BARBER'S ITCH Treatment

BARBER'S ITCH
(RINGWORM OF THE BEARD)

Barber's Itch or Ringworm of the Beard is a contagious disease caused by a parasitic fungus, beginning with inflammation in the hair follicles of the beard. It is more persistent than ringworm of the scalp or of the body, but fortunately it is not common. It may be contracted in insanitary barbershops.

Small superficial nodules appear, later becoming larger and more deep-seated because the parasites work down to the bottom of the follicles. Inflammation is general over the skin of the affected areas, but more marked over the nodules, which occur in groups. Usually a brittle hair projects from each nodule. It is loose and can be pulled out easily. The follicles may discharge thin pus. The disease causes considerable itching and discomfort, and it is sometimes mildly painful. A staphylococci infection of the bearded area may closely resemble ringworm of the beard, except that the hairs do not loosen. It requires different treatment. Partly because of this fact, self diagnosis is not easy, and self-treatment may not succeed. A dermatologist should be consulted.

BARBER'S ITCH TREATMENT

1. The person who suspects he may have barber's itch should guard others from infection, not letting them use his personal razor, toilet articles, or towels. After using these articles himself he should sterilize them.

2. Consult a physician.

3. Griseofulvin taken by mouth for four weeks under a physician's supervision is usually curative.

Allergy Treatment

ALLERGY

Some people are abnormally sensitive to substances in the air they breathe, in their food, or in something they touch. The same substances may be harmless to other family members and to other people in general. This sensitivity may be present from birth, but it is more often built up as a result of repeated contacts with the offending substances. The sensitivity is called allergy; and, if comparatively prompt and violent, the body's reaction is called anaphylaxis.

A variety of diseases may be caused by allergy. Hay fever and asthma, acute vomiting or purging-especially in children-eczema, hives, and several other skin affections are prominent examples.

Among the offending substances frequently affecting abnormally sensitive people are pollens; hair and dandruff; emanations from cats, dogs, or horses; fur or feathers; such food as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, pork, fowl, wheat, oranges, strawberries, cereals, and butter.

HOW TO TREAT ALLERGY?

1. Try to find out the identity of the offending food or other substance and avoid it. This may call for the aid of a physician, and one of the methods he may use in his detective work is a series of skin tests.

2. When an attack occurs, possibly because of some food, discontinue all food for few hours. As eating is resumed, try one food at a time in the hope of discovering the food cause of the allergy.

3. Try to relieve the itching by applying 1 percent phenol in calamine lotion to the itching areas.

4. If the allergy attack is severe, consult a physician. He may give some injection that may be able to give prompt relief and to prescribe other remedies to fit the individual case.

How to treat ringworm?

RINGWORM OF THE GROIN

Ringworm of the groin manifest itself as brownish or reddish scaly patches, with tiny blisters at the spreading edges, commonly affecting the inner surface of the upper thighs, scrotum, groin, perineum, and anal region. Some consider this condition a variety of ringworm of the body. In many case the same has athlete's foot - the probable source of fungus infection which now affects the groin. Heat, moisture, profuse perspiration, and chafing by the clothing can prepare the way for the infection. It is more common in the tropics than in cooler climates. The mild itching or smarting sensations cause some discomfort.

HOW TO TREAT RINGWORM? 

1.   Keep the affected skin areas as clean and dry as possible. Wear cool, soft, loos-fitting clothing.

2.   Apply one of the following fungicidal creams to the affected skin areas twice daily for two or three weeks: Halotex cream, Lotrimin cream, or Tinactin cream.

3.   In the morning, dust on talcum powder containing 10 percent of calcium propionate. Use this powder freely during the day to decrease friction when walking.

4.   Griseofulvin taken under a physician's supervision is an effective remedy.