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.
Borax
Posted by Angelina (Moncton, N.b., Canada) on 01/10/2011
★★★★★
I was never officially diagnosed by a doctor with ringworm but I deduced on my own from checking my symptoms online and with friends. I had red itchy rounds blotches on my chest and arms. At first I used ACV and tea tree oil. That stableized things and kept it from spreading but it didn't seem to clear it up. Finally it was suggested to me to scrub with borax and a clean face cloth. Apparently the fungus likes to live underneath dry skin, and so scrubbing away the dead skin would take away the fungus' shelter. I saw results in a day and was so relieved. I continued this for a good few weeks although it was pretty much gone in a week. I just wanted to make sure it wouldn't return. Borax is mild anyway. Always make sure the cloth you are using is clean to prevent putting the fungus back on your skin.
White Vinegar
Posted by Jojo (Nyc, Ny) on 11/04/2010
★★★★★
I had a small ringworm lesion on my leg about the size of a quarter. I doused it with tea tree oil and it dried up but did not go away, also did not spread which was a plus. Tried the same with iodine baths, no luck. Then, I decided to try this penny thing. I soaked the penny in white vinegar and dabbed vinegar on my sore. I then placed penny on the spot and taped it over securely. Left it on overnight. In the morning I removed it to find very good results. I cleaned it with iodine and removed some dead skin. I then repeated the penny/vinegar bit and left it on for the whole day. I changed dressing in morning and night and did this for 3 days (probably overkill) but I have a 15 month old and REALLY did not want her to get this too. Fourth day, I cleaned it really well with iodine and put tea tree oil on. And 5th day, I realized it was sooo very dead and now required a lot of moisturizing ;-)
As you can see, I basically did a few of these home remedies altogether and it worked. I did go to the doctor and got a prescription for the cream, but I am glad I could save my money.
Listerine
Posted by Jeff (Nashville, Tn) on 11/02/2010
Be careful with the bleach!! I tried it, and the "rings" cracked open and slightly bled. I was an obvious chemical burn that I feel set me back (and really hurt). Still trying Ab Jr and have almost given up on over the counter creams. After my burn scabs go away maybe it will be better. GOOD LUCK!
Listerine
Posted by Mike (Hartford, Ct) on 11/02/2010
★★★★☆
I have been using Listerine for several weeks now... It has worked on some of the areas where the skin is thinner. But on areas where the skin is thicker or more constantly moist, not so well. I'll be off trying bleach next as I have already tried all of the Over the Counter stuff with no success.
Nail Polish
Posted by Sid Davis (Springfield, Missouri, Usa) on 07/21/2010
★★★★★
My wife had ringworm under her chin for about two months. She tried Calamine lotion for about a month and 1/2 because she thought she had brushed against some poison ivy, not realizing it was ringworm. When she realized it was ringworm, she painted it twice daily for a week with lugol's solution (5% iodine) and it started to noticeably clear. Then I read about clear nail polish, and she quit the iodine and applied nail polish twice daily for two days, and now it is gone. Looks like the nail polish worked the best.
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Maddison (Bradford, Endland) on 07/05/2010
I am still battling ringworm, but to cure the itching I took the coldest shower I could bare and stayed in the shower for 3-4 minutes. The itching stopped immediately and has not returned.
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Marnie (Battle Lake, Minnesota) on 05/30/2010
★★★★☆
last summer it took me 3 months to get rid of my ringworm....tried everything - i had 7 spots on my arm. This year i have gotten a large spot on the palm of my hand. I am diabetic and always are concern about infections.... Bleach, vinegar, anti fungal meds nothing was changing it this year, it just keep growing. bleach did do the trick last year but that took 3 months of constant care and bleaching. I saw the absorbine jr post ordered it immediately....i have been using only it non stop for about 5 days, every days it looks better....this is the best cure of ringworm - thank you for doing this post. I am a dairy farmer so we are going to try this on a 4-H calves if they get ringworm in the next month so they do not have it when fair times comes.........thank you so much for posting this....
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Lynn (Clay Springs, Arizona) on 04/21/2010
★★★☆☆BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS
I have been dealing with a skin condition since last October, it went crazy 10 days after I had some amalgm filling removed. At first it was not ring shaped just large crusty lesions that were itchy, raised patches of red skin. It quickly spread from one leg to the other then both my arms. It finally came up round and ringed in a few places then I knew it was ringworm. I finally read on Earth Clinic about the Absorbine treatment, yea finally it is starting to dry up. I have used it for several days, three times a day. My skin seems to be cracking open some and I am concerned. I put natural lotions on and it does itch some for a while them calms down. Does anyone have an idea what I can use to moisturize my skin that won't start up the ringworm again. Does anyone have scarring for the lesions? I am worried about this. I tried Aloe Vera gel and that was a huge mistake, I was in great pain for about 18hrs, untill I went to the store for Absorbine Jr.
