Ringworm Treatment Options

Most of the time, ringworm treatment involves an over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription cream, ointment, or other topical medication that’s applied directly to the rash.

In some cases a systemic drug (one that is taken by mouth) is necessary. There also are natural treatments that have shown promise in treating certain types of ringworm.

This article will explain the various types of medications used to treat ringworm (tinea). It will also provide a list of home remedies that can help ease symptoms and prevent it from spreading to other people.

How to Treat Ringworm at Home

The only way to cure ringworm is with antifungal medication. However, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms until the medication starts to work.

Do everything you can to prevent the fungus from spreading to other body parts or to another person or pet. Ringworm can be transmitted between pets and humans.

Follow these key tips to manage ringworm:

• To relieve itching, apply a cool compress to the uncomfortable area for 20 to 30 minutes at a time as needed. 
• Fungi love warmth and moisture, so keep areas affected by ringworm clean and dry. After washing, use a separate towel to dry the infected body part. 
• As much as possible, don’t wear clothing or footwear that can cause you to sweat.
• Always shower after you work out to wash away perspiration and dry off thoroughly.
• Change all of your clothes every day.
• Wash everything you wear or touch in hot water before wearing or using it again. This applies to clothing, towels, and compresses. 
• Don’t cover ringworm with a bandage or other dressing.
• Always wash your hands thoroughly after touching an area affected by ringworm. 
• Throw away any disposable items that might have been infected.
• Disinfect items you want or need to keep. You can use an ultraviolet (UV) shoe sanitizer or ozone cabinet for clothes or shoes. Both of these can be purchased online. 
• To prevent the spread of scalp ringworm, never wear someone else’s hat or cap. If your child has ringworm, make sure they don’t share sports headgear, such as batting helmets, with teammates. 
• If you have ringworm of the scalp, use a shampoo with selenium sulfide, such as Selsun Blue. This may make it less contagious.

Over-the-Counter Ringworm Treatment

For most cases that affect the skin, the first ringworm treatment option is a non-prescription antifungal medicine.

These come as creams, ointments, powders, or sprays and usually work quickly. They’re available in drugstores, the pharmacy section of supermarkets, big-box stores, and online.

Antifungal medications that treat ringworm on the skin include: 

• Lotrimin cream, Cruex spray powder, Mycelex, Pedesil (clotrimazole)
• Desenex topical powder, Fungoid cream, Micatin cream, Lotrimin AF athlete’s foot spray or powder, Lotrimin AF Jock Itch spray powder (miconazole)
• Lamisil (terbinafine)
• Xolegel (ketoconazole)

Continue to treat the area for as long as directed, even if you think your ringworm is cured. This will help prevent the infection from coming back.

Ringworm on the scalp must be treated with an oral medication, but often it can help speed up healing to also use a shampoo that contains a fungus-fighting ingredient.

If you’re prescribed a prescription drug to treat ringworm of the scalp, your healthcare provider may suggest you also use an OTC shampoo that contains ketoconazole, such as Nizoral. This product usually can be used every three or four days, just as you would a regular shampoo, for up to eight weeks.

Prescription Medications

There are a few situations and types of fungal infections that require a prescription antifungal medication to treat ringworm. These include ringworm on the skin that doesn’t go away after OTC medication, ringworm on the scalp (tinea capitis), or ringworm of the beard (tinea barbae).

Ringworm That Doesn’t Respond to OTC Treatment

If ringworm on the skin doesn’t go away after using a topical medication for the full amount of time directed, a stronger prescription medication may do the trick.

For infections that get worse or don’t go away, there are prescription topical products that can treat ringworm, such as:

• Loprox cream (ciclopirox)
• Spectazole cream (econazole nitrate)
• Oxistat cream or lotion (oxiconazole nitrate)

Ringworm on the Scalp or Beard

Fungal infections on the scalp must be treated with a prescription antifungal. Examples include Gris-PEG (griseofulvin), Sporanox (itraconazole), terbinafine, and Diflucan (fluconazole). Sometimes a healthcare provider will prescribe prescription-strength ketoconazole shampoo to treat stubborn ringworm on the scalp.

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Natural Remedies to Treat Ringworm

OTC and prescription medications are tried-and-true ringworm treatment options. However, some preliminary research suggests there may be natural remedies that work for some people.

Note that the options below haven’t been tested enough to be recommended. However, if you’re interested in an alternative to drugs for treating a ringworm infection, ask your healthcare provider to see if they might be an option.

Tea Tree Oil

Some preliminary research has found that Melaleuca alternifolia, an essential oil known as tea tree oil that’s widely used in aromatherapy, may help cure ringworm affecting the feet. A 2002 study published in the Australasian Journal of Dermatology compared solutions containing either 25% tea tree oil or 50% tea tree oil with a placebo (an inactive substance) to treat athlete’s foot. Subjects applied one of the three options to areas affected with a fungal infection twice a day for four weeks.

At the end of the study, nearly three-quarters of the people who used the 25% solution had a significant improvement in their infection. More than half who used the 50% solution improved, while only 39% of the placebo group saw an improvement.

Garlic Extract

Ajoene, which is a natural compound extracted from garlic, has also shown promise in the treatment of ringworm. A 1999 study found that a gel containing ajoene helped treat tinea cruris (jock itch) and tinea corporis (ringworm on the skin).

Similarly, in a small study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2000, ajoene was more effective than terbinafine (which is the active ingredient in Lamisil) in treating athlete’s foot. For the study, researchers divided 70 subjects into three groups. One group used a topical medication containing 0.6% ajoene, the second group used 1% ajoene, and the third group used 1% terbinafine. 

Summary

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin and scalp. Most of the time, ringworm can be treated with OTC topical medications that are applied directly to the affected areas. Sometimes, however, a prescription medication may be necessary to clear up the infection.

Ringworm is highly contagious and can be spread between people and animals, so it’s important to take measures to keep your skin and clothing clean.

With proper treatment, a ringworm infection should clear up completely within a few weeks. Even if it seems to go away within a few days, always continue ringworm treatment for as long as your healthcare provider recommends.