Category: Health

Picture Parade Five Hundred and One

Once more pictures from UnSplash.

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Makes me feel sleepy just looking at these gorgeous dogs!

Emergency event.

It may not be so rare as one thinks.

Last Sunday the BBC (Radio 4) broadcast a programme entitled Are You Ready. The programme was presented by Lucy Easthope: “Lucy Easthope is on a mission to find out how we can become better prepared as individuals and as a society.”

It was thirty-minutes long and contained very useful information. I wanted to share further information found online.

Firstly on YouTube.

Be prepared for a blackout with this emergency kit! Don’t get caught in the dark – watch this video to see what essentials you need to have on hand. In this video I want to help you be prepared for when the power goes OUT. Your emergency kit can be a lifeline when the lights go out. With these preps, you can help keep you and your loved one’s safe. Don’t wait until it’s too late – start preparing now for peace of mind in 2024 and beyond. Watch till the end and I’ll share with you 3 ADDITIONAL items that are non-nucket items but can be a HUGE blessing in a power outage.

LIST OF GEAR IN THIS VIDEO: 5 gallon buckets: https://amzn.to/3L6crXS (If you want one, here’s a label maker I use: https://amzn.to/3VYnqca)

BUCKET #1:

Freeze-dried food: https://amzn.to/4bnFPUu

Canned food – get this at your local grocery store

Pepperoni sticks: https://amzn.to/3VWAAqi

Clif Bars: https://amzn.to/45G25aG

Powerade: https://amzn.to/45YtPI5

Gatorade: https://amzn.to/45YtPI5

Mentos: https://amzn.to/3xziLEl

Starburst: https://amzn.to/3zvkuLi

BUCKET #2:

Toilet paper: https://amzn.to/3XIFOXU

Exotac 16 Hour Candle: https://amzn.to/4bgaxyM

Bag of rice: https://amzn.to/4ckwwFW

Bottled Water: https://amzn.to/3XHaSY6

BUCKET #3:

3M Duct Tape: https://amzn.to/4bBN1MZ

Anker battery: https://amzn.to/3L0Qf1r

Batteries: https://amzn.to/3xLvZxI

Bleach: https://amzn.to/4eCJ659

Soap: https://amzn.to/3znY3rK

MyMedic First Aid Kit: https://tinyurl.com/3nfbz9bs

Plugs, instructions for electronics, and cash

Lantern – a batter one from UCO: https://amzn.to/4ciik06

Hybridlight Lantern: https://amzn.to/3L2x5Z0

Candles: https://amzn.to/4bkuynR

Energizer headlamps: https://amzn.to/4ciUHor

Huge flashlight: https://amzn.to/4eFB3o4

Emergency radio: https://amzn.to/3XFCrBd

Meat thermometer: https://amzn.to/3xwj7M1

BONUS RECOMMENDATIONS: Blankets and a fan

+ Power Bank from Anker: https://amzn.to/3zlFcgV

Solar panels for power bank: https://amzn.to/3znYTVq

Secondly, from The Guardian newspaper.

As a former Red Cross emergency volunteer in London, I have experienced that events such as blackouts, gas leaks and floods aren’t as uncommon as we would like to think. I have a camping bag as a “go bag” containing:
* toilet roll
* soap
* toothbrush and toothpaste
* a change of clothes, walking shoes and a raincoat
* a blanket
* a first-aid kit with added blister plasters and water filtration tablets
* 2 large bottles of water
* four days’ worth of non-perishable snacks (cereal bars, crackers, flapjack type things)
* a battery and solar-powered radio
* a battery and solar-powered torch
* a map and compass
* a small address book containing my loved ones’ home addresses.

There you are.

I thought we had a ‘go bag’ prepared but it must have been me thinking of it and nothing more.

Time to turn ideas into actions! Plus we have two dogs plus two caged birds that would not be left behind.

P.S. I have found the two large boxes we had purchased a while ago plus a list of the items to be taken in the event of an emergency. However these were in the garage and had been forgotten. So now they are in the home and will be prepared for use in that emergency.

Cambridge University and our brains.

Scientists have identified five ages of the human brain.

“Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge have identified five “major epochs” of brain structure over the course of a human life, as our brains rewire to support different ways of thinking while we grow, mature, and ultimately decline.”