Fig Tree Sap
Posted by Vcanfield (San Antonio, Tx, Usa) on 03/03/2010
★☆☆☆☆WARNING!
Warning on fig tree sap for Ringworm!
The sap is caustic and will burn the skin. We have a fig tree and I have to use gloves when I harvest figs or my hands will get terrible chemical-like burns. Fig sap is a natural cure for burning warts off, so putting it on the skin that is already inflamed is cruel and abusive.
Please do not use this method on your animals. There are other, kinder methods to turn to.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil
Posted by Matthew (Berkeley, Ca) on 03/02/2010
★★★★★
I feel so lucky to have found this website! I had a nasty patch of ringworm that was getting out of control since I thought it was some sort of weird bug bite and was doing nothing for it except worrying. After a month of it getting larger and itchier, my friend finally diagnosed it as ringworm and found this website for me. What a Godsend! I immediately soaked a folded paper towel with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)and layed it on the area. There was an immediate reaction and I could tell it was killing the ringworm fungus. The itching was gone almost instantaneously. I repeatedly kept the paper towel wet with ACV for a couple hours, then I lightly wet a large bandage with Tea Tree Oil, placed it on the sore and went to bed. I did the same thing the next night, only that time it really stung because the patch was all opened up and blister-y. Tea Tree bandage again, which also hurts. But those two treatments completely turned it around and its almost all healed less than a week later!! I've also been dabbing tea tree on it as it's healing, and I've been drinking little shots (1/2 oz.)of the ACV twice a day as well. All in all, this was an amazingly effective treatment and a real no-brainer (also completely natural and non-toxic!). I hope this info may help someone else. ACV goes to work immedietly and seems to kill ringworm on contact!!!
Paper Ash Residue
Posted by Sheldon007 (Spring, Tx) on 02/21/2010
★★★★★
When I was a child I would get ringworm all the time. My grandmother would take a piece of paper burn it on a plate. when the paper was completly burnt she would blow off the ashes then use the residue left on the plate to rub over the ringworm. This would suffucate the ringworm and within days the ringworm was gone with no permanent scars.
Pennies in Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Star (Towanda, Pa) on 02/12/2010
★★★★★
The best way to get rid of ringworm is to take a few old pennies and place in a cup with about 5 tablespoons of apple cider vinager. let age for a day or two and rub directly on the ring worm. it will normally burn. but will work. i had ring worm so bad that it was larger than the size of a fifty cent piece. it had completely ate away all of my skin and itched terribly. it works. i have used this remedy for over 25 years, and it is yet not to work.
Fresh Pecan Hulls
Posted by Sabrina (Houston, Tx) on 02/07/2010
★★★★★
In November of 2009, my 6 year old daughter had a fingertip sized ringworm just next to her eye. Due to the delicate area the best choice for a remedy was the black walnut hull. But we had no walnut trees nearby, only pecans. I reasoned that since the pecan was a genus of the walnut family, it stood a great chance of success. I went outside and grabbed a pecan off the tree.
The outer green part surrounding the pecan in its shell is what is used. Wearing gloves (the tannin in the hull stains a lovely shade of brown), I cut a 1/4 inch piece. With my daughter laying down, unaware of the impending horror, I commenced. I squeezed the hull until the liquid appeared. I rubbed the liquid directly onto the ringworm and used tissue to mop any excess. After about 30 seconds my daughter began to cry out. The process burned terribly. I explained that the burning sensation most likely meant that we were killing the fungus, so at least the pain would be productive. I spent 20 minutes blowing on the area and my poor daughter went to sleep quite upset. However...
The next morning, the ringworm area had begun to scab. It was not pretty to look at. That night my daughter was afraid to let me touch her. I had to wait until she was asleep to apply the pecan hull. She awoke during the end of the process (quite angry and annoyed at my tactic). The next day the scab was huge and crusty. I had not read anywhere about the appearance after the application and I hoped that it would slough off quickly. The 4th night (taking a forced break on the 3rd night) I reasoned with my daughter that we would apply more pecan hull liquid and it would only sting if there was still live fungus under the scab, otherwise it should be painless. She weighed it out and realized that she wanted the thing totally gone, so we proceeded. This time, no sting and it lightly stained the skin surrounding the scab. That was it.
