Any condition or illness with the word worm in it is a bit off-putting. But, thankfully, the fairly common condition called ringworm does not involve an actual worm of any kind.
The formal name for ringworm is Dermatophytosis and it is simply an infection of the skin caused by a fungus. The red rings or patches can appear on your legs, arms, scalp, feet, groin, beard, or other areas. Interestingly, ringworm affects both people and animals and, as is commonly thought, can be acquired from cats. But before you kick Fluffy to the curb, there’s more you should know.
There are actually three different fungi that cause the infection and they can be found in places like public showers, locker rooms, public pools, and even soil where the fungal spores can live for some time. The infection is contagious and once present, can be passed from person to person through shared hairbrushes, hats, combs or unclean, unwashed clothing. You are more likely to get ringworm if you come into contact with the fungus while you’re wet and when you have sores or abrasions on your skin.
Myths About Ringworm
Now that you know the fundamental truth about ringworm and have been assured there are no worms involved, let’s address some of the other common myths.
- Myth – Ringworm Only Affects the Skin. While the infection does appear on the skin, it can also show up on fingernails or toenails.
- Myth – Everyone with Ringworm Has Red Rings on Their Skin. Scaly red rings can develop when you’re infected with ringworm, but not everyone gets them. You may see only bumpy red patches.
- Myth – Only Kids Get Ringworm. While kids are more likely to get the infection (probably because they spend more time in the places the fungus lives like pools and dirt) anyone of any age can be infected.
- Myth – Ringworm Is Not Contagious. As already noted, ringworm is very contagious and measures should be taken to avoid spreading it to others.
In most cases, you can treat ringworm with non-prescription antifungal creams or ointments and special soaps. We’ve listed the ten best-rated and preferred products for you in our Best Treatment for Ringworm guide below.
Top 10 Treatments for Ringworm Chart
| Picture | Name | Type | Price | Rating (1-5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. Calily Premium Natural Antifungal Soap | Soap | $ | 4.8 |
 | 2. Aloe Vesta Antifungal Ointment | Ointment | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 3. Oleavine Antifungal Soap | Soap | $$ | 4.6 |
 | 4. Miconazole Nitrate | Cream | $$$ | 4.5 |
 | 5. Purely Northwest Antifungal Soap | Soap | $$ | 4.5 |
 | 6. Puriya BEST Antifungal Balm | Balm | $$$$ | 4.5 |
 | 7. REPARA Antifungal Cream | Cream | $$$ | 4.4 |
 | 8. Lotrimin Antifungal Ringworm Cream | Cream | $ | 4.3 |
 | 9. Wick & Ström Antifungal Soap | Soap | $$ | 4.3 |
 | 10. Family Care Clotrimazole | Cream | $$$ | 4.3 |
Buying Information for Treatment for Ringworm
Most medical professionals recommend that you use both types of products to most effectively battle a ringworm infection – an antifungal soap when bathing or showering and then an antifungal cream or ointment applied to the infected areas. Be sure to dry your skin thoroughly before applying the topical medicine and spread it well beyond the border or outer edge of the ring or rash.
Other things you can do to ensure the fastest possible healing and the least chance of reoccurrence include:
- Avoid clothing that irritates the infected areas.
- Change and wash your sheets and pillowcases every day until the infection is gone.
- Bathe or shower and shampoo your hair every day.
- Wear shoes if you use public pools or public showers.
- Wear shoes or flip flops in locker rooms.
- Do not share personal items like hairbrushes.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with antifungal soap after changing kitty litter.
Top 3 Best Treatment for Ringworm Reviews
1. Calily Premium
The all natural, organic ingredients in this product include antiseptics and antibacterial minerals that will remove skin impurities and neutralize bacteria in the infected areas. But it is gentle enough to be used on the entire body including the face.
This soap is a liquid solution rather than a bar and, because it is highly concentrated, you’ll get great results while using small amounts. Along with treating fungal infections, it contains powerful deodorizers that eliminate body odor and the no-chemical, no-synthetic detergents and no-preservatives formula means it is safe for kids and even ultra-sensitive skin.
Lavender and eucalyptus essential oils are mixed in with the primary ingredients so the soap smells nice without being overpowering or – as our male users noted – smelling girly.
Once you use this soap for a ringworm infection, you may find – as we did – that you want to keep it around all the time. It cleans well and smells great.
2. Aloe Vesta
ConvaTec products are used widely in hospitals and long-term care facilities and are well-known and trusted among nurses so it is no surprise that the ConvaTec antifungal ointment comes in at number 2 in our best medicine for ringworm list.
It contains miconazole nitrate which is the ingredient that is most effective in treating fungal infections and because the formula is petroleum-based, it stays on the skin all day and does not have to be reapplied as often as some cream products. It also rubs in clear so there are no staining concerns and it relieves itching and burning on contact.
Be sure to dry the infected area thoroughly before applying this medicine so that it can penetrate readily.
3. Oleavine
While most of us are familiar with tea tree oil since it is used in many bath and cosmetic products, we may not be as familiar with Neem, another primary ingredient in this antifungal soap. Neem is actually a tropical tree that has been around for centuries. Its bark, leaves and seeds are used to make Neem oil which is said to effectively treat a wide variety of skin diseases and infections.
The Oleavine soap, like the #1 rated product in our Best Treatment for Ringworm guide, is organic and all-natural with no chemicals, preservatives, detergents or dyes. It, too, is a liquid formula that is highly concentrated but gentle enough for daily use in the bath or shower.
Users – ranging from athletes and the elderly to teenagers swear by its skin-conditioning properties (it contains fatty omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9) and say that it helps soothe any dry or inflamed skin, not just skin infected by the ringworm fungus. And because its ingredients are 100% plant-based, even those with sever skin allergies are able to use it safely.