So wrote Fred Lewsey. Fred is the Communications Manager (Research) and is Responsible for: School of the Humanities and Social Sciences. (And I took this from this site.) He went on to report that: Four major turning points around ages nine, 32, 66 and 83 create five broad eras of neural wiring over the average human lifespan.

Being in my early 80’s I was most interested in that last turning point. This is the information about that era:

The last turning point comes around age 83, and the final brain structure epoch is entered. While data is limited for this era, the defining feature is a shift from global to local, as whole brain connectivity declines even further, with increased reliance on certain regions.

“Looking back, many of us feel our lives have been characterised by different phases. It turns out that brains also go through these eras,” added senior author Prof Duncan Astle, Professor of Neuroinformatics at Cambridge.

“Many neurodevelopmental, mental health and neurological conditions are linked to the way the brain is wired. Indeed, differences in brain wiring predict difficulties with attention, language, memory, and a whole host of different behaviours”

“Understanding that the brain’s structural journey is not a question of steady progression, but rather one of a few major turning points, will help us identify when and how its wiring is vulnerable to disruption.”

The research was supported by the Medical Research Council, Gates Foundation and Templeton World Charitable Foundation. The full report may be read here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2505656-your-brain-undergoes-four-dramatic-periods-of-change-from-age-0-to-90

Finally, here is an image of this amazing organ that we humans have.

Photo by BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA on Unsplash

Picture Parade Four Hundred and Ninety-Eight

Today, I am publishing a video.

That is a wonderful video!

“Rejected by his mother, Richard found love and security with the most unlikely of friends — a guard dog who adopted him as one of his own.”

Richard’s social media: / richardandtheguardians

About Bark & Bond: At Bark & Bond, we believe that there is nothing more powerful — and simple — than the way a dog changes our routine. Whether it’s with a look full of expectation, an unexpected lick or just by being there, silent, sharing the same space.

Connections across the miles

This world of blogging opens up incredible connections!

Recently I had a ‘Like’ from someone that I hadn’t come across before. As is my response to such events, I went across to their blog site to thank them by adding a ‘Like’ to their blog site. Then I found it was about street dogs and I started reading their posts. I was blown away by the integrity of the author and he was blogging from Kabul!

I am only going to republish three of the stories today but will be coming back with more.

Panagah Amn

A humanitarian project in Kabul dedicated to building a safe shelter for stray and injured animals.

The shelter is in its early stages, and with your support, we can bring it to life.

Our goal is to provide food, medical care, and protection.

Panagah Amn is a small but passionate initiative dedicated to helping stray and injured animals in Kabul, Afghanistan. Our shelter was born from a deep sense of compassion and responsibility toward the many dogs and cats suffering in the streets without food, medical care, or shelter.

We welcome support from individuals and organizations who share our vision. Together, we can build a safer world for all living beings.

Staying with their website, I want to share these pictures with you.

He had no name…
Perhaps because no one had ever paused for even a moment to ask him:
“What is your name, silent little angel?”
The cold of the night had settled over the road, and the car lights passed one after another beside his blood‑stained body…
No one slowed down.
No one turned their head to see his pain.
As if he were invisible — like a dry leaf pushed aside by the wind.
But he was not invisible…
He felt the pain, he felt the fear, and with every fading breath, he swallowed the loneliness.
His body lay on the gravel, his eyes half‑open, as if he was still waiting…
Waiting for someone who, just once, would look at him with kindness.
When I arrived, the blood was still fresh…
If I had reached just 20 minutes earlier, maybe…
Maybe I could have saved him.
Maybe I could have whispered:
“You are not alone… I am here.”
But it was too late.
He had already chosen to leave the pain of this earth and return to the sky…
To the arms of the angels — where no cars would ever drive past his heart again.
No one was even willing to lift his tiny body from the road…
As if he had no worth.
As if a life filled with silence and waiting meant nothing.
But to me, he mattered.
I lifted him from the road…
Not as a stray dog, but as a soul who deserved to be farewelled with dignity.
I buried him…
With shaking hands, yet with a heart that wanted — at least once — for someone to be kind to him.
In that moment, he taught me something…
Despite his wounds, despite his pain, his eyes were still full of kindness.
His gaze seemed to say:
“I wish everyone were like you…”
But the truth is:
I wish everyone were like him non‑judgmental, gentle, with a heart that remained free of hatred, even in the final breath.

If this story touched your heart… please don’t stay silent.
For him, it’s already too late…
But there are still hundreds of “him” breathing on our streets,
and each one needs just one kind human for their life to change.
Please…

Be the voice of these silent angels.

