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.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Yeshuason (Wasilla, Alaska) on 09/18/2011
Apple Cider Vinegar for Ringworm:
The value of ACV is not so much a direct bath (acid bath) but drinking it. When it is digested it breaks down into a highly alkaline ash that shifts your body Ph to the alkaline side. Fungus is a blood borne issue, if you have ringworm; you have fungus in your blood. This means that even if you clear up a patch of ringworm, you have spores for ringworm throughout your body. This is why ringworm tends to come back.
So, by taking two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar (NOT white vinegar flavored stuff, get the natural kind) stirred into a tall glass of water twice or more a day you shift your body to alkaline. Fungus will stop growing if your Ph goes higher than 6.5. This will not only stop the spread of the fungus, but it will allow your immune system to get the upper hand.
I would take the Apple Cider Vinegar internally, and tea tree or walnut hull juice externally. I would also add coconut oil to the diet to attack the fungus from the inside.
Also cut back on sugar and Do NOT drink soda pop while dealing with this. Soda pop balances your body Ph quite acid, and adds a lot of sugar to feed the fungus at the same time.
Soda pop to fungus is like gasoline to a fire.
Summary: ACV to balance Ph, tea tree or walnut hull juice for localized treatment, coconut oil for internal treatment and Oregano Oil P73 brand (Mediterranean breed) for internal and external treatment.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pojama (Miami, Florida) on 09/17/2011
★★★★★
I had ringworm both my feet and hands it was really bad. Tried the doctors (what a joke) many hundreds of dollars later from creams and pills. I read on this site about drinking Apple Cider Vinegar two tablespoons in a glass of water morning and night. After 3 days I saw it improve and after a little over a week it was all gone. And I had suffered for a year and a half.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nicole (Glendora, Ca Usa) on 05/20/2011
I have a question, I came across this site and read about Apple Cider Vinegar and its a great tool to treat ringworm. I read somebodys situation and what she did was she soaked Apple Cider Vinegar on a cotton ball and rubbed it on the affected site till it bleeds then repeat and after 2 days her ringworm is gone. I did the same thing and it stings so bad and the outer skin just fell off and I can see the skin. Is that normal? My ringworm is at the back of my hand. Pls help
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Teia (Detroit, Mi, Usa) on 05/04/2011
thanks so much for posting- I put Apple Cider Vinegar on my 6yr old daughter tonight- the cream from the doctor's is useless- I will keep everyone updated.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by April (Covington, Ga) on 09/11/2010
Apple cider vinegar can be used in the laundry - about 1/4 cup for an average-sized load.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by T (Brooklyn, Ny) on 05/19/2010
Hi. I've heard ACV is good but I would recommend trying Oil of Oregano or grapefruit seed extract. Both are far more aggressive and potent because they possess STRONG anti-fungal properties. Some say ringworm is caused by a virus - others, a fungus. Its a fungus - and thus, needs to be treated with an anti-fungal agent.
So, I would clean the area w/ hydrogen peroxide (since fungus do not "like" anything oxidizing)....THEN...pat dry w/ a cotton ball. Place a single drop (or two) of either the GSE or Oregano Oil on a q-tip gently pat into the affected area (but never rubbing - u will spread the spores) until all is covered.
AND as a dual attack - have your children husband take a 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of coconut oil/day (until the patch has cleared). EVCO has great anti-fungal properties and contains a compound called caprylic acid. Caprylic acid is the reason why EVCO is anti-fungal in nature. By having them ingest the EVCO - it will help address any underlying (internal) fungal issues so that it will not return. This way - you are attacking the problem from both ends.
