- Urgent Care
Ringworm
Ringworm (tinea) treatment available online today
Request treatment for ringworm online from our trusted, board-certified doctors and find relief today. Get a new prescription to treat ringworm or refill an existing prescription today.
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Medication services available for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
Insurance accepted, but not required
*Disclaimer: PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of ringworm. Our primary care physicians can conduct an initial evaluation of your symptoms, but may need to refer you to a specialist or for in-person treatment. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
Most major insurance plans accepted
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Paying without insurance? New patient visits are $129, and follow-ups are only $99 for members.
Don’t see your provider listed? Email [email protected] or call (888) 564-4454 to talk to a PlushCare specialist.
3 simple steps to request treatment for ringworm today
Step 1
Book a ringworm treatment request appointment.
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Talk to your medical provider regarding your ringworm symptoms.
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
Pick up prescription to treat ringworm.
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Ringworm treatment pricing details
How pricing works
To request treatment for ringworm and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits
Paying with insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
Copay
For all visits
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price with insurance
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
- We accept these insurance plans and many more:
Paying without insurance
Membership
$14.99/month
First month free
First visit
$129
Repeats only $99
30 days of free membership
Same-day appointments 7 days a week
Unlimited messages with your Care Team
Prescription discount card to save up to 80%
Exclusive discounts on lab tests
Free memberships for your family
Cancel anytime
Visit price without insurance
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $99 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Ringworm treatment FAQs
What is the best treatment for ringworm?
Ringworm treatment depends on the location and severity of the infection. In many cases, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch can be treated effectively with OTC anti-fungal cream, but for more severe cases, your doctor may suggest prescription strength forms. If the ringworm is on the scalp, doctors will prescribe antifungal pills to be taken orally.
What cures ringworm fast?
Most of the time, athlete’s foot, and jock itch can be cured relatively quickly with OTC anti-fungal cream. Some examples with common brand names (in bracket) are listed below:
Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)
Miconazole (Aloe Vesta Antifungal, Desenex, Fungoid Tincture, secura antifungal, carrington antifungal, critic aid clear)
Terbinafine (Lamisil)
How much does ringworm treatment cost?
In most cases, athlete’s foot and jock itch can be cured relatively quickly with OTC anti-fungal cream. OTC treatments are relatively affordable and can be purchased without prescription at local pharmacies.
How is ringworm passed on?
Ringworm is contagious and can spread from infected person, infected animal or the environment. The fungus that causes ringworm thrive in warm and damp environments.
How can I treat ringworm at home?
Yes. Athlete’s foot, and jock itch can generally be treated at home with OTC antifungal medicine.
Does ringworm go away by itself?
Maybe. In a healthy person, ringworm may go away by itself in a few months. However, it may not and can spread to other parts of the body. Mild case can be easily treated with OTC antifungal medicine.
Learn about ringworm (tinea)
Ringworm, also called tinea or dermatophytosis, is a type of fungal infection characterized by red, scaly rashes or patches, each usually surrounded by a ring. There are a few different types of ringworm, named according to the location they appear in.
These different types of ringworm infections include:
Tinea corporis: This tinea appears on the body
Tinea capitis: This ringworm infection appears on the scalp
Tinea cruris: Also called "jock itch," this tinea usually appears in males in the groin area or buttocks
Tinea pedis: Also called "athlete's foot," this ringworm infection appears on the feet, including in between the toes.
There are about 40 different species of fungi can cause ringworm. It is important to see a doctor for ringworm treatment as soon as possible to prevent spread to others.
Ringworm causes
Ringworm is a fungal infection that is caused by disease-causing fungi called dermatophytes. These fungi thrive in warm and damp environments, so ringworm often occurs in regions with hot and humid summers.
Is ringworm contagious? Yes it is, and it can spread in the following ways:
From an infected person
Ringworm can easily spread from an infected person to others via direct skin to skin contact, or through personal items such as clothing, towels or combs.
From an infected animal
Ringworm can also spread from an infected animal to people. Household pets such as dogs and cats, farm animals such as cows, pigs and horses can spread the infection to their owners.