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It was Friday… As every week, I set out with an 8-kilogram bag of food to visit those whom the world has forgotten, yet I have never been able to forget them…
From afar, the scene I saw made my heart tremble. Little puppies ran toward me with excitement and hope, so happy as if the entire world had become kind to them with just this one meal. Some were so hungry they could barely run, yet with shining eyes, they looked at me, as if saying: “You came… today we are saved.”
Amid all the sounds, joy, and excitement, my eyes fell on one—a gaze silent yet screaming a thousand cries…
A dog, thin, wounded, and trembling… standing in the middle of the road, afraid, yet hopeful. Fear kept him from approaching… as if he had come close to kindness many times before, only to be met with stones, kicks, and cruelty. And he had every right to be afraid… truly.
As I stepped closer, I saw something no animal lover ever forgets: his ears were gone… both torn off. The scars on his head were still visible… and his leg was injured, probably struck by stones multiple times. Yet… despite all this pain, despite all the suffering… he was still calm. He didn’t bark, growl, or attack… he just looked.
He had been hurt by humans… yet he still had hope in them.
I gently placed the food on the ground. He took a step back… fearful, hesitant. Then, with utmost caution, he came forward, took a bite, and stepped back again, as if saying: “Forgive me… I’m not used to someone treating me kindly.”
I wished I could approach, clean his wounds, and show him that not all humans are cruel. But he ran away… not from me, but from memories that resembled “me.”
But that gaze… that final look that still lingers in my heart like a dagger… eyes full of tears, untold words, gratitude, and fear… as if saying: “Thank you… for a meal. Maybe today is not my last day.”
As he walked away, his legs trembled… not only from hunger, but from life… from loneliness… from being forgotten.
On my way back, this question kept turning in my mind like a painful melody:
Until when? Until when must voiceless animals suffer from human cruelty? Until when will every meal be their only hope for survival? Until when will we just watch?
In Kabul, there are hundreds of animals like him. Some die from hunger, some from stones thrown by children and adults, and some like him… with wounds never healed, yet when they see a morsel of food, gratitude shines in their eyes.
I am alone… but my dream is big.
I want to build a shelter: a place where no animal dies from hunger, cold, disease, or violence. A place where they can learn once more that humans can be kind.
But this is impossible without your support. We need a sponsor, a foreign donor, or a compassionate organization to take the first step. Perhaps you know someone… perhaps your introduction could save a life.
If you can help, collaborate, or want to get in touch with us, please contact us via the email on our website. You can be the hope for an animal’s tomorrow… with a subscription, a referral, or a small step of support.
Sometimes, saving the world is impossible… but saving “a world” for one animal is possible. And perhaps today, it is our turn to change the world for one of them.

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Dogs are so precious. What some humans do is beyond Jean and me, and, thankfully many thousands of other people.

But that doesn’t alter the fact that stray street dogs exist.

I won’t pontificate but the message is clear.

Thank you, Dr. Mateullah Abrahemi.

Let me copy some more text about the founder:

Dr. Mateullah Abrahemi, the founder of Panagai Amn in Kabul, is a committed and compassionate advocate for stray animals, especially street dogs. With a deep belief in the right to life and welfare of these vulnerable beings, he strives to provide them with a safe shelter, food, medical care, and kindness.

His efforts are not limited to dreams and ideas; rather, he takes practical, well-planned steps to improve the living conditions of these animals. With valuable experience in animal care, Dr. Abrahemi has now launched the Panagai Amn project, aiming to expand his efforts into a comprehensive support center.

He meticulously handles financial and logistical planning, designs a multilingual website via WordPress, manages resources, produces video content, and builds international communication bridges to attract more support for the cause.

Throughout this challenging journey, when many of his requests for assistance from organizations remained unanswered or were met with rejection,

As previously mentioned, I am going to share these images on, I hope, a weekly basis.

Thank you, Mateullah.

What if we die before our pets?

We love our dogs and can never envisage being without one.

So what happens to them after the last one of us die?

I have just turned 81 and, although I am fit, think more seriously about this matter than I used to. Jean has no children and my son and daughter, from a previous marriage, are living in the U.K.

So an article from The Conversation caught my eye and I wanted to share it with you.

