Q: On my right leg there are 3 very old ringworms, 2 on my toe and one on the leg below knee. They appeared first time in 1992 and disappeared on their own in 1996. From 1996 to 2000, they were disappeared but in 2001 they cropped up again in the same places where they were earlier. I have tried many oily pastes but no luck. Please tell me what I have to do and can these ringworms cause skin cancer?

A:I don't know whether your diagnosis of ringworm is true, since what the layman thinks as ringworm may not be ringworm. Please consult a dermatologist for confirmation of the diagnosis. Ringworm does not cause cancer. If your problem is that of ringworm, it can be cured by antifungal drugs. For chronic and widespread tinea, orally tablet griseofulvin, fluconazole, itraconazole or terbinafine can be used.