and experimented with various types of bandages until I found one that allow the air to reach through but didn't dry up the ointment too fast. What I found was most commerical bandages don't work well. Best thing was a square of toilet paper held in place with first aide tape. Hard to use in the hair though.

Along with that, I've been taking odorless Garlic capsules because garlic kills fungus. Mine cleared up quickly-I'd say in about a week and half. There's still a shiny spot where it was and the hair hasn't grown back in yet but it's not "alive" anymore. It does take a while for the skin/scalp to fully recover and in some cases, if it was REALLY bad the spot may not ever grow hair back and be like a scar. That doesn't happen often in this current day and time though.

Hope that helps. My daughter is 6 and I doubt she could swallow garlic pills like I do but I do know you can get liquid form and stir it into juice. Orange juice hides it best that way. (I've done that too in the past.) Garlic will also fight other infections and boost immunity and repel mosquitos and there are no ill effects. The odorless variety prevents us from reeking of it too which is a plus.

I wish him the best in his fight to recover!

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V.C.

answers from Dallas on

He needs to be seen by a dermatologists. I work for one in Grand Prairie and ringworm of the scalp is hard to treat. Only oral medications will help to get deep in the hair follicles. You can give our office a call @###-###-#### or if you already know a dermatologist make an appointment. Topicals arent going to help.

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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

Mix 2 drops of peppermint oil with 4 drops of olive or almond oil and apply to the spot several times a day. It won't sting; it smells good and should clear up the spot in a couple weeks. Hope this helps.

Blessings
M

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