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Diane Keaton’s $5M pet trust would be over the top if reports prove true – here’s how to ensure your beloved pet is safe after you are gone

Allison Anna Tait, University of Richmond

Diane Keaton loved her dog, Reggie.

The award-winning actor, director and real estate entrepreneur frequently posted photos and video clips of the golden retriever on her social media accounts. After she died on Oct. 11, 2025, at 79, some news outlets reported that she left US$5 million of her estimated $100 million estate to her dog.

I’m a law professor who teaches about wills, trusts and other forms of inheritance law. Every semester, I teach my students how they can help clients provide for their pets after death. Because they, like many Americans, love their pets and want to know how to take care of them, this topic always piques their interest. https://www.youtube.com/embed/FYJGCvpJIV0?wmode=transparent&start=0 Diane Keaton was very open about her devotion to her dog, Reggie.

Writing pets into a will

An estimated 66% of all U.S. households include at least one pet. Many Americans consider their cats, dogs, tortoises or other animals to be part of their family, and their spending on those nonhuman relatives is immense. In 2024, they paid a total of about $152 billion for goods and services to feed and otherwise support their pets.

Taking good care of your pets can go beyond buying them treats and sweaters. It can include leaving clear directions to ensure their needs are met once you’re gone. There are several ways that you can do this.

The first is through your will. You can’t give your pet money directly in your will, because the law says that pets are property, like your books or your dishes.

You can, however, leave a bequest, the technical term for a gift to a person or a cause listed in a will, to someone who will be the animal’s caretaker. That bequest can include directions that the money be spent meeting the pet’s needs.

It’s worth it to also name an alternate or contingent caretaker in case the first person you name does not want to or cannot take on that responsibility, or they die before you or the animals you’ve provided for in the will.

Choupette’s life of luxury

German fashion designer, photographer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019 at 85, was someone who made the mistake of leaving money directly to his fluffy Birman cat, Choupette. It worked out for Choupette, though.

The cat was, according to several reports, still alive in 2025 and eating meals out of the porcelain bowls that Lagerfeld bought for her. Choupette is cared for at great expense and in the utmost luxury by Françoise Caçote, the designer’s former housekeeper. The cat even had a 13th birthday party at Versailles.

Another pet owner who did right by her pet was the comedian, producer and red carpet interviewer Joan Rivers.

Rivers had two rescue dogs in Manhattan and two more dogs in California when she died in 2014 at age 81. Rivers had made provisions for their care in her will.

A petite woman holding a tiny dog stands next to three men on a TV set. — The late Joan Rivers, right, seen on the set of her short-lived talk show in 1987, planned ahead for her dogs’ care. Bettmann via Getty Images

Creating pet trusts

If you’d like an arrangement that’s more secure than a will, then you might want to opt for a pet trust, another celebrity favorite. These kinds of trusts were not possible until the 1990s, because pets were not considered true beneficiaries – meaning they couldn’t sue the trustee.

But in the 1990s, states began to change their rules to allow for pet trusts. Today, pet trusts are valid in the whole country, although the rules vary slightly from state to state.

To establish a pet trust, you or a lawyer must draw up a trust document that names two important people: a trustee and a caretaker. The trustee is the person who will manage the money you leave in trust. They will make distributions to the caretaker that you select.

You must also specify how the money is to be spent meeting the animal’s needs and who would get any money that could be left in the trust when the pet dies. Typically, these trusts take effect at the owner’s death, just like other provisions in a will.

Drafting a pet trust can be free, if you use an online template and get no legal guidance. The same thing might cost around $100 if you use an online service such as Legal Zoom that provides directions. More commonly, however, pet trusts are part of a broader estate plan, and costs range depending on how complicated your estate is.

When the rich go overboard

One of the most over-the-top pet trusts came from Leona Helmsley, the New York hotel and real estate mogul known widely as the “Queen of Mean.” She was famous for her pettiness and tough management style and for landing in prison for tax evasion.

When Helmsley died in 2007, she left her dog, a Maltese named Trouble who had reportedly bitten members of her staff, a $12 million trust fund. Most of Helmsley’s estate went to the Helmsley Charitable Trust, but she made individual gifts to several relatives, and the gift to Trouble was larger than any of those.

The grandchildren, upset that Trouble got more money than they did, took the case to court, where the probate judge was less than impressed by Trouble’s luxury lifestyle and knocked down the amount in trust to $2 million. The other $10 million flowed back to her family’s foundation, where the bulk of the estate went in the first place.