My many blessings to you - and I pray they get better soon!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Nikecia (Mattapan, Boston, United States) on 05/14/2010
My daughter came home with the ringworm from school first time on the skin which was treated with a cream the second time around it was in her hair. The doctor put her on oral meds which was working until my son got it in his hair. He went on oral meds. as well (6 wks) only to have an allergic reaction and switched to a 12 wk medication. During that time I caught the ringworm on skin (21 day treatment w/ cream). My daughter finished her meds (6wks) as my son was still on meds (12wks). When my son completed his meds. literally the next day my baby, husband had ringworm as well as my daughter AGAIN! So another 6 weeks for her. Now she's off and my son AGAIN! I began looking for home remedies and came across this website and am excited to try something new.
I have only dabbed acv on my son's scalp for 2 days now (total 4 times) and can't see the lesion. Though he is on oral meds taking once a week for 12 wks this is the first the lesion is not visible. I have a small dog whom I think is adding to my problem so a few questions... besides applying acv directly to the scalp what dosage can I give to my small kids 4,3,1 and to my dog oh and cat... can I use this in my laundry and what about cleaning my house. will it kill the ringworm spores...
I NEED HELP PLEASE I CANT DEAL WITH THIS ANYMORE!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Anita (Glenview, Il) on 02/03/2010
★★★★★
The apple cider treatment worked very well to cure ringworm on my face and neck. It takes a while, possibly 2 weeks, and it does burn, but it really works. I followed with a mild facial scrub to get rid of circle marks and dead skin. Thanks for the help.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Betty (San Jose, Ca) on 02/02/2010
I have bumps on my head and they really itch. I also have a ring on my stomach. what can I put on my head?
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Merryanne (Orange City, Florida, USA) on 01/01/2010 113 posts
This is Merryanne in FL,,I have been using the Apple Cider Vinegar on the ringworm itch,,and it can burn/sting real bad on open wounds, and I do not think children can take it,,,a better and also very effective treatment to start with open wounds is Neem oil,,I wish I had remembered this 3 weeks ago for my self, ACV is not painful if it is not an open wound area, I have put neem oil on my self and have had in on for 2 days (it is a very strong spelling oil)while I am off work,,I put it only head, in my ears, behind my ears, everywhere I itched,,will report results in two days..Merryanne in FL
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Camille (Brooklyn, Ny) on 12/30/2009
Howard from NY, NY- did the ringworm come back?
My 4 1/2 year old and my 6 yr old have it. I am thinking of trying the ACV on my 6 yr old- it's in her head; and the Black Walnut tincture on my 4 1/2 yr old-it's on his face, in two places. We got Lotrisone for my son, but I am leery about it after reading the side-effects (it contains a steroid).
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Howard (New York, New York) on 10/22/2009
★★★★★
Apple cider viniger certainly works its amazing. my son had ring worm as small as a dime it was confirmed by the doctor who gave us a treatment for it. so we used what they gave us and thought nothing of it i never had ring worm or seen it before. i noticed that after a while it was spreading. so i went back to the doctor who then gave him a topical cream and medicine to take for 6 weeks. he then assured us it will be gone. But after 6 weeks only affected the site in a extremely small way. so i brought him back and they gave us a stronger medicine that they said would not only kill ring worm but kill any eggs laying around. but this too did not do much so i took things into my own hands and decided to find the solution before it took over his whole head and thats when i found your website praise God. i learned about ACV and went immediatlly and purchased it along side vick vapor rub. i read how it took 3 to 5 days some for some people but i took a cotton ball and put ACV on it and rubbed the infected sight and immediatly the sight bump got white and big. i let it dry for 7 min and repeated again and the infected sight started to bleed. i let it dry and repeated 5 times my son was really a trooper i can see that he was in pain but he hung in there. after the 5 time i let it dry and removed any blood from the site i was amazed and awwwwed. His head was back to normal i still cant believe it but there it was i stared at his head for 1 hour not believing what just happened. i spent hundreds at the doctor for garbage and the Organic ACV only cost me $2.50. I will certainly keep treating his head for 5 more days to make sure it will not come back and i am giving him 1 table spoon of organic ACV to drink to kill whatever is in his blood.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn Usa) on 09/18/2009
YES, we use acv to remove moles , etc and it works , but leaves a white spot. Have used the juice from a green walnut shell to cure ringworms. You can find tincture of walnut at a nutrition store if green walnuts are not available to you.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 09/18/2009 490 posts
For Krystal from Washington, NC
Hello Krystal, I don't know how you plan to use ACV on that ringworm, but be aware that fumes getting into the eye will cause severe burning or stinging. I don't think there will be any scaring.
