The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Misdiagnosing Ringworm
Posted by Misdiagnosed myself (Nashville, TN) on 02/23/2009
I diagnosed myself with ringworm after I showed my scaly patches to friends and family and two of them said definitely ringworm. So as with anything, I skipped the doctor and started looking at Earth Clinic! (how much money have I saved over the years by coming here first?) Unfortunately I wasted a few days on your readers' suggested ringworm treatments... My diagnosis was incorrect, I actually have Pityriasis rosea, which is a virus and just has to run its course, apparently. If you think you may have misdiagnosed your ringworm, put "Pityriasis rosea" into google images. As soon as I saw the pictures I knew it was me. This rash feasts on areas that have never had much sun: breasts and butt for women, butt for men.
Supplements
Posted by Lance (National City, California) on 10/15/2008
★★★★★
Selenium deficiency and anemia appear to the biggest factor of candida or ringworm. Silver mercury filling can deplete the body of selenium, zinc. This can lead to fungal infections.
Iron folic acid, b12 deficiency lead to anemia that can cause fungal infection.
I took:
- 200mg selenium 3 times a day
- zinc 50mg 2 times a day
- folic acid 3 times a day
- iron 1 a day
- b12 3 times a day.
It doesn't take long for it to work.
Too much copper in the body can deplete selenium also causing fungus growth.
Garlic
Posted by Stella (Brisbane, Qld Australia) on 10/08/2012
★★★★★
Yes Garlic definitely works to get rid of ringworm. I slice a clove into slivers and rub the juice into the fungal spot. Though its easier to get liquid garlic capsules — pierce them to rub the oil directly on the spot. Gone in less than a week. Garlic is so good for so many things its a staple to have in the house.
Clear Nail Polish
Posted by Lele (Riverside, Ca) on 08/21/2012
This was an interesting remedy that actually worked... Faster than using ACV or Tea Tree Oil alone. I would clean the area using either of the above items mentioned and then apply a thick layer of clear nail polish. There was a huge difference by morning. It only took a few days for it to disappear, but I do recommend doing this a week longer to keep it from coming back. This method is also great to keep other areas from becoming affected.
Also, you may use a liquid bandage. They work the same way and even better if you find one that won't sting!
Garlic
Posted by Okarel (Houston, Texas) on 06/25/2008
★★★★★
Garlic works for ringworm. It smells bad, but it works. You should buy a cheese grater and then grate the garlic. Once the garlic is grated, get a cotton boll or a clean napkin and apply in the area. It's going to burn but it helps do this at least 3 times a day: once in the morning and one time during the day and last but not least, during the night. But make sure you clean your face first with warm water then dry with a clean towel.. =] good luck=]
Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Indy (Indianapolis, IN) on 01/10/2008
★★★★★
re: Plain Old Alcohol -- I got ringworm from my sisters kids 4 times. It was usually only one spot on the arm, leg, or once on my back. The first time i used some OTC. I forget the name, but it didn't work. Then I read on another site that rubbing alcohol works. I soaked the infected area in alcohol 2 to 3 times a day, and it went away in about a week. It burned a little, but it wasn't that bad.
Fig Tree Sap
Posted by Jack Parker (Gaffney, SC) on 07/31/2007
★★★★★
My grandmother taught me this and it works for Ringworm. Take a leaf from a fig tree (Edible Fruit Variety) and the milky white sap from the leaf rubbed on the ringworm will get rid of it in a few days.
Remedies That Didn't Work
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) 392 posts
A ringworm won't die. Their weakness is a saturated solution of borax and 1% hydrogen peroxide. It is a strong form of fungus. An alkaline form is more effective in the long run. If you want to really kill there is also another way, available at your local aquarium retail outlets everywhere. The anti algae bottle to control algae in fish tanks are often a solution of copper sulfate or a buffered form of copper chloride. Those are applied two or three time to the area and repeated weekly application should be more than enough. They outperform all doctor's med on fungus treatment and for less than 1/20th of the price. Fungus and ringworms major weakness are borax, and copper. There are others, but this would be best tested so far. A borax and copper solution is another possibility. Basically you will add saturated borax to the anti-algae bottle, (often it is light transparent blue in color, usually it is copper sulfate - but they don't label as such, but this is usually the case). The apply this solution to the feet or areas where there is ringworm for external application only. As far as I know this has worked better than any doctors med for topical ringworm applications.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Krenee (Oregon) on 11/24/2006
★★★★★
I had a very bad case of ringworm that I got from a friend's cat. I tried everything to get rid of it, baking soda, calamine lotion, ++ nothing worked and it got worse. I went to the emergency room of the hospital, because it had spread down my leg and looked terrible and the itch was driving me crazy. . They prescribed me a ointment and after spending close to $300 it did not work. I told a friend about it and she went online for me and found that pure tea tree oil extract is a homeopathic alternative. I would have tried anything to get rid of it. I ran to the store and bought the purest little bottle I could find. I rubbed a small amount of the oil on my infected skin reapplied every so often, and I kid you not, in two day it was pretty much all cleared up! It stopped the speeding and caused what was there to dry up and my skin was healing. I was hooked. I heard it is used for acne and helps mosquito bites dry up fast without drying out your skin. I now carry it when ever I travel. Please try this. It really works! I good bottle cost about $8 and will last a very long time.
Garlic
Posted by Eddie (Ft Lauderdale, FL) on 09/19/2006
★★★★★
I applied pure garlic oil directly on the ringworm patch. I also took Garlic oil capsuls internally to cleanse the bloodstream. This worked for me.
