The symptoms of vitiligo and ringworm are often similar, making it difficult to distinguish. Mistaking the signs of the disease will make it difficult to treat. So what is the difference between vitiligo and ringworm? How to cure the disease effectively? Please refer to the article information below.
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How to recognize vitiligo and ringworm
Ringworm and ringworm are both skin diseases, the main cause of the disease is due to the invasion of fungi. The symptoms of both diseases do not seriously affect health.
However, the symptoms of itching, discomfort, changing skin color make it less aesthetically pleasing, in addition, vitiligo and ringworm both tend to spread. Because there are quite similar identification signs, patients often mistake vitiligo and ringworm.
To distinguish these 2 diseases, you need to pay attention to the following issues:
The cause to the illness
The vitiligo starts when attacked by the fungus Pityrosporum ovale, which grows on the skin’s surface and acts directly on the epidermis, causing the skin to change pigmentation. Areas of reduced or depigmented skin will be whiter than the surrounding skin.
The disease can be found at any age, but the symptoms of the disease are at risk of strong onset in some cases:
- People sweat a lot
- Skin secretion increases oil
- Hot and humid weather
- People suffering from diseases that weaken the immune system such as influenza, HIV, measles, …
- Having hormonal disorders, especially pregnant women, people in puberty or taking a hormone replacement.
- Poor personal hygiene
In ringworm, the main cause of the disease is also caused by a fungus, collectively known as dermatophytes. But mostly due to two types of Microsporum and Epidermophyton cause flare-up symptoms of the disease.
These are all very small fungi, visible only under a microscope. Similar to the fungus that causes vitiligo, the ringworm fungi usually have strong onset in the following subjects:
- People with weakened immune systems
- Live and work in hot and humid environments
- Skin secretes oily, changes in hormones
- Direct contact with infected people or animals
- Wear tight clothing, sweat a lot
Symptom
To identify vitiligo or ringworm, you need to rely on the clinical symptoms. Below are the exact identifying signs of each disease, so that the patient does not get confused.
In the case of vitiligo will have signs to identify, including:
- The skin layers gradually appear, with a tendency to increase in number and size.
- The affected area has a different color than the surrounding skin. May be a lighter or darker color, in some cases white, brown, or pink.
- Causing itchy skin on the skin, the itch becomes more intense when the patient produces a lot of sweat or hot weather.
- During the outbreak, the damaged skin will not be exposed to sunlight.
The clinical symptoms of ringworm, include:
- People with ringworm itchy manifestations, on the damaged skin there are signs of peeling and flaking.
- When the disease first appears, the skin will appear mild, coin-shaped or oval patches, red or brown that cause itching and discomfort. These signs may appear in patches with sharp, sharp-edged scales, or blistering blisters.
- Ringworm tends to infect others when red, scaly patches appear on the skin. The case of rubbing or scratching can cause skin damage, exudate causing superinfection.
Common locations
Symptoms of vitiligo can appear anywhere on the body, but will usually reside in places such as:
- Chest
- Neck
- Back
- Two arms
In the case of ringworm, the signs of the disease will focus on such parts as:
- Head skin
- Body
- The skin on the legs
Treatment of vitiligo and ringworm
To recognize vitiligo and ringworm, you can rely on the symptom and the location of the disease onset. However, because the cause of the disease is the same as the fungal skin, the treatments for these two diseases will often be the same.
- For mild symptoms: A specialist will prescribe a treatment for ringworm and ringworm. By the time the symptoms disappear, you should use the drug for about another week to completely eliminate the pathogen.
- In case of severe disease: At this time, the patient may be prescribed to use more topical antifungal drugs, apply directly to the infected skin. In addition, the doctor will also consider oral drugs depending on the disease status.
- Most medicines used to treat ringworm and ringworm can cause some side effects during use. Therefore, the patient is not allowed to change the dosage and the duration of treatment without permission.
- In the case of children with vitiligo or ringworm, the skin will be more sensitive and irritable. Should not be able to use the same drugs as adults. At this time, you should take your child to the hospital to be seen by a doctor and apply appropriate treatment measures.
Preventive measures for vitiligo and ringworm
Vitiligo and ringworm both tend to infect others. In addition to applying the treatments prescribed by the doctor, the patient should take measures to prevent his illness, and at the same time avoid infecting those around him.
Some preventive measures for vitiligo and ringworm, including:
- Clean personal hygiene. Hands should be washed with soap regularly to prevent bacteria and viruses from getting in.
- Keep skin always dry, choose to wear well-ventilated, well-ventilated clothing. Avoid wearing tight, thick clothing, as this can cause rubbing and damage to the skin and is not absorbent, facilitating flare-ups.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, sweat a lot, clean the body after exercising, exercising, or sports.
- Do not share clothes, towels, or personal items with others, especially someone with vitiligo or ringworm.
- Do not use public bathrooms, as there is a very high risk of infection.
- Regularly clean the bedroom and surrounding environment, limit to places with lots of dust and pollution.
- Limit contact with animals or pets. If you have pets, you should take them to your veterinarian regularly for cleaning and examination.
Above is some information so that patients can recognize vitiligo and ringworm as well as effective preventive measures. These are potentially infectious diseases. Therefore, you should proactively go to the hospital to be examined and treated.