The scab lasted about 4 weeks. It was ugly and thick and showed no sign of leaving. We would cover it with a bandage coated with cornstarch to keep the adhesive from pulling on the sensitive skin near the eye. Finally the scab began to decrease. After about a month the scab totally came off, but a red scar remained. Now after 6 weeks, the scar has faded to a barely visible mark and I feel confident that the cure worked.
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Tri (Columbia, Sc) on 01/12/2010
Cured1 from Zion, IL you are exactly right. Dab a cotton ball in some bleach and apply it to your ringworm twice a day and in about 2 days you will see your ringworm start to go away. The only thing is you have to continue applying it to the same area for about 2 wks because ringworm WILL come back if you stop the treatment too soon.
Oregano Oil
Posted by Azg (Toronto, On) on 01/10/2010
★★★★★
I had a tiny incidence of ringworm on the top of my foot last summer and applied Oil of Oregano to it 3 or 4 times a day. I also put about 10 drops in a shotglass with water and threw it back (and chased it with juice). It's so powerful I just wanted to get it over with! My foot cleared up within 2 or 3 days.
Clear Nail Polish
Posted by Corinna_bella (Sydney, Australia) on 01/09/2010
★★★★★
This is not the most natural remedy but it certainly works.
Use a cottontip to wipe ringworm with nailpolish remover (or apple cider vinegar works if you are chemical concious but nail polish remover works best) and then cover the area with clear nail polish (use one of the eco friendly brands if you are concerned about the chemicals)
Reapply the clear nailpolish every couple of hours and it will disappear in 2-3 days.
I tried everything and this worked a dream. Aparently the nailpolish suffocates the bacteria
Bleach
Posted by Merryanne (Orange City, Florida, USA) on 12/06/2009 113 posts
To Jacques, I was looking for the clear iodine in Walmart yesterday, I asked the lady in the Pharmacy for it, they keep it behind in the Pharmacy precription area,,they were out of stock but ordered some and it will be in stock in 4 days,,, We should start asking our local Pharmacy's for the items we want,,if they do not have it, ask if it is possible they can order it, the same is true for some of the other food items we want from our grocery store. merryanne in Fl
Bleach
Posted by Jacques (Marshall, Nc) on 12/04/2009
Hello Renee from Ray City Georgia, a most effective treatment for ring worms is colorless iodine, or bleach iodine, same stuff, I had rings worms and a dear friend told me about it, it is getting hard to find in drug stores but easily gotten on the net. This iodine will do short work of a long standing problem, I have done two applications at 12 hours intervals and that was done.
I love this site,
Jacques
Bleach
Posted by Renee (Ray City, Georgia) on 12/02/2009
★★★★★
When I was young, I used clorox or bleach on my ringworm and it went away after a couple of weeks. Now, my grandson has a ringwrom, but I'm afraid to use bleach. I will try the ACV to see if it works.
Clear Nail Polish
Posted by Blessed (Tulsa, Ok) on 11/08/2009
RINGWORM: How large an area can be painted with Clear Nail Polish?
I was misdiagnosed, but then realized what I had contacted Ringworm - and used tea tree oil initially, but found that better relief with apple cider vinegar. The problem is that is rubbing the apple cider vinegar, the Ringworm has spread to large portions of my body. I hope that I have not gotten a staph infection, as some sections are really red. I started placing some clear nail polish on the areas, but needed to know how much can be applied? Thank you and God Bless!
Homeopathic Remedies
Posted by Tee (Chicago, Il) on 10/21/2009
Hi Joy I wanted to know where are a few homeopathic pharmacies? I noticed you were from Chicago I also live in Chicago. You can email me or post on the site if possible. I am a real person Thanks in advance
Homeopathic Remedies
Posted by Joy (Chicago, Il) on 10/21/2009
If the ACV and walnut is not working you could try homeopathy. It would be too complex to suggest different remedies but if you went into a homeopathic pharmacy, they could help. There is a remedy made from ringworm (diluted) and it may go under the latin name Tinea.
Borax
Posted by Smith (San Francisco, California, Usa) on 10/08/2009
★★★★★
A year ago I came to this site to find a remedy for ringworm. I had gone through an number of over the counter products, which seemed to spread the fungus instead of stopping it. It had developed because of taking prescription medication with fluoride base. Yes I was poisoning myself with a doctor's help.
I tried Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and urine to no avail. By the time I found Borax at WalMart, the fungus had spread all over my hands and I had begun to worry that I would be spreading it everywhere on my body. Plus my hands were cracked and bleeding, blistering and peeling, and the itching was endless.
