What are the differences between dermatitis and ringworm?

The humid and hot weather makes many people suffer from skin diseases. We often hear people say that they have “ringworms”, so they buy medicine on their own and buy the so-called “ringworm ointment”. After applying it, it is not only ineffective, but also makes the condition worse. What is the reason for this?

1. The difference between ringworm and dermatitis

Ringworm and dermatitis are different in causes and symptoms and should not be mixed.

(1) Ringworm: The pathogenic bacteria of ringworm are mainly dermatophytes.

Ringworm refers to superficial fungal infections of the skin caused by pathogenic fungi parasitizing on human skin. It is called ringworm because the main pathogenic fungi of the infection are dermatophytes, generally including Trichophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton. Their common feature is that they are keratinophilic and invade the skin, hair and nail plates of humans and animals, causing infection. Dermatophytes prefer warm and humid environments, so dermatophytes are more common in southern my country, and spring and summer are the most common seasons.

The typical characteristics of tinea are small area, ring or semi-ring shape, clear border, light in the middle, commonly known as “ringworm”. Ringworm manifests differently in different parts of the body, including tinea capitis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea pedis, tinea manus and pedis, and tinea unguium.

Ringworm can be identified based on the following conditions: the skin lesions of ringworm are generally annular erythema with clear boundaries and small papules around it; it may be accompanied by itching, desquamation and other phenomena.

(2) Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a skin disease caused by a combination of factors.

Dermatitis is a general term for inflammatory skin diseases caused by various internal and external infections or non-infectious factors. It is not an independent disease. Its etiology and clinical manifestations are complex and diverse, and it recurs repeatedly, making clinical treatment more difficult. Dermatitis is often associated with allergic reactions and chronic adverse stimulation. For example, contact dermatitis is “renamed” as dermatitis after contact with certain exogenous substances.

The characteristic of dermatitis is that it covers a large area with unclear boundaries. The manifestations of dermatitis are varied and difficult to judge. Generally, it manifests as large erythema, papules and local edema. In severe cases, it may be accompanied by blisters and erosion exudation.

2. The drugs for treating ringworm and dermatitis are different and should be chosen with caution.

1. Choose ringworm drugs carefully:

There are many drugs for treating dermatophyte infections, commonly used ones are Daconazole (miconazole nitrate cream), Lamisil (terbinafine cream), bifonazole cream (Fuqi hydrochloride), econazole cream or spray. If the skin is not scratch, you can use ringworm lotion, such as clotrimazole ringworm lotion and compound tincture of turmeric bark.

These drugs can be use 2 to 3 times a day for 2 to 3 weeks to relieve itching and skin damage. However, to completely eliminate the bacteria, the drugs should be use for another 2 to 3 weeks after the skin lesions have completely subsided.

2. Choose dermatitis drugs carefully:

Corticosteroids are commonly use to treat dermatitis and eczema, with Pi Yan Ping being the most familiar. Since there are strong, medium and weak corticosteroids, and the penetration of creams and ointments is also different, care should be take to differentiate the medications.

At the same time, it should be note that corticosteroid hormone preparations cannot be use on the skin for a long time. Generally, the dosage should be gradually reduce or stop after the symptoms are alleviate. Otherwise local adverse reactions such as thinning and atrophy of the skin, telangiectasia, pigmentation and hair hyperplasia will occur. For dermatitis on the face, armpits, groin and scrotum. It is advisable to choose to apply mometasone furoate cream once a day, or hydrocortisone butyrate cream twice a day.

If you suffer from chronic dermatitis in other parts of the body. You can first use strong hormones such as halometasone cream, triamcinolone urea cream, and enfu cream to control the rash. Applying them 2 to 3 times a day; when the skin lesions are alleviate. The patient should switch to mometasone furoate cream once a day for maintenance treatment.

If acute dermatitis or eczema is only erythematous papules, calamine lotion or zinc oxide lotion can be apply externally. When erosion and exudation are severe, cream or ointment must not be use to apply. Otherwise it will aggravate the infection. At this time, 3% boric acid solution or Kangfuxin solution should be used for wet compress. If these solutions are not available, cold saline can also be use for wet compress. The specific method of wet compress is to fold the sterilized gauze into 4 to 6 layers. Soak it in the medicine (as long as it does not drip), and then cover the erosion and exudate. Once every 20 to 30 minutes, and 3 to 4 times a day.

3. Although ringworm and dermatitis are difficult to distinguish, you should still choose medication with caution, because the indiscriminate use of ointments can cause certain harm to the body.

1. Antifungal drugs are ineffective in treating dermatitis. The causes of dermatitis are diverse, and if antifungal drugs use to treat ringworm are use for dermatitis. They are likely to have no therapeutic effect.

2. Hormone drugs for the treatment of ringworm may aggravate the infection. Hormones are immunosuppressive drugs that can induce or aggravate infections. Hormone ointments are not suitable for viral, bacterial and fungal skin diseases.

Therefore, you must prescribe the right medicine for your condition. If you cannot diagnose the symptoms yourself. You can go to a professional dermatology hospital and let the doctor make the judgment. In short, it is not advisable to use medicine indiscriminately.