Top Natural Cures for Ringworm: Quick & Easy Remedies

Garlic

Posted by Julie (Larose, Louisiana) on 09/30/2008
★★★★★

i work in a medical clinic and contracted a ringworm from one of my young patients. the nurse told me to buy some otc antifungal cream and it would be gone in about 3 weeks. i have been interested in alternative meds for sometime, so i grabbed one of my books and read that garlic is antifungal. i bought a head of garlic, sliced a clove of it quite thin, applied it to the ringworm,covered it with a bandaid, and waited. now the chemicals in garlic will burn the skin for a minute or so, but after applying the garlic 3 nights in a row, the ringworm disappeared. i recommend this remedy to everyone. garlic works for lots of things.

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!

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.

Garlic

Posted by Brenda (San Antonio, TX) on 03/03/2007
★★★★★

Take a fresh clove of garlic. Cut it, rub the juicy piece on the ringworm 3 x day. It'll be gone in a couple of days. It does sting a bit, but not for long. Tried it on me and my neighbor kids with great success.

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.

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.

Paleo Diet

Posted by Priscilla (Columbia, Md) on 01/02/2016
★★★★☆

I have had ringworm all my life. It only happens when the outside temperature drop below 60. When I went on the Paleo diet for 30 days my ringworm when away. I also use black cumin seed oil. It takes the itching away very fast and dries it up. But it will come back. But as long as I eat paleo the ringworm stays away. Basically eating fresh is very easy and I never felt better.

Bleach

Posted by Robert Henry (Ten Mile , Tn. ) on 07/21/2015

HI U DAWN, , , , , , , , , Buy Walnut tincture and the game is over. I just dice up a walnut that we have on our farm. You city slickers have to buy all this stuff. Us rural Rednecks have all this in abundance.

ATS ========ORH===========

Rubbing Alcohol

Posted by Om (Hope, Bc Canada) on 04/10/2015

TURMERIC works best. The dry powder.

Swimming in the Ocean

Posted by Alex (Orange County) on 04/09/2015
★★★★★

I had a bout of ringworm on my leg a few years ago and after using straight tea tree oil, it seemed to get angry and infected. Coincidentally, I had a trip booked to Cancun and when I arrived, my lower leg was very swollen from the infection, including a good size sore that was also oozing pus. I used calamine lotion to deal with the itching in the meantime. Call it instinct, but I felt that spending as much time in the ocean would help heal and eliminate the problem. Not only was it enjoyable to be wading in warm, clear, salty water, but like magic, my leg started to heal. After a few days, it was completely gone. After 3 years, I developed another bout and I'm treating it with peroxide, iodine, oregano oil, and ACV. I initially used Tea tree oil and it got angry and red, (infection). It's been slow going but the combination of the above seems to be working. I sure wish I was in Cancun now! I may try the local beach if I can find the time.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Benjamin (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 03/03/2015

Your experience is very similar to mine. At one point I think I got a secondary infection that caused pus sores and extreme pain. After a round of internal antifungal and antibiotics, which I normally avoid like the plague, I was back to regular ringworm, (which has been a nightmare in itself) in the groin with postules. I read about on a Ted posting and have found that applying peroxide several times a day has helped immensely and I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. I usually start my day out for the last week anyway by warming up a gallon of 3% peroxide and sitting in it in a basin and splashing it over affected areas that are not submersed. I suppose you could spray it on as well and should several times a day to cure it. As it is on my backside, thighs, groin, etc., I try and do the soak also I'm sure you could use over the counter peroxide with the stabilizers but I had a gallon of 35% food grade peroxide that I make my own with using distilled water. I would also probably start with 1 or 2% then move up to 3%. I actually funnel the used peroxide back into a closed container and have used it for several days. I just put the jug in a pot of hot water on the stove to warm it before use, for comfort and added absorbtion. I figure there are no surviving germs in it and it has been cost effective and cured me a lot. I am thinking to follow the protocol of drinking diluted peroxide in distilled water as well as an added measure in this fight. I did it years ago. One should be very careful to follow the instructions exactly, I believe if you choose the internal approach as well. I hope this helps you as it has me.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Laurel (Usa) on 05/13/2015
★★★★★

Aloe Vera also worked for me, after trying Absorbine, and a multitude of other things. I had it everywhere. I tried bathing in Selsun Blue-no results, but upon using Aloe Vera, in two weeks it was completely gone, and has not come back. NO side effects either. I use pure AV (clear, no color to it, nor lidocaine) Mine is 100% aloe gel.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Flagg (Fl.) on 08/10/2015

I had a ring worm when I was a little girl and grandpa put some black gun powder in some Vaseline and put it on the ring worm, than put a band aid on it. Since then I have done this many times to other people and it always works in about 3 to 4 days and with no pain and the ring worm never comes back.