Lesson learned: Your dog can have a trust fund, but don’t go overboard.

Bequests for pets can be challenged – in which case it’s up to courts to determines how much they think is reasonable for the pet’s need. In Helmsley’s case, $12 million was found to be excessive. And maybe with good reason. Trouble still had a nice life with fewer millions. The dog died in December 2010 after several years in Sarasota, Florida, at a Helmsley-owned hotel.

Other pet owners who aren’t celebrities have used pet trusts as well, such as Bill Dorris, a Nashville businessman without any human heirs. He left his dog, Lulu, $5 million.

Pet-loving celebrities who loved all the pets

Finally, there’s a lesson to be learned from British fashion designer and icon Alexander McQueen, who was worth £16 million ($21 million) when he died in 2010 at the age of 40. McQueen left £50,000 ($66,000) in a trust for his two bull terriers so that they would be well cared for during the remainder of their lives.

McQueen also included a bequest of £100,000 ($132,000) to the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in his will to help fund the care of some of the millions of other animals out there that need the basics of food and shelter.

Animal shelters, in the U.K., the United States and other countries, help rescue and protect animals, and these animals need more help than the Choupettes and Troubles of the world.

So, my advice is that you go ahead and create a pet trust for your cat. But don’t forget to give some money in your will – and ideally while you’re alive – to help the vast majority of the millions of companion animals who need new homes every year. None of them have trust funds.

What becomes of Reggie, Keaton’s golden retriever, and her estate remains to be seen. Keaton, who starred in hit movies such as “Annie Hall,” “Reds” and “The First Wives Club,” isn’t the first celebrity to leave millions of dollars to a pet. And it’s unlikely that she will be the last.

Allison Anna Tait, Professor of Law, University of Richmond

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Amending our Will to create a pet trust seems like a very good idea! And making sure there is money for the trust as well.

The Science of Sleep.

Exploring the connection between rest and health.

This is a one-hour video (as in a YouTube video) from an accredited US healthcare educator.

That is all for today. Just to add that sleep is so important.

‘When we turn the clocks ahead this spring, we’ll lose an hour of sleep—but for many Americans, poor sleep is a nightly problem. Lack of sleep takes a toll on physical and mental health, increasing risk for chronic conditions like high blood pressure and obesity. Our expert panelists will unpack the latest research on rest, including how social and environmental factors can impact our sleep. They’ll explore the connections between race, sleep, and health disparities. And they’ll share advice on how to improve sleep quality for better overall health.’

I have Ring Worm!

Luckily not badly.

Last week I went to my doctor to find out what was causing my itching, mainly in my groin and the skin of my forearms.

Dr. Mount told me that I had ringworm. I do not remember having had it before.

The Cleveland Clinic have the details online and it struck me that I should share the information with you. The source of this article is here. I hope very much that sharing this article is alright with Cleveland Clinic.

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Ringworm

Ringworm is an itchy, contagious fungal infection that causes a ring-shaped pattern on your skin. Over-the-counter and prescription treatments can stop the fungus from spreading to other parts of your body or to others.

Overview

Ringworm (Tinea Corporis) on the skin. — Ringworm is a circular-shaped skin rash caused by a fungal infection.

What is ringworm?

You might be surprised to learn that a fungus — and not a worm — causes ringworm. Fungi thrive in warm and humid areas such as locker rooms and public showers. This common and contagious skin infection gets its name from the red, itchy, ring-shaped skin plaque (a type of scaly rash). It spreads easily and through close contact.

You get ringworm from contact with an infected person, animal or object. Ringworm goes by different names depending on which body part it affects. Ringworm on your body is called tinea corporis. This type of ringworm affects your arms, legs, torso and face. Ringworm is treated with antifungal medication available either over the counter or as a prescription.

Types of ringworm

Ringworm has different names based on where it appears on your body — and it can appear just about anywhere. Ringworm infections include:

Athlete’s foot: Also called tinea pedis, this fungal infection causes an itchy, burning skin rash between your toes and on the soles of your feet. Your skin may become scaly and cracked or develop blisters. Sometimes, your feet smell bad.
Jock itch: Tinea cruris, or jock itch, causes a red, itchy rash in your groin, upper thighs or rectum. Some people get blisters.
Scalp ringworm (tinea capitis): This causes scaly, red, itchy bald spots on your scalp. If left untreated, the bald spots can grow bigger and become permanent.
Hands (tinea manuum): Signs of ringworm on your hands include dry, cracked palms and ring-like patches.
Beard (tinea barbae): Ringworm appears on your neck, chin and cheeks. The patches might become crusted over or filled with pus.
Toenails or fingernails (tinea unguium or onychomycosis): Nails become thick, discolored and deformed.