Bee Propolis, Iodine Topically
Posted by Katzie (Calgary, Canada ) on 04/21/2023
★★★★★
Iodine for Ringworm
I have had what I had thought was simply an enlarged pore or scar on my cheek, right next to my nose. I tried acv, pure hydrogen peroxide 10%, colloidal silver and other things; this is why I thought it was simply a scar or something.
I found a neat product called Bee Propolis w/Iodine Tincture, so I put 2 drops onto it and only the infected area went dark. Did this 2x/day for 4-5 days and then it was all gone. Amazing stuff!
Bee Propolis With Iodine
Posted by Katzie (Canada) on 10/25/2022
★★★★★
Bee Propolis w/Iodine Tincture Beats Ringworm
I have had this "thing" on my face, right beside my nose. I have had it for 25+ yrs now. I did indeed try ACV, Coconut Oil and Hydrogen Peroxide on it and absolutely nothing changed. I bought a bottle of Bee Propolis with Iodine tincture to try it out. I put it on the area and 4 days later now and it is almost gone! I figured if ACV or HP didn't work on it, there was nothing I could do. I am so glad I tried this! If you have ringworm, don't give up. If the most popular cures don't work for your body, keep trying! I am so glad I found this stuff!
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Lou (Canada) on 05/11/2022
★★★★★
Ozonated Olive Oil for Ringworm/Tinea
I have had ringworm on my back for a few years and this past winter it exploded. The topical creams from my doctor stopped working. Finally went to see my naturopath and she put me on an anti-fungal protocol for a month. And she gave me ozonated olive oil to use topically. I use that twice a day and the marks have almost completely disappeared in 10 days. It smells strong (kind of rancid - but it's the ozone) but it works amazingly well. This is the one I have. https://www.shaughnessypharmacy.com/products/ozonated-olive-oil
Keep it refrigerated to keep it potent. Wear an old t-shirt while sleeping so you protect your bedding. Multiple thin applications are better than one thick one.
I have tried everything for this and am blown away by the effectiveness of the ozone. I hope it helps others.
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Betty (CA) on 05/11/2022
Thanks for posting this info!
I use the O3 Olive Oil for severely dry hands and feet. Works wonders.
Ozonated Olive Oil
Posted by Betty (CA) on 05/12/2022
purO3 brand.
ABB, Anti-Yeast
Posted by Louis (Phoenix ) on 01/18/2020
★★★★★
Ringrom: cure by taking cotton square generous dab of ABB then rub into solaray yeast fighters (take out of capsules and place into a bowl) then rub into borax then rub into affected area 10 to 15 seconds works
ABB, Anti-Yeast
Posted by Vanessa (Lake Ariel, PA) on 01/26/2020
What is ABB?
Pennies in Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Katydid (Katy, Tx) on 05/14/2018
★☆☆☆☆
Pennies in ACV remedy:
I tried this the last time I got ringworm and it didn't work at ALL! Not only that, it burned my skin horribly and made it worse. Wish I'd never tried it. And I am not ACV sensitive, by the way. What finally cleared it up was simple OTC athlete's foot cream. You can find it at most dollar stores and all pharmacies. Gone in 4 days, no pain, no scars.
Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Zsuzsi (Ireland) on 07/22/2017
★★★★★
Tea tree oil, applied only twice a day not only made the itch go away instantly, but the ringworm went too, in about a couple of weeks. (this was skin ringworm, a proper little circle on my tummy). Same place, same thing for my daughter, tea tree worked again).
I wish my son's scalp healed from it too,, but it's more complicated this time I'm afraid.
Magnesium Oil
Posted by Canadianguy (Victoria, Bc) on 03/16/2018 15 posts
Well it kept returning! I also used a doctor prescribed cream after this, which seemed to work better (way slower, but with a longer effect) but it came back then too. I thought maybe reinfection wasn't external, so I got some pills that have been keeping it away - I think by improving immunity. They are beta-glucans with larch arabinogalactans. They are kinda cheap too, as I only take 1 daily despite instructions.
Magnesium Oil
Posted by David Turner (Canada) on 03/20/2025
Well, these two posts above are me, and I got lazy and distracted, so I stopped using all these things. I found that liquid (called fractionated) works really well as it is so antifungal. It's cheaper too.
Rubbing Alcohol
Posted by Some Guy (Las Vegas, Nv) on 06/09/2016
★★★★★
Alternating 91% alcohol and ACV worked for my jock itch which is ringworm. Diligent generous applications daily/2x for about 3 weeks worked to slowly get rid of it. I now think I have it on my scalp and beard but the fumes from washing them in alcohol make it inappropriate to treat a large area. Possibly have residual excema conditions along with it. I have tried all OTC nuetragena products, rose hip oil, occasional ACV, and some concoction of all of them...to no avail and left with dry skin. I am now using tea tree and it seems to only control the symptoms. Scalp is tough to treat once it starts to spread. Dabbing alcohol seems to help on my beard and hairline where I can see the red patches of dry skin but alcohol does not kill spores (acv supposedly does).
DMSO, Oregano Oil
Posted by Suseeq (Sydney, Australia) on 06/11/2016
Dear ORH, thank you for that. I poured a weakened solution on my begonia, cant wait for spring to see how it fares.
Thieves Oil and Castor Oil
Posted by Tg (Central Florida) on 04/25/2016
★★★★★
Firstly, thank you for this site!! I wanted to pass on an alternative to Apple Cider Vinegar for ringworm that works for me.
As soon as you feel it spreading (for me that is it starts to itch), treat the spot with full strength Thieves essential oil. I keep rubbing in until the itch stops. May burn slightly but you can tell this is a good burn:) Then I cover the area with castor oil. It seems to prevent the spores from coming back immediately.
Repeat as necessary but for me a few applications even for the largest new spots seemed to work.