So I started on Ted's recommended dose of 1/8 tsp in a liter of water and drank it slowly over a few hours. This worked within the first few days so well that I didn't want to stop after a few days to take a break, but I did. Within a months time the ringworm had completely vanished and the only thing left was the tiny pits in my fingernails where the fungus had affected the growth of the new nail.
Once my nails were not pitted anymore I stopped taking the borax supplement.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Copper Penny
Posted by Becky (Orange Park, Fl) on 10/07/2009
★★★★★
I tried this and it totally worked! I would soak a penny in ACV and then bandaid over it to keep it in place for about 30 min. Then I would rinse with hydrogen peroxide, pat dry, and paint clear nail polish over it. After a week or so, I started applying aloe or coconut oil at night in addition to the aforementioned regimen. It did take a good 2 weeks or so but it's gone without having to spend a dime or use some toxic over the counter stuff. Earthclinic did it again!!! :D
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Rick2560 (Cape Girardeau, Missouri) on 08/26/2009
★☆☆☆☆
My "rash" started out on my left foot in 2003 after spending time in a dorm setting. Later, I got the same looking rash underneath my watch band. I have been to numerous doctors for this "rash". One told me it was because of my watch band & sweating so I quit wearing the watch for a long time, but it didn't clear up any. I have tried Tinactin & numerous other athlete's foot products because I was told the "rash" on my foot was athlete's foot. It was weird because the rash has been just on the left side of my body, until recently, when it has migrated to my groin area. I was told it was eczema & given several different types of medications & tried many home remedy type treatments, without success. Other doctors have told me it is psoriasis...and have treated it as such. All the while, the "rash" has gotten significantly worse, driving me into seclusion & getting me thrown out of physical therapy today because the therapist insisted it was RINGWORM! Well, I had seen this site a few days ago & sent my wife to get some Absorbine Junior ...this stuff burns like wild fire & so far, I haven't seen much, if any, difference since starting it (AJ) 3 days ago & having used all but about a 1/2 oz of a 4 oz bottle in those 3 days! Today, the doctor finally said, "yes, I believe it IS ringworm" & he gave me yet another medication (oral) called Ketoconazole 200mg tabs. He said they were pretty wicked & should take care of the ringworm once & for all. I have to go tomorrow to get a blood test to check my liver function so he can monitor my liver function during treatment.
I was so excited to hear about everyone using the AJ but so disappointed that it hasn't worked for me!
Light Bulb Cure for Ringworm
Posted by Elexar (Chicago, Il) on 08/07/2009
Ringworm is not caused by a worm or bug, its caused by a fungus. A contagious fungus. To keep it from recurring, you have to wash everything the spot came in contact with. For example, if you have ringworm of the scalp, you'll have to wash you bed linens (or at least the pillowcase) as you're treating it you don't reinfect yourself. I don't know how effective this is, but i spray things that cannot be washed (like the sofa) with lysol spray or the like.
MMS
Posted by Kokila (Roslyn Heights, NY) on 07/25/2009
★★★★★
Hi, This is for all ringworm sufferers! Fungus help:
I had a very bad case of fungal skin infections (ringworm most likely) on my legs and hand. I had also a bad case of lymphedema, which I got rid of (see my other entry here), but then the stupid fungus attacked with a vengence! So I got rid of one enemy to only attract number 2! So no more swelling and pain, BUT now ITCH and sores! It was going on for a few months with almost no relief. I tried every cream/remedy known to man without success!
Despairing I told a friend, who told me: try "MMS" aka Magic Mineral Substance created by a man named Jim Humble...It cures all sorts of pathogen related viral infectious diseases. Serious ones like Malaria, Lyme diease, you name it! Skeptical I tried it! It WORKED! All the fungus is GONE! Took a few weeks...but eradicated it, even from my hand, where I had had a weird fungus for a year.
So here's my protocol:
MMS in the AM, along with topically some health food store natural fungal cream, just to protect the skin from lingering nasties.
That's it folks!
I tried: ACV, lavender/tea tree oil mix with sea salt first to dry the skin (paid $40 bucks for the download of that info...didn't work), oregano (wild) oil, garlic, multiple creams, etc. NOTHING really got rid of the torture of this fungus, except MMS. Not trying to advertise it, just spreading the word to help fellow fungus sufferers. Interestingly enough Jim Humble's simple remedy is cheap too.
Good luck...hope this helps others.
