Here are some facts and information as to what ringworm is, and how to avoid and get rid of it.

Ringworm is a fungal infection. There are various types of this infection, most common are athlete's foot and jock itch.

There are debates as to whether or not you can get these fungal infections from direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person (or your pet!). The most common ways people get ringworm is poor hygiene, which means not washing and disinfecting mats. Not washing, and putting on damp dirty/sweaty clothes, and not showering right after a workout! (I’ll touch on the last one in a second.)

I would say that many cases are caused by something out of your control, like working out on an “unclean” mat, or a partner that really needs to clean his workout stuff!

What to do when you get it.
First, treat it ASAP! I highly recommend Lamisil AT. There are two types of Lamisil, the “blue” package, which is for athletes foot, and the “green” package which is for jock itch. For whatever reason, the “blue” one seems to work much better for ringworm. Here’s how you should treat it.
1. Clean the area (or use right after your shower) and apply at least 3 times a day. The itching will stop almost immediately, the redness will go away within a day or two.
2. Best times to apply, after your morning shower or after you’ve washed up. Make sure you clean the infected area with soap and warm water, dry it off, than apply. Do the same thing after practice and before you go to bed at night.
3. You MUST do this for at least 10 days! Although the infection will look like it's pretty much gone (if you do the above) within a few days, the infection is still just under the skin. Continued treatment will insure you wipe it out.

One of the best ways to avoid getting ringworm is to shower right after practice! I don’t know why, but over the last several years this has changed. I mean really, how gross is it to come off the mat after a tough 2 hour practice, change into your street clothes then go home and “eventually” shower… NASTY! Ringworm is a fungus, it has to “grow”. If you wash right after, the chances of you getting it drop dramatically!

I hope this answers some questions and helps people out.

The best prescription is mentex it works unbeliveable.If you have it in the scalp because of the hair folicles you will need the pill form.

Just for the record, i had the worst ringworm of all time. Not only did i have it on my scalp andit eventually balded in that area, i developed a rare form of it called a Kerion. A kerion is an enflamed ringworm, it got enflamed cause of people hitting it durring wrestling. I took the Lamisal Pill and Spectizol cream, which are both prescription. Your best bet is to see a dermitologist if you have ringworm because the DR can give you a not to let you wrestle and all the best creams.

-Keep yourself clean, it is not worth the ridicule you will get for having it, or the stupid question about it actually being a "worm"