The 8 Best Antifungal Soaps
Updated by · How we research
Eight antifungal soaps, dandruff shampoos and tea tree cleansers, ranked from the active ingredient up. The Defense Antifungal Bar with 1% tolnaftate leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
Antifungal soap is a medicated or tea tree cleanser for people fighting athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm or tinea versicolor, or trying to keep it from coming back. The big difference is the label: some bars carry a real drug such as tolnaftate or clotrimazole, while tea tree washes have no Drug Facts panel and aren't approved to treat anything.
From the manual
- The label says to let the lather sit 1 to 2 minutes; the maker's page says 60 seconds, so lean toward the label. Directions; maker page
- For athlete's foot, dry between the toes, wear ventilated shoes, and change shoes and socks at least once a day. Directions
- For an active rash, Defense itself suggests pairing the bar with a clotrimazole cream on the spot. maker page FAQ
- Some sizes come with a free snap-tight case for carrying the wet bar in a gym bag. maker page
Defense Antifungal Medicated Bar Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
From the manual
- The ointment can tint skin, nails and fabric in sunlight; the label says the stain washes out. Directions
- Both the bar and the ointment contain peppermint and tea tree oils, worth knowing if your skin reacts to essential oils. Inactive ingredients
- Plan on four weeks for athlete's foot or ringworm and two for jock itch, then see a doctor if it lingers. Directions
Compare the specs
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Product | Form | Active drug | Labeled for | Lather time (minutes) | How often, per label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Defense Antifungal Bar | Bar | Tolnaftate 1% | Foot, jock itch, ringworm | 1-2 | 1-2x daily, 4 weeks |
| 2. terrasil Cream + Soap Kit | Bar plus ointment | Clotrimazole 1% | Foot, jock itch, ringworm | 1-2 | 2x daily, 2-4 weeks |
| 3. RoyceDerm Antifungal Bar | Bar | Clotrimazole 1% | Foot, jock itch, ringworm | — | Daily, 2-4 weeks |
| 4. Nizoral A-D | Shampoo | Ketoconazole 1% | Dandruff | — | Every 3-4 days, to 8 weeks |
| 5. terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar | Bar | Clotrimazole 1% | Foot, jock itch, ringworm | 2 | 2x daily, 2-4 weeks |
| 6. Selsun Blue Medicated | Shampoo | Selenium sulfide 1% | Dandruff | About 2 | At least 2x a week |
| 7. Purely Northwest Tea Tree | Body wash | None | No drug label | — | Daily, per maker |
| 8. Truremedy Tea Tree & Peppermint | Body wash | None listed | No drug label | — | Daily, per seller |
From each pick's Drug Facts label on DailyMed or the maker's page. RoyceDerm files more than one label for its tea tree clotrimazole soap, and they disagree on lather time. Selsun Blue's two minutes is the maker's advice for the scalp. The shampoos are labeled for dandruff only; body use for tinea versicolor is off label. Two weeks is the course for jock itch, four for athlete's foot and ringworm.
Sources
- Defense Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
- terrasil Fungal Treatment kit Drug Facts label (DailyMed) Antifungal Cleansing Bar Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
- RoyceDerm Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Soap Drug Facts label (DailyMed) Antifungal Soap Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
- Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
- Selsun Blue Drug Facts labels (DailyMed) Medicated shampoo page and FAQ
- Purely Northwest Tea Tree & Peppermint Body Wash page
- Truremedy Body wash listing (reseller)
From the manual
- For dandruff, use it every 3 to 4 days for up to eight weeks, then only as needed. Directions
- Skip it on a broken or inflamed scalp, and ask a doctor first if pregnant or breastfeeding. Warnings
- Children under 12 need a doctor's advice before using it. Directions
- Stop and see a doctor if a rash appears or nothing improves in 2 to 4 weeks. Warnings
From the manual
- The label says it works best with terrasil's clotrimazole ointment, which is sold separately. Directions
- It lathers with sodium lauryl and laureth sulfate, so it isn't a sulfate-free bar. Inactive ingredients
- Aidance backs it with a 90-day, risk-free money-back guarantee. maker page
- Bars can vary in color from batch to batch; the maker says that doesn't change how they work. maker page
terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar Drug Facts label (DailyMed)
From the manual
- Shake the bottle first. The maker says to leave the lather on about two minutes so the selenium sulfide settles onto the scalp. Directions; maker FAQ
- For dandruff, the label says to use it at least twice a week. Directions
- Menthol, the source of the cooling feel, is in the Medicated version only, not the Moisturizing or 2-in-1 versions. Inactive ingredients
Editor's Notes
November 5, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
We reread the Drug Facts label of each of the six drug picks, added a spec table and label notes, and moved the recall check to the FDA, which covers these products, from the CPSC. We corrected the RoyceDerm entry, which listed a box count we couldn't confirm, and the Purely Northwest entry, whose maker does pitch it against fungus without a drug label. The guide now adds a 2007 soap trial, a dermatology practice's tinea versicolor directions and a sports physician's hygiene advice.