Your topography there is pretty much the same as here, so you should have plenty of opportunity to gather black walnuts there now. What you want for this ringworm though, is not the walnut, but the green hull covering the walnut. When you get those green walnuts, the way I used it on my son's scalp years ago, cut shallow slice (about dime size) off one area of the hull. This should be sufficient, but can be cut larger if ringworm is larger. Give it a few seconds to start oozing that brown staining liquid and just rub it gently over the ringworm area, being sure to cover all of it. You only need to repeat this 4 times a day. I kept the cut walnut hull in a plastic bag in the refrigerator between uses. When you think it is depleted of the liquid, slice another area off the same hull. When new cuts don't ooze, start on a new walnut hull. You will probably notice a difference after the first day of using this.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Krystal (Washington, Nc, Usa) on 09/17/2009
My 8 yr. old daughter has a ringworm directly beside her eye. I have tried many otc products and I am considering using ACV. Does anyone know if this will leave a scar, considering it is on her face and I'm very concerned with it being so close to her eye! Please HELP!!!!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Ale (Ponce, PR) on 04/30/2009
I have a cat and I have ringworm before and I have this thing on my chest and back and shoulders almost like ringworm and I also go to the doctor and at first she thinks was ringworm too and give me a cream but it does not give away, so to make the story short it was pityriasis rosea, is a condition on the skin that is in appearance like ringworm but doctors do not know exactly whaat is and they think is a virus because it give away alone but may last months and then disappears and not came back again, my last like three months. It does not have treatment.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Rich (Traverse City, Mi) on 04/30/2009
I have been battling an outbreak of ringworm for 22 years now. In 1987 when I was 17 and living in the hot desert of California, my parents bought a cocker spaniel that ended up having ringworm but no one knew what it was and held that dog like it was any other day. We thought it was an allergic reaction. A few weeks later, before my parents took the dog to the Vet, I was off to Michigan for college, never knowing what the diagnosis was for the dog and never hearing from my parents what became of those lesions.
Shortly after my move to Michigan I noticed small red, scaly, itchy spots that became worse (raised and itchy) in hot humid weather, along the parameters of my armpits and on my buttocks and stomach that gradually spread in mostly just these areas. It eventually spread to my chest, forearms, wrists and behind the knees as well as my groin area..... in the course of 1-2 years.
It was diagnosed, through a skin sample, to be ringworm. I have mainly used over the counter anti-fungal medications to battle this outbreak such as Tolnaftate cream and a few other creams and sprays.......and "coal tar" dandruff shampoo. After about 2 weeks the ringworm seems to disappear completely. Then.... a few weeks to a few months later the ringworm comes back. Sometimes even worse than before and in different areas (in the same places) and I spend more money to buy more creams and sprays ect. to battle it again. How long it remains gone, I noticed, depends on the temperature and humidity factor. If it is winter time, it sometime stays away for a few months. If it is summer time it can reapper within weeks of thinking it is cured. This ringworm is more like a rash than sores. I see pictures of ringworm on the internet and they, for the most part, all look like one big scabby sore or ping pong ball size lesion that looks like an open wound like psoriasis. I have never experienced this sort of lesion with my ringworm. My ringworm looks more like the discolorated pinkish skin spots that are from 1/4 inch to no bigger than 1/2 inch in size like pityriasis rosea. When I first seen pictures of pityriasis rosea recently I thought it looked more like what I have, but I know I have ringworm because I have been to doctors on a few occasions over the many years and from town to town and they all diagnose it the same (from skin samples).
