Does Nystatin treat ringworm disease? 

Does Nystatin treat ringworm diseases? 

No, Nystatin does not treat ringworm diseases. Although Nystatin is an antifungal medication, it is not active against the fungi responsible for causing ringworm diseases. 

If you think you have ringworm disease, talk to your healthcare provider. The disease should be managed properly with antifungal meds that are effective and it should never be neglected. 

What medications treat ringworm disease? 

Ringworm diseases like Jock itch and Athlete’s foot can be managed by the following antifungal medications (1,2):

  • Terbinafine 
  • Miconazole 
  • Clotrimazole 
  • Ketoconazole 

Terbinafine, available under the brand name Lamisil, is considered the most effective topical treatment option for Athlete’s foot disease. 

However, the best-suited antifungal medication can only be determined by your healthcare provider, based on the exact condition and your overall response to medications. 

This is why it’s best to reach out to your doctor instead of self-medicating. Ringworm diseases may require both topical and oral antifungals for better management of the symptoms. 

If you have ringworm disease on your scalp, topical antifungals will do you no good. This type of ringworm disease can only be treated by oral antifungals, including Terbinafine, Griseofulvin, etc. 

How to know you have ringworm disease?

Ringworm diseases are commonly associated with the following signs and symptoms:

  • A red, scaly rash that may be itchy or painful. The rash often has a circular or oval shape and may have raised edges.
  • Ringworm on the scalp can cause patchy hair loss, leaving bald areas on the scalp. The affected skin may also be itchy, red, or scaly.
  • Brittle nails, which become thickened, discoloured, and brittle.
  • A red, itchy rash in the groin area, known as jock itch.
  • A rash on the feet, known as athlete’s foot. The affected skin may be red, itchy, and peeling.

The signs and symptoms may vary, depending on the area of your body affected by the fungi. It is important to consult your healthcare provider if your symptoms match the above-mentioned symptoms. 

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References

1.-

National Health Services. Nystatin [Internet]. NHS; 2020 [cited 2023 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/nystatin/

2.-

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Treatment of Ringworm [Internet]. CDC; 2021 [cited 2023 Jan 23]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/diseases/ringworm/treatment.html