[beebeecee]

I know my father, who I live with had a fungal infection a few months back, doctor didn't do any cultures just gave him anti-fungal creame and supposedly it went away... I didn't ask about it because it was in a private place and I just honestly didn't want to know - too much info. We've got animals, volunteer at the shelter, have been spending a LOT of time in vetrinary clinics lately unfortunately.

My actual problem and question - I've got these two spots about two fingers wide and as long as my finger right where my leg meets my groin on both sides that absolutely refuse to go away, I shower twice a day and use a mild soap and they sort of dry out and the redness goes away but then it comes back a few days later when I go from two showers to one. I know I don't have an std, have been checked for everything under the sun - I'm wondering if what I have, and what my father had but was undiagnosed was ringworm? I'm dealing with not painful but itchy, weepy red rings that aren't perfect rings but elongated ones that stick to the exact area where my body meets my groin and well... there's a really special odor, and the skin is rather flaky. I have been keeping myself super clean and super dry and not worn any synthetic underware or anything(yup, female) but what the heck do I do? I *really* don't want to go to my doctor and show this. I was thinking if he wants to see I could maybe take a discreet digital photo on my camera and show him then delete it... How does one treat ringworm? What are the chances I've picked it up and spread it to our dogs because they *do* have some

[Pensieve]

You should really have a doctor look at the area. Serious ringworm infections may need oral medication as well as a topical cream. The following can be done from over the counter meds. Be extremely clean with the infection-use an antifungal wash because ringworm can be spread easily. Apply topical antifungal medications to the lesion itself and 1 inch beyond its border twice daily for a minimum of two weeks, and at least one week after it goes away. Keep the infected area clean and dry. Over the counter medications available at the drugstore include miconazole 2% (with brand names such as Monistat and Micatin) or clotrimazole 1% (with brand names such as Lotrimin and Mycelex).

If your dogs have ringworm they MUST be treated also, and any other pet in the home. The areas of ringworm on the dogs should have the hair clipped away around the area. The dogs should be washed in an antifungal shampoo like Chlorhexiderm 2% Shampoo, or an Iodine shampoo. Topical creams should be applied-use one specifically for dogs. It can be treated with oral meds also like Fulvicin.

CLEAN EVERYTHING! ALL bedding, pet and human should be washed in HOT water with bleach. Floors should be washed with HOT water and a bleach based cleaner, carpets should be vacuumed, all toys, and ALL other surfaces should be cleaned with a bleach based cleaner. Ringworm spores can live for years.

If you don't want to go to the doctor take the dogs to the vet-if they are diagnosed with ringworm and your symptoms look the same its probably ringworm.

Good Luck