I just came to this website tonight and read up on the natural remedies and found great interest in all the positive experiences....especially with apple cider vinegar. So I fetched a bottle from the cupboard at 10:30pm and poured on a clean wash cloth until it was soaked and wiped down my entire body. The smell was and still is rank, and my cats are no where to be found. I waited 1 hour and recorded my observances.
1. I still smell bad but it has subsided from nose tinging to just an acidic urine smell.
2. There was no burning sensation when I first applied it but I can now feel a slight burning along my forearms especially and there is slight redness of the skin.
3. There is a considerable difference in appearance or a lightening of the spots especially along my left forearm (where I first applied it). It looks very faint and the rest of the body looks lighter but not as noticable as my forearms.
Some other things I should point out about ringworm that I have noticed over the last 22 years is that when it appears to be gone it may still linger. I can usually tell how much it has gone by holding an area that is affected at an angle to the light so I am looking at it like I am looking through a scope of a gun and it will show it's shape still. Even if it appears gone by looking directly down on it. Also, the ringlets, when looking at an angle, in the light have a grain or fingerprint wavy line look to them different from normal skin texture. This is how I try to determine if I have medicated the ringworm to oblivion but it is not full proof as it keeps reoccuring.
As far as I know, I have never infected anyone else including my wife of 7 years now. We did have some worries with our new born after she was born with spots appearing on her forehead once and another area of her face once but with topical applicatio of anti-fungal cream a few times it disappeared for good.
I wondered for a long time why my daughter could have caught it so easily and my wife didn't and I am wondering if it is because my daughter and I are of the same blood type and this ringworm can survive better with this blood type which is type O negative. I would suspect this has nothing to do with it whatsoever but curiously intrigued with the thought.
I will post in a few weeks (or sooner maybe) to report on my outcome with the ACV.
I am going to keep with the ACV for a few days and even try the vinegar tablets to see if this will finally cure this awful, evil and itchy deformity.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Emily (MO) on 04/11/2009
★★★★★
I used acv on ringworm, it does leave a hole where the ringworm had grown in the skin, a big circle, use polysporin on it for a couple of weeks and you can hardly see it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Edna (London, UK) on 03/30/2009
Hi there thank you for your comments would it be possible to tell me whether any scar remains after the ringworm is gone. I have a little girl 4 years old who has been suffering from Ring worm on the face since a month. I am desperate to get it clear so am considering using ACV and continuing the Daktacort cream given by her GP.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jay (Baltimore, MD) on 03/24/2009
This in response to the failure of ACV to clear your chronic skin condition - one suggestion - you may not have ringworm - the response that you got from ACV is more consistent with psoriasis. If you have not already done so please get a firm diagnosis from a board certified dermatologist.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Joyce (Joelton, Tn) on 03/15/2009 490 posts
Hello Merv,
If that prescription you are going to get doesn't work on that ringworm, when those green walnuts show up on the black walnut trees around you this summer/fall, just pick a few of them off the tree, slice enough off for the hull to ooze that stuff that dyes you brown and rub the sliced area on that ringworm area at least 4 times a day. It will start drying it up by the 2nd day of using them. Keep on using them a few days past all signs of that ringworm being gone to make sure you got it all.
We kept the sliced ones in a plastic bag in the refrigerator in between applicaations. The unsliced ones we just kept refrigerated until needed after the first one was used up.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Merv (Denver, Colorado) on 03/14/2009
★★★★☆
I have used ACV for many years, it will not "cure" the ringworm on my scalp, but it will keep it from showing activity. It is still there, I have tried violet Gentian, tea tree oil and everything else I have heard of. Now I will get a prescription and get rid of it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Kelly (Hodgenville, Kentucky USA) on 02/20/2009
whoever the person is that claimed they aquired a staph infection from ketoconazole is wrong! You contract staph from the bacteria staph. Staph is not a reaction from any medications! I think the person is just had two different types of infections. Most likely the areas affected with ringworm came in contact with the staph bacteria. Some ringworm infections are harder to get rid of than others, just like anything else.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by T3 (Chicago, IL) on 02/15/2009
★☆☆☆☆
It's been a long time since I've been back to this site. I have been doing this cider, it is not working. I am freaking out.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Pedro (Campinas, Brazil) on 11/24/2008
★★★★★
Hi, I don't have any experience and getting rid of ringworms in pets, but I have gotten rid of it on me! I'm assuming ringworm and athletes foot are the same thing (I'm talking about "frieira", in portuguese).