October 18, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The old version of this list was almost all tea tree body washes, and that was a problem. A tea tree wash is a cosmetic. It can help keep skin clean, but it carries no Drug Facts panel, and the research on tea tree oil against fungus is thin. This time we started from the active ingredient.
The Defense Antifungal Bar now leads, with 1% tolnaftate and a full Drug Facts panel. Clotrimazole bars from RoyceDerm and terrasil join it, along with the terrasil Cream + Soap Kit for anyone who already has a rash. Two dandruff shampoos, Nizoral A-D and Selsun Blue Medicated, made the cut because dermatologists suggest them as body washes for tinea versicolor. They aren't soaps, strictly, but for that infection they're the right tool. Purely Northwest Tea Tree and Truremedy Tea Tree & Peppermint stay on as daily washes. Defense Daily Clean Bars gave way to the same maker's medicated bar. We dropped Viking Revolution Extra-Strength, now sold as a pricier two-pack of a similar wash, and Candida Freedom, FungiCure, Oleavine, The Yellow Bird, Art Naturals and Majestic Pure, which didn't turn up in current searches.
One honest caveat. We found no independent test of any of these soaps, and soap only sits on the skin for a minute or two. If you have a rash, use a cream too, and see a doctor if it isn't clearing up in a few weeks.
Earlier notes
July 18, 2020, by Brett Dvoretz:
While we made sure to take effectiveness into account when putting together this list, since the main point of buying an antifungal soap is to get rid of whatever fungus is causing your problem, we also considered fragrance, the ingredients and any additional benefits they offer, and individual bathing habits. Before using any of these products, no matter how gentle they may seem, it is a smart idea to check with your doctor to make sure they are suitable for your needs. We also recommend using a shower sponge with most of these to get maximum effectiveness.
For those who prefer not to use a wash, we have included Defense Daily Clean Bars and The Yellow Bird Peppermint & Tea Tree Bar. The former comes in three scents, all of which should be effective at fighting both bacteria and fungi, while the latter is an artisan-made product comprised almost entirely of organic ingredients. Both are free of sulfates and alcohol, so are very gentle on the skin.
When it comes to the washes, FungiCure Medicated immediately stands out for its inclusion of sepia 12x, which has been used in homeopathic medicine for generations. While there is little literature to support its fungicidal properties, there is probably something to it if people have continued to use it for so long. Plus, it also contains tea tree oil, which you'll see is in every product on this list and is generally regarded as one of the best natural antifungals. [2026 update: Tea tree oil is no longer in every pick; the Nizoral and Selsun Blue shampoos have none. The NIH's NCCIH calls the evidence for it against athlete's foot small, and homeopathic sepia is not an FDA-approved antifungal.] Purely Northwest Foot and Body Wash is another one that stands out for its potential for preventing lice. Unfortunately, it does contain sodium laureth sulfate.
While many of the soaps on this list require you to leave them on the skin for anywhere from 30 seconds to a minute or longer to be effective, the makers of Viking Revolution Extra-Strength boasts that it only requires five seconds of exposure to combat fungal infections, making it a great choice for those with limited patience.
July 2, 2019, by Joseph Perry:
Our skin naturally hosts fungi, but when they get imbalanced or start to spread wildly, that's when we get itchy blotches and rashes called tinea, or more commonly, jock itch, ringworm, or athlete's foot. Sometimes these conditions are serious enough to warrant prescription treatment, but they can often be cleared up by over-the-counter remedies, including the anti-fungal soaps ranked in our selections. [2026 update: We now treat soap as a helper. A leave-on antifungal cream or powder is the usual over-the-counter treatment, and we found no independent trial of these soaps.]