Calamine Lotion
Posted by Kokila (Roslyn Heights, New York) on 06/10/2009
★★★★★
HI,
I had a terrible case of A. Lymphedma in my legs and B. Ringworm there as well.
Cured both.
Here's how:
Lymphedema: got this during my pregnancy and continued for almost 2 years thereafter.
I believe from Adrenal and kidney depletion...pregnancy is hard on the glands...adrenals control fluids in the body...so do kidneys.
Anyway..tried everything: Lymphatic drainage massage MLD, acupuncture, herbs, compression stockings, you name it.
Here's what worked: a. Wheatgrass juice daily and fresh celery and spirulina and parsley juice.
b. Epsom salt baths (1/2 pound in the hot water with some bubble bath ,,,natural of course). Soaked 20 minutes a night before bed.
c. trampoline work.
Guess what? I'm cured...the massage therapist said I'd never cure it...that there is no cure. Oh yeah?
I sure hated those compression stockings. UGLY!
Now for the ringworm: AGAIN! Tried everything!!! Spent lots of money on creams, etc. tried herbs, etc. NOTHING! WORKED! The itching was driving me crazy ...plus ugly oozing sores on my legs. In desperation I tried: YES! Calamine lotion. IT WORKS FOLKS!
In a few hours I found relief and now it's gone. Try it. The lotion cost me $1.99
Haha!
Best of luck.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Copper Penny
Posted by Cheryl (Petaluma, California) on 06/07/2009
I wanted to add to the post re: Ringworm Remedy with vinigar. My Mother treated my ringworm with apple cider vinigar and the penny has to be a brand new penny.
Another thing that works, you take unlined paper and it should be a very light weight paper, roll it very tight, put into a plate and burn it down so as to leave a oil in the plate. After this cools the oil is to be put onto the ringworm. Of course this was done to me in the early 1950's and I am sure the paper is not as good quality now as then.
Apple Cider Vinegar, Copper Penny
Posted by Cheylynmob (Plano, TX) on 06/04/2009
★★★★★
Apple Cider Vingar and a penny (copper).
I drenched a cotton swab in the apple cider vinegar and wet the penny with it also. I placed it on the ringworm located on my son's head and covered it with an extra large band-aid and additional medical tape because it has grown to be rather large. I let him go to bed with it on his head and the next morning, it had gone down tremendously! Today is day two and I'm anxious to see what it will look like later.
We had already tried bleach, Lamisil, prescribed Ketaconozole, and Griseofulvn. Nothing was working and it actually grew larger!
This is working. I'll use this method everytime.
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Pam (Huntsville, Alabama) on 06/02/2009
I have found that black walnut tincture clears up ringworm. My son had a bad case around Christmas time. Nothing was working so I tried the tincture. Put it on with a cotton ball twice a day and in less than two weeks,no more ringworm. I also used it on a spot on my leg that I got from working in the garden,gone in about a week. It does stain,but can also be taken internally or used externally in case of systemic infection. I got my tincture at the local health food store for about $10. A little goes a long way so it was really economical. This is a safe remedy,even on children. Also, I cut out sugar and most starches,ate garlic,tumeric,cayenne and had a cup of hot water with lemon juice every morning. Hope this helps.Pam
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Annoyed (Tampa, FL) on 06/01/2009
so i had a scaly sore on my back for atleast 2 weeks, not itchy just scaly, went to doc's said i had ringworm...now it spread. i have a few maybe 9 small (dot to dime size) red patches between my back and torso (still not very itchy). so far i dont think the perscribed fungal cream helps, so im trying ACV and vapor rub. ill respond in a few days to tell of my progress (lets hope theres some!)
Menthol and Wormwood Oil
Posted by Johana (Denton, Texas) on 05/22/2009
★★★★★
I had some kind of fungal infection, which might have been jock itch. I read women can get it too. The itching was just awful, night and day, and my skin was getting gray and hard. I tried everything to get rid of it, from hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and Pau D'Arco to athlete's foot creams from the store. Tea trea oil seemed to work great at first, because it made my skin peel off, but in the end it just drove the infection deeper and the itching began to get worse. Sleep deprivation and not having time to shower also made it noticeably worse. Then I started showering every day and spraying on Apple Cider Vinegar and getting enough sleep, and it started to get a little better. Then I saw, here on Earth Clinic, about Absorbine. I had to order it, because my CVS didn't have it. Absorbine Jr. is an absolute miracle!! Complete relief from the itching--I cannot explain how good it feels to have no itching for the first time in a long, long time. And now my skin is healing, and I can go longer without applying it. Thankyou to the people who posted and to Earth Clinic for helping me to find a cure!