What I did was soak a cottom ball with ACV and place it on the area (with a bandaid if you have to) a couple of times a day for 30 minutes. I did this while on the computer or watching TV. Once done, clean it with H202. Even better if you can leave H2O2 in the area for a while too.
Do this for a few days and the infected skin will peel of. You can stop doing it once everything is good again, but keep an eye on it as it may take a few cycles to get rid of it.
I did it once, and it never came back.
I also take ACV orally, and I think that is key. Skin problems need to be addressed from the inside as well as the outside.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Vera (Porto Alegre, RS-Brazil) on 11/23/2008
Hi, I am having a bad outbreak of fungus, that I am begining to think is ringworm which came with a very bad shaped young dog I rescued from the street. The dog has been elsewhere for more than two months, and my poor cat (and I!), and the the whole home are still contaminated... What about the Apple Cider, should we use it topically, or drink it, or both; and how? Many thanks. We are going to homeopathy and some herbs as well right now; but anything that helps which may make our lives easier. Vera
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by John Goldwine (Burbank, California) on 11/15/2008
★★★★★
I had really bad ringworm on my fore arms and upper arms. I tried coconut oil, It seemed to help but didn't cure it. I then tried the crap from the pharmacy, it didn't do much either, even after a couple weeks. I decided to try ACV since it cures just about everything else. Amazing, it was gone in a couple of days. One word of caution though, I did get a little carried away on my upper arm and it left a pretty bad scar. No more ringworm, and I'm happy about that. ACV is incredible!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mike (Bettendorf, Iowa) on 10/20/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I tried the ACV for the ring worm ailment I have been battling for years now. Not only did it NOT work and hurt, but it also irritated it and caused it to become worse and spread.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Michelle (Mon Louis Island, AL) on 02/18/2006
★★★★★
I had horrible allergies and I had noticed that I had a ringworm on my stomach. I had a friend that had a ringworm not to long ago and she went to the doctor. He gave her a Rx she had to take for two weeks. It made her feel sick. I had started reading Natural Cures and I refused to go and get an Rx so I started to research. Then I became my own guinea pig. I wake up and take a shot of AVC in a shot glass then I chop two cloves of garlic in the shot glass and wait ten min. Then I add water to the garlic and shot it. Then I brush my teeth with baking soda. I have not had to take allergy meds. and I noticed by the fourth day my ringworm was gone. I have been doing this going on four weeks. I now give my son 2tsp of AVC then a glass of water and his allergies have cleared. I have felt better for the past three weeks than I can remeber. You should try it.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jeff (Houston) on 03/14/2006
★★★★★
Forget all the creams at Walgreens, CVS--or any other drug store. Put ACV on a cotton swab rub it around the effected area until is burns. Later place a soaked swab on it without rubbing it at night. Do this for a couple more days--you'll knock the ringworm out of the ring.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Aubrey (York, PA) on 08/13/2006
★★★★★
My Husband had a ringworm infection for over 6 months (got it at the gym) and we received 2 different prescriptions from Doctors. None of which worked. So as a suggestion from our chiropractor (great man), he started drinking a teaspoon and a half of ACV in a cup of apple juice two times a day. Within 2 weeks it was completely cured. We both take One Tablespoon of ACV a day for general body cleanliness and filtering.
