Consult a licensed doctor to get your ringworm treated online, from home. Share a photo of your rash, and the doctor will evaluate your symptoms, provide a diagnosis, and send an antifungal prescription to your pharmacy the same day when treatment is medically appropriate.
Treating ringworm should not cost you a day off work or a month on a dermatologist's waitlist. With Your Doctors Online, you can connect to a doctor right from your phone without waiting, at any hour of the day.
Create your account and tell us what is going on. Add a clear photo of the rash so the doctor can see exactly where the rash is and how it is affecting you.
Chat, call, or video with a board-certified doctor. They review your rash, confirm whether it is ringworm or something that looks like it, and decide on treatment.
If you are diagnosed with ringworm, the doctor will send an antifungal prescription to your local pharmacy, often within minutes.
Ringworm is treated with antifungal medicine. Where the rash is and how much skin it covers decide whether you need a cream, tablets, or both.
Ringworm is treated with antifungals. Antibiotics such as Clindamycin or Doxycycline do nothing to it because the infection is fungal, not bacterial. Based on where the ringworm is and how far it has spread, a doctor may issue an online prescription for a topical cream, an oral antifungal, or both, and send it to your pharmacy:
Most body, groin, and foot ringworm clears with a cream. You apply them for two to four weeks, and you keep using it for the full course even after the rash looks gone, so it does not come straight back. Some are sold over the counter and some need a prescription:
Over the counter
Prescription strength
Ringworm on the scalp, on the nails, over a large area, or that has not cleared with a cream usually needs a pill. Griseofulvin is the antifungal tablet FDA approved to treat ringworm of the body and of the scalp, so it is the one a doctor is most likely to prescribe for it:
Terbinafine and Itraconazole tablets are also prescribed, mainly for nail infections, which is what their US labels cover rather than ringworm on the skin.
Ringworm usually starts feeling better within a few days of antifungal treatment, but clearing the infection can take longer. The treatment time depends on where the ringworm is and how severe it is.
Ringworm is caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes that feed on keratin, the protein in your skin, hair, and nails. They thrive anywhere warm and damp, which is why they take hold in a sweaty gym, a locker room, or a skin fold. You usually catch ringworm in one of these ways:
Yes, most ringworm on the skin can be treated at home with an over-the-counter antifungal cream.
Ringworm is named for where it lands on the body, not for a worm. Our doctors assess and prescribe for all of these:
Shows up on the arms, legs, chest, back, or stomach.
It is most common in children and sits on the scalp and hair. It hides under the hair, so parents often miss it until a child keeps scratching or a bald patch shows up.
Lands in the groin and inner thighs, where heat and sweat let the fungi thrive. It flares after a workout or a hot day.
Settles between the toes and on the soles. It gets more uncomfortable the longer your feet stay warm and damp in shoes.
Appears on the beard area, jaw, or cheeks, sometimes with tender bumps.
Ring-shaped patches on the neck or around the ear.
Affects the toenails more than the fingernails, and leaves them thick, discolored, and brittle. It is the most stubborn type and usually needs a longer course of oral antifungals to clear.
Subscription, cancel anytime.
No per-visit fee, no waiting room, and no insurance needed to talk to a doctor.
Chat with a doctor nowPatients across the United States use Your Doctors Online for fast, affordable, and reliable care.
Very kind. I asked about a fungal issue and he gave me valuable advice!
Needed to be seen for a skin infection that spread quickly. I was assessed and picked up a prescription in a couple of hours, without having to miss work!
Instead of going to emergency for my son's rash, I spoke with Your Doctors Online and they helped with it all, even sent a prescription to my local pharmacy.
After a week of a sudden, painful skin infection, a kind and thorough physician sent two prescriptions to my pharmacy. Easy, and I'm feeling 100% now.
It's a 24/7 platform. That's already a rare advantage. The doctors were able to help me with severe skin reactions.
Doctors are professional and knowledgeable, and took time to explain treatment options clearly. I'd recommend this to anyone seeking skin care treatment.
Dr. Richard Honaker is a board-certified physician with more than 40 years of experience in family and emergency medicine. He serves as Chief Medical Advisor at Your Doctors Online and is affiliated with Medical City Plano in Texas. Recognized multiple times by D Magazine and Texas Monthly, Dr. Honaker provides evidence-based care across a wide range of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and injury care.
Dr. Monique Rainford is an OB/GYN expert and Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale School of Medicine. With 25+ years of experience, she’s led OB/GYN departments at Yale Health and Baltimore Medical System. Her clinical interests include pregnancy, menstrual health, chronic pelvic conditions, and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Rainford advocates for maternal health equity, especially in underserved communities.
Dr. Candice Fraser is an OB/GYN practitioner and founder of Trinity Medical Care. With over a decade of experience, she focuses on reproductive care, menstrual health, and menopause management. Along with medical training and residency, she also holds an MBA in healthcare management, blending business insight with clinical excellence.
Talk to a doctor for ringworm when:
A doctor can look at a photo, confirm what it is, and send the right treatment without you leaving home.
Send a photo, talk to a licensed doctor, and get an antifungal prescription sent to your pharmacy.
Talk to a doctor about ringworm