What does ringworm look like?

Ringworm typically begins as a flat, discolored patch, which may appear red in lighter complexions and brown in darker complexions. The patch has a ring-like or circular shape with a raised, scaly border.

Who gets ringworm?

Ringworm affects people of all ages. You’re more at risk for ringworm if you:

Have a weakened immune system or an autoimmune disease like lupus.
Participate in high-contact sports, such as wrestling (this ringworm is called tinea gladiatorum).
Sweat excessively (hyperhidrosis).
Use public locker rooms or public showers.
Work closely with animals that might have ringworm.

How common is ringworm?

Ringworm is contagious and extremely common. It can affect 20% to 25% of the world’s population at any given time.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the signs of ringworm?

Signs typically appear between four and 14 days after your skin comes in contact with the fungi that cause ringworm, including:

Circular, ring-shaped scales or plaques.
Flat patches with a raised, round border.
Itchy skin.
Hair loss or bald spots in the affected area.

What causes ringworm?

Despite its name, a fungus causes ringworm. This type of fungus naturally lives on your skin, hair and nails. However, when their environment gets hot and damp, the fungi start growing uncontrollably. You can get this infection anytime your skin comes into contact with the ringworm fungus on someone else’s skin.

How contagious is ringworm?

Ringworm is contagious. It can live on your skin, on surfaces and in soil. The main ways ringworm spreads are:

Skin-to-skin contact with a person who has ringworm.
Contact with an infected dog, cat or animal (livestock or pets).
Contact with a contaminated surface, such as a locker room floor or sweaty gym clothes.
Sharing objects with an infected person or animal such as a brush, towel or bedding.
Contaminated soil.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is ringworm diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider can diagnose ringworm by looking at your skin and assessing your symptoms. They may scrape the area to look at the skin cells under a microscope, too. Examining the scales typically confirms ringworm.

Management and Treatment

How is ringworm treated?

Several nonprescription (over-the-counter) and prescription antifungal medications are available to treat ringworm. Antifungals come in various forms like creams, gels or powders. Your healthcare provider can treat more widespread ringworm with oral antifungal medication.

Antifungal creams and powders

Over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams, gels or powders typically work well. OTC products include:

Clotrimazole (Lotrimin® or Mycelex®).
Miconazole (Desenex®).
Terbinafine (Lamisil AT®).
Tolnaftate (Tinactin®).

If your symptoms get worse or don’t clear after two weeks, you may need an oral prescription medication from your healthcare provider.

Oral medication

Your healthcare provider may write you a prescription for oral antifungal medication if you have ringworm on your scalp or on many parts of your body. Most medications are prescribed for between one and three months. Oral antifungal medications include:

Fluconazole (Diflucan®).
Griseofulvin (Griasctin®).
Itraconazole (Sporanox®).
Terbinafine (Lamisil®).

Antifungal shampoo

Antifungal shampoo, such as ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral A-D®), may stop scalp ringworm from spreading. It won’t cure it, but it may help contain the infection. You also need to take a prescribed oral antifungal medication. Unaffected family members may benefit from using the shampoo as well.

Home remedies for ringworm

Home remedies like apple cider vinegar or tea tree have little to no benefit. Apple cider vinegar may cause open sores or inflammation. Tea tree oil has antifungal and antimicrobial properties but its effects aren’t well-known.

Your home may require treatment as well. The ringworm fungus can live on surfaces for months. Disinfectant sprays like Lysol® or bleach can remove the fungus. Wash clothes, sheets and towels in hot water and detergent to prevent ringworm from spreading.

Steroid creams

Corticosteroid creams may help reduce inflammation, but they shouldn’t be used to treat ringworm. In fact, they may worsen the infection.

What cures ringworm?

Mild cases of ringworm clear up within a few weeks. More serious infections may require treatment for six to 12 weeks.

Some other things you can do to promote healing:

Keep the affected area clean and dry.
Apply antifungal lotions, creams or ointments for the entire treatment period.
Avoid touching the area and wash your hands before touching other areas of your body.

Does ringworm go away by itself?

