7+ ways to treat ringworm with home remedies

Ringworm sounds like you've contracted some kind of parasitic creature. In reality, it's not a worm at all, but a fungal infection much like athlete's foot and jock itch. Ringworm got its name because of the shape of the rash.

Knowing that you don't have a parasite is great, but that doesn't solve the question of how to fight it. Are there home remedies that actually work? To be honest, no real research has been done on home remedies in the last 20 years, but a decent amount has been done on other fungi. Some of those home remedies may be worth trying to see if they help. Check out these 7+ ways you should or shouldn't try to fight your ringworm from home.

Do's
1. Tea tree oil. Although no research has been done with tea tree oil and ringworm, since ringworm is related to other fungi like athlete's foot and jock itch, there's a good reason to think it will work. Healthline says to apply a few drops of tea tree oil to a cotton swab and rub it into the affected area. If you find the straight tea tree oil is too much, dilute it with water before applying.

2. Oregano oil. Dr. Axe recommends trying oregano oil topically. You'll need to dilute it with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or coconut oil before applying. Be sure to use a cotton swab to apply it so you don't spread the fungus.

3. Clotrimazole. Some over-the-counter remedies are really effective in getting rid of this fungus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends products that contain clotrimazole. That means things like Lotrimin and Mycelex.

4. Terbinafine. Another over-the-counter remedy that appears to do a great job is one that contains terbinafine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that a product like Lamisil is what you're looking for.

5. Apple cider vinegar. With as many things as apple cider vinegar is supposed to treat, it's refreshing to find those items it actually works on. Medical News Today says that this vinegar does appear to work against other fungal infections, so you have hope that it may help against ringworm. Soak a cotton wool pad in undiluted vinegar and apply it to the infected area three times a day until it clears.

6. Garlic. Medical News Today also recommends trying garlic. Again, it hasn't been tested against ringworm, per se, but other fungal infections respond to it, so you may find that it works on ringworm. Crush fresh garlic and make a paste from it by adding either olive oil or coconut oil. Apply the paste to the infection and cover it with gauze. Let it sit for two hours before washing off. Do this twice a day until the infection clears.

7. Lemongrass oil. Healthline shares that lemongrass oil has antifungal properties that may make it effective in fighting ringworm. You want to mix a few drops with a carrier oil like sweet almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil and apply it to the affected area. Do this twice a day until the infection is gone. If you don't have lemongrass oil, you can brew lemongrass tea and use that, but it won't be as effective.

8. Colloidal silver. A lot of home remedy sites like to recommend colloidal silver for treating bacterial and fungal infections, but WebMD shares that the FDA has removed its approval of the usage of colloidal silver and states that it's unsafe. "The silver in colloidal silver products gets deposited into organs such as the skin, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle, and brain. This can lead to an irreversible bluish looking skin that first appears in the gums. It can also stimulate melanin production in skin, and areas exposed to the sun will become increasingly discolored." You should avoid using this remedy.

Fortunately, ringworm is fairly easy to take care of. One of these remedies may become your new, favorite go-to for treating this fungus.