In this update, we looked for products that, above all else, are effective on these kinds of fungus infections. We also considered value for the price and cosmetic characteristics such as smell and lather. We removed one item due to concerns about its availability and added the relatively new Viking Revolution Body Wash in one of our top slots because it works really well for a lot of users.
Special Honors
AAD Find a Dermatologist The American Academy of Dermatology runs a free directory of board-certified dermatologists, searchable by location, condition and procedure. It's the right next step when a rash hasn't cleared after the label's 2 to 4 weeks, keeps returning, or reaches the scalp or nails, where these soaps don't work. A dermatologist can confirm it's fungal and prescribe stronger treatment. find-a-derm.aad.org
Drug Or Cosmetic: Read The Label First
A drug soap names an active ingredient in a Drug Facts box, with uses, warnings and directions.
Two very different products share the antifungal soap shelf. A drug soap names an active ingredient in a Drug Facts box, with uses, warnings and directions. Federal rules for over-the-counter antifungals list a short set of approved actives for athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm, including tolnaftate 1%, clotrimazole 1% and miconazole 2% (21 CFR 333.210, Cornell LII). Look for one of those names.
A tea tree wash is usually a cosmetic. The FDA draws the line by intended use: a cleanser sold to treat or prevent disease is a drug and must carry Drug Facts labeling, while one sold only to clean or deodorize is a cosmetic (FDA: Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?)). So a body wash with "tea tree" in big letters and no Drug Facts box hasn't been sold as an approved drug, even when its ads mention athlete's foot or jock itch.
Also check the directions. The best labels tell you how long to leave the lather on (1 to 2 minutes is common), how often to use it, and when to stop and call a doctor. Most say the soap won't work on the scalp or nails.
Soap Helps, Cream Treats
A soap is on your skin for a minute or two, then it goes down the drain. We found no independent trial of any of these products, so the claims on their boxes are the makers'. The closest evidence is a double-blind trial in 224 Tanzanian schoolchildren, where adding the antimicrobial triclosan to bar soap gave no significant benefit over regular soap, though most of the children improved with either one (International Journal of Dermatology, 2007). For jock itch, MedlinePlus points to over-the-counter antifungal creams or powders with miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine or tolnaftate, and says to see a provider if it lasts longer than 2 weeks (MedlinePlus: Jock itch). For athlete's foot, a typical course of a cream is 2 to 4 weeks, and when it fails, doctors look for reinfection or an untreated toenail infection (DermNet: Tinea pedis).
The sensible plan is both: wash with a medicated soap, dry the skin completely, then apply a cream. Keep going for the full course even after the itch stops. Don't put a steroid cream on a rash that might be ringworm, because it can make the infection worse. See a doctor for a scalp or nail infection, a rash that keeps spreading, or one that keeps coming back (CDC: About Ringworm).
These products are for external use only. The antifungal bar and kit labels say not to use them on children under 2 without a doctor's advice, and Nizoral's says to ask a doctor before using it on a child under 12. None is meant for vaginal yeast infections.
Tinea Versicolor, Tea Tree Oil And Prevention
If your spots are pale, pink or tan patches on the chest, back or upper arms that come back each summer, it may be tinea versicolor, a yeast rather than ringworm. The American Academy of Dermatology lists antifungal shampoos, soaps, creams and lotions with selenium sulfide, ketoconazole or pyrithione zinc as the most common treatment, and suggests a medicated wash once or twice a month in warm weather to keep it away. Skin color can stay uneven for weeks or months after the yeast is gone (AAD: Tinea versicolor treatment). A patient handout from Krauss Dermatology, a Wellesley Hills, Mass., dermatology practice, tells patients to leave the shampoo lather on the skin for 10 to 15 minutes, two or three times a week for 2 to 4 weeks, and calls Selsun Blue "cheap and quite effective" (Krauss Dermatology: Tinea Versicolor).
Tea tree oil is the star of most cosmetic washes. A small amount of research suggests it may help athlete's foot, but it may not work as well as standard treatments, and there isn't enough evidence for nail fungus. It can irritate skin, and it must never be swallowed (NCCIH: Tea Tree Oil).
