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Key takeaways
The most common treatment for ringworm is a topical antifungal medicine.
Over-the-counter medicine for ringworm includes topical clotrimazole, miconazole, and terbinafine products.
Home remedies for ringworm may include keeping skin clean and dry, changing out of wet clothes quickly, and disinfecting surfaces and personal items.
Ringworm is a misnomer. It isn’t a worm, and it doesn’t always look like a ring. Called tinea (Latin for “worm”), ringworm is a contagious fungal skin infection. It can spread through skin contact with an infected person or with surfaces or objects they have come in contact with. Most tinea infections resolve with over-the-counter topical antifungal medications, but chronic tinea is possible with episodes of infection followed by remission. If you think you may have ringworm, especially for a first occurrence or if OTC treatments are not working, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
How is ringworm diagnosed?
Ringworm is usually diagnosed with a physical examination and a thorough history, though some tests may be used to confirm the diagnosis. Many ringworm infections, such as athlete’s foot, jock itch, or tinea corporis, are self-diagnosed and successfully treated at home with antifungal creams.
The symptoms of ringworm are an itchy, red rash that may also be scaly, based on the location of the infection. The rash is usually circular in a tinea corporis infection, but the center of the circle is clear, making the infection look like a ring. Tinea infections in other areas of the body are more diffuse and shapeless. Nail ringworm is identifiable because it turns the nails white, yellow, or brown and makes them brittle, pitted, or scaly.
Most tinea cases are treated by family physicians, but more extensive infections will require a specialist, like a dermatologist. The healthcare provider will make a diagnosis based on the physical appearance of the infection. The healthcare provider may examine the skin microscopically using a small, hand-held device called a dermatoscope. In some cases, a skin scraping will be examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
Ringworm treatment options
Ringworm is caused by a fungus and can be treated with antifungal medications. There are various antifungals, including topical (both OTC and by prescription) and prescription oral antifungals. Lifestyle modifications will also help to prevent future ringworm infections.
Medications
For limited or localized infections, topical antifungal medications are enough to resolve the infection in a few weeks. For extensive or obstinate infections, oral (“systemic”) antifungals may be prescribed for four to eight weeks. The prognosis with treatment is very good. Treatment will clear most tinea infections in two to four weeks. Left untreated, however, tinea infections may take months to resolve.
Lifestyle changes
Even after treatment, ringworm may return, especially if the fungus remains on the skin or other surfaces.
To both treat and prevent re-infection, lifestyle changes are advised:
Wearing loose-fitting clothing
Not scratching the affected area
Washing the body and the hair regularly to prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body
Drying the skin completely when it is wet
Types of ringworm medication
Ringworm will be treated primarily with topical or oral antifungals, depending on the nature and site of the infection.
Topical antifungals
Topical over-the-counter antifungals can effectively treat ringworm in most cases, but sometimes prescription antifungal medications may be needed. Antifungal medications kill the fungus by interfering with the fungus’ ability to form cell walls. Topical antifungals are available as a cream, ointment, lotion, foam, spray, or shampoo.
Systemic antifungals
Oral antifungals are far more effective against ringworm than topical antifungals but have more side effects. For this reason, they’re used only when topical antifungals don’t work or if the infection is extensive. Therapy with systemic antifungals may take several weeks to dislodge an obstinate infection. Systemic antifungals are prescription-only and include terbinafine (Lamisil tablets), griseofulvin, itraconazole (Sporanox), and fluconazole (Diflucan). Like the topical antifungals, these drugs (except griseofulvin) kill the fungal cells.
Selenium sulfide
Patients with scalp ringworm, a particularly difficult infection, will often be prescribed a selenium sulfide shampoo in addition to systemic antifungals. Selenium sulfide stops skin or fungal cells from growing.
Over-the-counter ringworm medicine
Many ringworm infections can be treated with over-the-counter antifungals, especially when the infection is confined to a small area. Examples of topical over-the-counter ringworm medicine include Lotrimin (clotrimazole), Lamisil cream (terbinafine), and Desenex (miconazole).
Other medications
In extensive or particularly obstinate ringworm infections, a healthcare professional may prescribe topical steroids (along with antifungal treatment) to relieve itching and discomfort. Using over-the-counter steroid creams alone for ringworm infections, however, is discouraged, because they may worsen the infection.