From the environment
The ringworm fungus grows on surfaces of damp areas like locker rooms, public showers and pool areas. When a person walks barefooted in these places, the fungal infections can spread to the feet.
Ringworm symptoms
Ringworm can infect almost any part of the body, including the nails. Ringworm symptoms may vary depending on the affected area, but for the most part, they include:
Red, cracked skin, often with a scaly patch
A ring-shaped rash
Slightly raised, expanding, or overlapping rings
Itchiness
Hair loss
Below are some more specific symptoms based on the location on the body:Scalp (tinea capitis) - Single to multiple bald spots on the scalp. The bald spot is typically red, scaly and itchy.
Feet (tinea pedis) - Red, swollen and itchy skin between the toes, and even the sole and heel of the foot. The skin can peel and even blister in severe cases.
Beard (tinea barbae) - Red, itchy and scaly spots on the face, specifically, cheeks, chin and upper neck.
Groin (tinea cruris) - Red, itchy and scaly spots on the inner thigh.
How to treat ringworm (tinea)
Ringworm treatment depends on the location and severity of the infection. In many cases, ringworm, athlete’s foot, and jock itch can be treated at home effectively, but for more severe cases, your doctor may suggest prescription strength anti-fungal cream. If the ringworm is on the scalp, doctors will prescribe antifungal pills to be taken orally for 1 - 3 months.
During the course of the treatment, keep the infection dry and wash thoroughly when bathing. Always wash your hands, change your clothes and undergarments from one day to the next, and try to wear loose-fitting, cotton clothing.
Ringworm medication
There are different types of antifungal medicine available on the market, depending on the location and severity of the infection.
Over-the-counter antifungal cream
Most cases of athlete’s foot and jock itch can be treated with OTC treatments. Follow instructions and apply the antifungal medicine on the affected area. Some examples with common brand names (in bracket) are listed below:
Clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex)
Ketoconazole (Xolegel) - aside from topical gel, this is also available in antifungal shampoo (Nizoral)
Miconazole (Aloe Vesta Antifungal, Desenex, Fungoid Tincture, secura antifungal, carrington antifungal, critic aid clear)
Terbinafine (Lamisil)
Prescription-strength antifungal medicine
For more severe cases, prescription medicine is needed. Typically, the same over-the-counter treatments medicines also carry prescription-strength counterparts:
Clotrimazole, also known as cruex (prescription strength) (Lotrimin Ultra)
Miconazole (Desenex prescription strength)
Ketoconazole (Ketozal, prescription-strength antifungal shampoo)
Oral antifungal pills
If the ringworm is on the scalp, your doctor will prescribe stronger medicine such as oral antifungal medicine:
Griseofulvin (Grifulvin V, Gris-PEG)
Itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
How to prevent ringworm
The fungus causing ringworm thrives in areas that are moist, so it is important to take basic sanitary precautions to prevent these fungal infections.
Wash your hands frequently
Keep skin clean and dry - if you play contact sports, shower right after the workout.
Keep shared areas clean
Do not share personal items - use your own clean towel, hairbrush or personal items, don't share.
When to see a doctor for ringworm (tinea)
If home treatments don’t improve your symptoms in two weeks, or the infection spreads, make an appointment with a doctor to start treatment with prescription-strength medicine.
Related conditions to ringworm
Other conditions may appear with symptoms that look very similar to the rashes caused by ringworm. These include:
Lyme disease
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by the tick. A symptom of Lyme disease is rash that can present itself as a ring/circle. While this symptom looks like ringworm, note that Lyme disease is caused by bacterial and needs antibiotics treatment.
Spider bites
In some spider bites, the wound has a pale center with a red ring (like a bull eyes). The red ring can be mistaken for ringworm.
Contact dermatitis
Eczema is a general term that refers to inflammatory skin conditions that causes itchy, dry skin rashes and scaly patch.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin conditions that causes well-defined, thick, red, scaly patches. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition. A trained dermatologist is able to tell the difference between psoriasis and ringworm.
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune condition. Subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE) is a type of lupus that presents itself as a rash with red ring like pattern. This ring like pattern often gets mistaken as ringworm.