We are often asked about home remedies to treat ringworm. People may prefer a home treatment for ringworm for many reasons. Maybe they want something more natural than prescription drugs, maybe they are concerned about side effects of prescription medications, maybe they want to save money or maybe they want to avoid a trip to the doctor. These are all good reasons for preferring home remedies, but of course, a home remedy is only a good choice if it actually works. Unfortunately, not all do.
Using ineffective home remedies can cause a delay in getting effective treatment, allowing ringworm to spread to other areas of the body and increasing the risk you’ll pass the condition on to others. If you opt for a home remedy, make sure you’re choosing one that is likely to actually work.
Of course, some home remedies are even worse than ineffective and can actually cause harm to you. If you have questions or concerns about the safety of a particular remedy, talk to your doctor.
Home Remedies to Treat Ringworm
There are many home remedies people try for ringworm. We’ll tell you about some of the most commonly used home remedies and let you know which ones actually have some science behind them. If you have further questions about your options for treating ringworm, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Coconut oil – Coconut oil can be applied to patches of ringworm to soothe scaly skin and relieve itching. While it may help reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of ringworm, however, it’s unlikely it will actually get rid of the condition.
Colloidal silver – Colloidal silver is simply tiny particles of silver, the same silver jewelry is often made of, suspended in a liquid solution. Taken internally, it can cause serious health problems. When used to treat ringworm, it’s usually applied to the skin, not taken orally, which might be safer. There’s no evidence it’s effective, though, and it might still be harmful.
Lavender essential oil – Lavender essential is believed to have antifungal properties and it may help treat ringworm. It might also relieve some of the itching and discomfort associated with the condition. We haven’t seen any actual studies verifying this, however.
Tea tree oil – Tea tree oil is an essential oil believed to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is used by many people to treat a wide range of skin problems, including ringworm. Tea tree oil has been found to be effective in treating some types of fungal infections, including toenail fungus (which can be caused by ringworm) and possibly an athlete’s foot (which is caused by ringworm).
Over-The-Counter Remedies
There are a number of over-the-counter remedies you can buy at any drugstore without a prescription for use at home. Topical treatments like Lotrimin, Lamisil, Micatin, and Monistat are easy to use at home. Simply apply them to the affected areas. Most are meant to be used twice a day and you should continue using them for two weeks after all symptoms are gone. These are not natural remedies, but they are remedies meant to be used at home and they don’t require a visit to your doctor.
Our Favorite Home Treatment For Ringworm
Our favorite of all the home remedies to treat ringworm is called Phytozine. It’s affordable, it’s fast-acting and it’s effective. It contains a medication called tolnaftate, approved by the FDA to fight ringworm, along with natural ingredients like lavender essential oil and tea tree oil, which help boost the effectiveness of the remedy and also help to relieve the itching and discomfort associated with ringworm. To learn more about our favorite home remedy for ringworm, just follow this link to the Phytozine Website.