Prevention matters as much as the soap. Wear sandals in locker-room showers, change socks and underwear every day, and don't share towels or gear; the CDC names wrestling and other contact sports as a risk (CDC: About Ringworm). Dry carefully between your toes after bathing (DermNet: Tinea pedis). In 2018 slides on combat sports skin infections, posted by the Association of Ringside Physicians, John Neidecker, a sports medicine physician and certified athletic trainer, tells combat athletes to shower immediately after practice and lists Selsun Blue as a wash for those with repeat fungal infections (Combat Sports Dermatology slides).
How we researched this
We compared 20 antifungal soaps, medicated shampoos and tea tree washes and kept eight. We read the Drug Facts labels on DailyMed for the six drug picks (Defense's tolnaftate bar, terrasil's clotrimazole bar and bar-and-ointment kit, RoyceDerm's tea tree clotrimazole soap, Nizoral Anti-Dandruff and Selsun Blue), Purely Northwest's product page and a reseller listing for Truremedy, whose own site is offline, 21 CFR 333.210, the FDA's drug-or-cosmetic guidance, and advice from the AAD, CDC, MedlinePlus, DermNet and NCCIH. These are drugs and cosmetics, so the recall check ran against the FDA's drug enforcement reports, not the CPSC: none of the eight brands has a recall there, and the FDA's October 2026 warning letters to RoyceDerm and terrasil's maker, Aidance, concern herpes products, not these soaps.
Sources (32)
- Cornell LII: 21 CFR 333.210, antifungal active ingredients
- FDA: Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?)
- MedlinePlus: Jock itch
- DermNet: Tinea pedis
- CDC: About Ringworm
- American Academy of Dermatology: Tinea versicolor treatment
- NCCIH: Tea Tree Oil
- Defense Soap
- RoyceDerm
- terrasil (Aidance Scientific)
- Nizoral
- Selsun Blue
- Purely Northwest
- DailyMed: Defense Antifungal Medicated Bar Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: terrasil Fungal Treatment kit Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: RoyceDerm Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Soap Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: RoyceDerm Antifungal Soap Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Drug Facts label
- DailyMed: Selsun Blue Drug Facts labels
- Defense Soap: Antifungal Medicated Bar Soap
- Aidance: terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar
- RoyceDerm: Tea Tree Oil Soap product page
- Selsun Blue: Medicated Antidandruff Shampoo
- Purely Northwest: Tea Tree & Peppermint Body Wash
- Truremedy Naturals tea tree body wash listing (reseller)
- Krauss Dermatology: Tinea Versicolor patient handout
- John Neidecker, DO: Combat Sports Dermatology (Association of Ringside Physicians)
- International Journal of Dermatology (2007): Efficacy of triclosan soap against superficial dermatomycoses
- FDA warning letter 734781: RoyceDerm LLC
- FDA warning letter 735346: Aidance Scientific
- openFDA: drug recall enforcement reports
Frequently asked questions
What is the best antifungal soap?
For athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm, pick a bar with a real drug on its Drug Facts panel, such as the Defense Antifungal Bar (tolnaftate 1%) or a clotrimazole 1% bar. For tinea versicolor, dermatologists suggest ketoconazole or selenium sulfide washes.
Does antifungal soap actually cure a fungal infection?
Not on its own, as far as the evidence goes. Soap touches the skin for a minute or two, we found no independent trial of these products, and a 2007 trial of a triclosan bar soap found no clear gain over plain soap. A leave-on antifungal cream or powder, used for 2 to 4 weeks, is the usual treatment. Soap is a helpful extra step.
What is the strongest antifungal soap?
No source we found ranks the over-the-counter actives by strength. Tolnaftate 1% and clotrimazole 1% are both on the FDA's list of approved antifungals for athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm. For tinea versicolor, dermatologists name ketoconazole and selenium sulfide washes, though body use is off label. Using a treatment long enough matters more than which one you pick.
Is tea tree soap antifungal?
Weakly, at best. A small amount of research suggests tea tree oil may help athlete's foot, but it may not work as well as standard treatments. Tea tree washes carry no Drug Facts panel, so whatever their ads say, they aren't approved to treat an infection.
Can I use antifungal soap on my face or scalp?
Some bars are sold for face and body, but keep the lather out of your eyes. The drug bars here say they don't work on the scalp or nails. Ask a doctor about a scalp or nail infection.
When should I see a doctor?
If jock itch isn't better in about 2 weeks or athlete's foot or ringworm in about 4, if the rash spreads, or if it's on the scalp or nails. Ask before using these products on a child under 2.
