If you travel internationally, develop a rash, and think it might be ringworm, be aware that strong over-the-counter steroid creams containing combinations of antifungal and antibacterial medicines can make ringworm worse and can cause other health problems. 1-6 These infections have been reported to cover large parts of the body, last for months or longer, and spread to family members. However, healthcare providers in India report seeing more cases of severe ringworm in people who have used these combination medications. Many of these steroid creams also contain antifungal and antibacterial medicines, and the labels say that the cream can be used to treat fungal infections. In the United States, over-the-counter steroid creams are not very powerful, which is why they’re called “low potency.” But in some other countries, people can buy creams containing strong steroids without a prescription. In rare cases, steroid creams can allow the fungus that causes ringworm to invade deeper into the skin and cause a more serious condition. Ringworm that has been treated with steroid creams can have an unusual appearance, making it hard for healthcare providers to diagnose. Steroid creams can allow ringworm infections to spread to cover more of the body. Steroid creams can make ringworm worse because they weaken the skin’s defenses. However, steroid creams don’t kill the fungus that causes ringworm. Steroid creams can be helpful for some skin problems and can even temporarily reduce ringworm symptoms like itching and redness. For this reason, people sometimes apply over-the-counter creams or ointments containing medications called corticosteroids (or “steroids” for short) to their rash. People might have a skin rash that they do not realize is caused by ringworm. Ringworm is a very common cause of skin rashes. Do not use steroid creams to treat rashes that may be ringworm
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