Although ringworm can go away by itself, it’s not common. While ringworm is present on your skin, you’re still contagious to others.

Outlook / Prognosis

Can ringworm come back?

Yes, ringworm can come back. Ringworm will go away if you treat it appropriately. Follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan until the infection clears completely. If you stop treatment or treatment ends too soon, the infection can come back.

What are the complications of ringworm?

If you suspect you or your child has ringworm, don’t use anti-itch creams containing corticosteroids. These creams weaken your skin’s defenses. They can allow the infection to spread and cover larger sections of skin. On rare occasions, the ringworm fungus goes deeper into your skin, making it even harder to treat.

Scalp ringworm can lead to a painful inflammation called kerion. With kerion, you may develop crusty, pus-filled sores, often with hair loss and scarring.

Prevention

How can I prevent ringworm?

Ringworm thrives in damp, warm areas. The fungus can live on towels, clothes, sheets and household surfaces for months. Preventing ringworm involves:

Changing your socks and underwear daily or more frequently if they become damp or soiled.
Showering immediately after contact sports or exercise.
Wearing sandals or shower shoes at the pool and in public locker rooms and showers.
Drying your skin thoroughly after showering, especially between your toes.
Avoiding sharing towels, washcloths, sheets, clothes, combs or other personal hygiene items.
Washing clothes, athletic gear, sheets and towels in hot water and detergent.
Disinfecting surfaces with bleach or sprays like Lysol®.
Treating pets for ringworm, if they’re infected.
Washing hands thoroughly after contact with animals.

A weak immune system or living in a damp, warm climate increases your risk of a fungal infection.

Living With

When should I call the doctor?

Call your healthcare provider if the ringworm infection:

Appears on your scalp.
Looks infected (redness and swelling).
Occurs during pregnancy.
Spreads to other areas of your body.
Doesn’t improve after using over-the-counter antifungal medication as directed.

What questions should I ask my doctor?

You’re sure to have questions if you or your child develop ringworm. You might ask your healthcare provider:

How did I get ringworm?
How long is ringworm contagious?
Should I (or my child) stay home from work/school until the ringworm infection is gone?
What steps can I take to prevent ringworm from spreading to other parts of my body?
What steps can I take to prevent ringworm from spreading to other people?
What’s the best treatment for ringworm?
Should I avoid any medications or treatments?
What steps can I take to keep from getting ringworm again?
How can I tell if my pet has ringworm?
Should I look out for signs of complications?

Additional Common Questions

Is ringworm an actual worm?

No, ringworm isn’t a worm. It’s a fungal infection that gets its name from its ring-like border.

How does ringworm affect pregnancy?

Ringworm fungus won’t affect your pregnancy. Still, you should check with your healthcare provider before using over-the-counter antifungal creams or powders. Oral antifungal medications appear to be safe to take during pregnancy. Your pregnancy care provider can discuss potential risks and benefits with you.

Can you get ringworm from dogs or cats?

Yes, you can get ringworm from dogs, cats and other animals like cows, goats or horses. You can protect yourself by always washing your hands after playing with or petting animals. If your pet has ringworm, disinfect your pet’s bedding and take extra care to clean surfaces your pet has visited in your home.

How is ringworm different from eczema?

Eczema and many other skin conditions can resemble ringworm. Both ringworm and eczema cause itchy, red skin. Unlike ringworm, eczema isn’t contagious and doesn’t spread from one area to another on your body. Ringworm has a unique, ring-like appearance. Contact a healthcare provider for an appropriate diagnosis.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Ringworm can be unpleasant, but antifungal medications will help you get rid of the fungus that causes ringworm. The treatment may take time, but it’s important to follow your healthcare provider’s treatment plan for as long as recommended. Ending treatment too soon can cause ringworm to return and make the infection harder to treat. Ask your provider about how you can keep ringworm from spreading to other parts of your body and to other people.

ooOOoo

We were having a small and casual party at our house celebrating Halloween. There were thirteen coming some of them in fancy dress. However, a close neighbour, who was coming with her husband, recommended a cancellation just in case I passed the fungal infection on to someone else.

Thus I have to be patient and keep putting on the cream for at least the next couple of weeks, hoping that in time I will notice the fungus going.

Finally, let me just repeat this from the article by Clevedon: ‘Ringworm is contagious and extremely common. It can affect 20% to 25% of the world’s population at any given time.’