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Best medication for ringworm
| Drug name | See SingleCare price |
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| Clotrimazole | Get free coupon |
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| Miconazole Nitrate | Get free coupon |
| Diflucan | Get free coupon |
| Fluconazole | Get free coupon |
| Griseofulvin Microsize | Get free coupon |
| Nizoral | Get free coupon |
| Ketoconazole | Get free coupon |
| Selrx | Get free coupon |
| Selenium Sulfide | Get free coupon |
This is not an exhaustive list of ringworm medications. Always ask your healthcare provider for the best treatment for ringworm based on your health condition and medical history.
Common side effects of ringworm medicine
Ringworm is primarily treated with topical or systemic (oral) antifungal medications. Topical antifungals have few and only minor side effects, such as skin burning, stinging, or irritation. Systemic antifungals have the potential to cause more side effects, such as stomach pain, headache, and diarrhea.
Home remedies for ringworm
Ringworm is treated with antifungal medications. For many cases of ringworm, over-the-counter topical antifungals are enough to clear up the infection in a few weeks. Other home remedies used along with antifungal medications can help speed recovery and prevent spreading the infection. However, popular home remedies such as apple cider vinegar, supplements, and natural treatments do not effectively treat the infection.
Keep in mind that ringworm is contagious. It can be spread from person to person with direct skin contact or from surfaces or objects, like towels, clothes, floors, sheets, or hairbrushes. Additionally, a person with tinea can spread the infection to other parts of the body or get re-infected later from surfaces or objects they used when previously infected. A critical component of home treatment, then, is to prevent the infection from spreading.
Use over-the-counter antifungals
Most dermatophyte infections can be treated at home with over-the-counter antifungal creams or ointments, such as clotrimazole, miconazole, or terbinafine. Follow the directions on the label, and the infection should clear up in a few weeks. If OTC antifungals do not clear the infection, consult a healthcare provider.
Wear loose-fitting and dry clothing
Ringworm fungi prefer warm and wet environments. Keep the skin dry and cool by wearing loose-fitting clothing that wicks moisture efficiently. If any clothing gets wet, especially socks or underwear, take them off, clean and dry the skin, and put on clean, dry clothes.
Change and wash clothes regularly
Change clothes every day and wash them in hot water. While you are infected, wash sheets, pillowcases, and blankets in hot water every day to prevent a new or recurring infection.
Wash regularly
Wash your hands after touching the affected area to prevent spreading the infection. Keep the affected area clean by washing it regularly. After washing, dry the skin thoroughly with a clean towel. The towel you use? It needs to be washed in hot water before being used again.
Disinfect objects and surfaces
Any object or surface that you touch or use should be disinfected or washed in hot water. The molds that cause ringworm produce spores that can cause re-infection. These rugged spores can live for a long time, well after the infection has cleared. Do not share objects such as hairbrushes, clothes, towels, or other objects that may come in contact with infected areas. Disinfect or throw out these objects after the infection has cleared to prevent re-infecting yourself. Finally, disinfect surfaces with which you come in contact. Again, not only can these surfaces infect others with ringworm, but they can also re-infect you.
Expert takeaway
"Ringworm can often be confused with other types of rashes," says Karen Berger, Pharm.D., member of the SingleCare Medical Review Board. "If you are not sure you have ringworm, or symptoms do not improve with OTC antifungal treatment, consult a healthcare provider."
FAQs about ringworm
What will happen if ringworm is not treated?
Untreated ringworm may spread to other parts of the body or to other people. Some infections may clear on their own, but untreated ringworm can linger for several months and may be more difficult to treat.
Can antibiotics clear up ringworm?
Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections. Since ringworm is caused by a fungus, antibiotics will not clear up the infection.
Does vinegar kill ringworm?
Apple cider vinegar is not an effective treatment for ringworm. If used topically with a covering, as some people recommend, apple cider vinegar could make the infection worse. An apple cider vinegar foot bath is often suggested as a treatment for nail ringworm, but there is no evidence that this works.
Does bleach kill ringworm?
Bleach will kill ringworm, but it’s not a good idea to apply bleach to the skin because it can cause chemical burns. Diluted bleach can be used to clean surfaces, clothes, sheets, towels, and objects to prevent the spread of the infection and reduce the risk of re-infection.
Does rubbing alcohol kill ringworm?
Rubbing alcohol may kill ringworm that is right on objects or surfaces, but it is not considered a treatment for ringworm infections. Antifungals are usually required in order to treat a ringworm infection.
Sources
Ringworm, Cleveland Clinic (2022)
Ringworm, MedlinePlus (2025)
Ringworm (tinea), World Health Organization (2025)
Tinea corporis, StatPearls (2025)
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