I know you would like to get rid of the itch and that unsightly lesion in your arm right away. Your friend told you that it's ringworm and you're ready to start ringworm treatment. But first, before you do, try and double-check if it's really ringworm. Or better yet, double-check with your doctor.

Ringworm is a skin infection caused by mold-like fungi called dermatophytes. What are ringworm symptoms? If you have seen ringworm pictures before, you must have noticed that the infection appears as a red or pinkish circular lesion, usually about 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter (in the early stages) with scaly raised borders. It assumes the appearance of a ring as it grows bigger because the area in the middle usually clears up and would look just like normal uninfected skin. The lesion may or may not be itchy.

Why do you have to be certain that it's ringworm? This is because other skin conditions like numular eczema, pityriasis rosea, psoriasis or atopic dermatitis have symptoms closely similar to ringworm symptoms. A lot of people see their doctor complaining that they couldn't get rid of the ringworm after weeks of treatment, only to find out the condition wasn't ringworm, in the first place.

Your doctor would basically base his or her diagnosis on visual observation. If there is uncertainty, the doctor might order culture test or by examining scrapings from the affected area under a microscope. Another test is by examining the infection under a blue light or Wood's lamp - the fungi will actually glow bright green. You can do visual observation yourself or you can buy a blue light (18W UVA long wave, black light blue bulb) to conduct the "glow" exam.

Now that you're sure it's indeed ringworm you're up against, you're ready to start treatment. And start it immediately. The key to a successful ringworm treatment is identifying the infection early on and starting the treatment as soon as you have the correct diagnosis. Allowing the infection to spread unchallenged can make it chronic and more difficult to treat later.

Fortunately, ringworm responds well to common over-the-counter medication (common brands available are Tinactin, Monistat, Micatin, Lotrimin, and Lamisil) and you can expect to cure the infection completely within 2-4 weeks. Personally, I would use natural ringworm treatment myself (safer and lesser risk of side effects), but any antifungal agent could work just as well for mild infections (a patch or two). If you're dealing with ringworm of the scalp or if the infection doesn't go away after 4 weeks of treatment, call your doctor. It might be necessary for your doctor to prescribe oral anti-fungal medicine to cure persistent, widespread, or hard-to-reach infections.