Bleach was never meant to kill fungi nor to be applied on the skin, it is however used to get rid of ringworm. On this article, I’ll show the best way on how to get rid of ringworm with bleach.
Curing Ringworm With Bleach
Ringworm is the most common fungal infection and is also highly contagious. Its symptoms are; red ring patches that itch, burning and blisters that ooze pus. It is something that if you had it, you’d try by any means possible to rid yourself from it. And I guess that’s what drives people to try to get rid of ringworm with bleach.
Bleach was never meant to kill fungi nor to be applied on the skin, as it includes components such as sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide. You must try employing a less dangerous option to handle your ringworm like tea tree oil, but if you eagerly want to try applying bleach to eliminate your ringworm you should be more attentive with the application.
If you really want to use bleach on your skin, then you should try it first with a small area of your skin before applying it to the other infected areas. This is after you’ve diluted it with an equal amount of water, as concentrated bleach will irritate your skin.
You may feel a little burning discomfort which means the bleach is killing off the ringworm. But if you leave it for way too long, the bleach will start eating away your surface skin cells.
If you feel no burning or pain, you can leave the solution on your skin for as long as you’re able to before washing it off. If it is really working, bleach will get rid of the ringworm in a few days as it is very efficient.
Will Bleach Kill Skin Fungus?
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is related to the fungus that causes ringworm, per the American Academy of Dermatology. Bleach can completely kill the fungus but requires applying the bleach for several minutes, over several days. There are two ways to apply the bleach — as a soak and in a paste form.
The low cost of an at-home bleach treatment for toenail fungus may sound appealing. Treating fungus with bleach is neither safe nor widely recommended. Before you’re tempted to treat an infection on your own, consult a doctor for the safest and most effective options.
What Will Happen If Ringworm Is Not Treated?
If the fungal infection is left untreated in the nails for a long period of time, your nails may become misshapen. A type of abscess called a kerion can also start developing if you are super sensitive to the fungi that cause ringworm or if it is left untreated.
When left untreated, it may go away on its own in a matter of months. Or not.
If not treated immediately, the skin can become irritated and so painful.
How Do You Get Rid of Ringworm in 24 Hours?
Ringworm can be treated in different ways;
- OTC antifungals. They can kill the fungus and promote healing. Effective medications include miconazole (Cruex), clotrimazole (Desenex), and terbinafine (Lamisil). Immediately after cleaning the rash, apply a thin layer of antifungal medication to the affected area 2 to 3 times per day or as directed by the package.
- Home remedies. Ringworm also responds well to home remedies;
- Soapy water. Cleaning the infected area with soapy water prevents the infection from spreading to other areas. After cleaning, dry the area thoroughly as fungi festers on moist places.
- Apple cider vinegar. It has strong antifungal properties that may help treat the ringworm. Dip a cotton wool into undiluted apple cider vinegar and wipe it over the infected area three times a day.
- Aloe vera. Apply the aloe vera gel over the infected area three timesdaily. It has anti-inflammatory properties that helps soothe the itchiness on the infected area.
- Turmeric. It has antifungal, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Make a paste of turmeric and water. Apply it on the infected area and leave it on until it dries.
- Coconut oil. It has both microbial and antifungal properties that help treat ringworm infections. Warm it until it becomes liquid then apply it directly to the affected area. It will absorb quickly. Apply at least three times daily.
- Tea tree oil. Apply tea tree oil directly on the skin using a cotton ball. It has antifungal and antibacterial properties.
Do Clorox Wipes Kill Ringworm?
Toenail fungus is an infection caused by the presence of fungi. Nail fungus often begins as a simple white or yellow area beneath the nail but can quickly progress to causing the entire nail to discolor, thicken and even crumble. There are several treatment options available for toenail fungus, but the use of standard Clorox bleach is a time-tested remedy that many people decide to use.
Clorox is a brand name of bleach which can be used to kill infection-causing fungus. Mix half of a teaspoon per gallon of water and soak your feet in the mixture one to two times per day, 30 minutes each time, for several weeks. In case you experience skin irritation, reduce the amount of bleach used, or soak your feet less frequently.
Bleach Make Ringworm Worse
As much as bleach is said to be efficient in gettting rid of ringworm, it has it’s negative side that would make me go other options first.
With bleach, there is the risk of skin irritation due to the components in it such as sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide seeing that the product was never meant to be applied on the skin.
How to Get Rid of Ringworm Scars
Medical Procedures
- See a dermatologist. A dermatologist will help you get rid of mild ringworm scars through medical procedures.
- Undergo laser treatment. It destroys little pieces of your tissue to promote the growth of a new skin that will replace your ringworm scars.
- Dermabrasion. Consider this in severe cases. Done by a plastic surgeon and instruments are used to sand down and remove disfigured skin. Last resort if the scars are too deep.
Natural Remedies
- Lemon juice. Apply lemon juice to help lighten the dark parts of your ringworm scar.
- Aloe Vera. Smooth on aloe vera gel on the scar, it may help soften the tisssue.
- Green tea bag. Holding a green tea bag on the scar may help minimize scarring and discolouration due to its antioxidant properties.
- Honey. Massaging some honey on the scar may help reduce the size of the scar and discoloured areas as honey acts as anatural moisturizer.
My final thought is that instead of trying to get rid of ringworm with bleach, you should first try other methods like the home remedies or OTC creams.
