<s>[INST] sir, I am asking this question from India. i think i have got ringworm infection. (ring shaped fungal infection in the groin). I have applied itch guard for the past one week or so. itching has gone, but i still see dark marks on my skin. Should i use a different ointment to treat the above infection?thanks,venkat. [/INST] Itch guard contains the active antifungal medication clotrimazole which is an effective topical treatment for ringworm (along with many other fungal skin infections). The darkened color of the skin where the ringworm was could be due to the inflammation caused by the infection. This is a known medical phenomenon called "post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation". In any case, I usually tell my patients to continue using antifungal cream for at least a week after the symptoms resolve to make sure you have fully eradicated the fungal infection. </s>