Best Antifungal Soap: Types and How to Choose One

You’re comparing antifungal soaps, and nothing explains why one costs more than another, or whether you need one at all.

You probably already have an antifungal cream. So does washing with a medicated soap add anything?

Fair questions. The choices run from plain bars with tea tree oil on the label to soaps with a real antifungal medicine inside, and most of them say “antifungal” on the front. The short answer on the best antifungal soap: regular soap cleans, but it isn’t a treatment, and it probably isn’t effective in providing real relief. A soap with a labeled antifungal active ingredient, like the clotrimazole 1% in the terrasil® Antifungal Cleansing Bar, is a different kind of product—it can help relieve symptoms when you use it as directed.

Below, we’ll sort out what to expect from an antifungal soap, the types, bar versus liquid, how to use one, what to do after you’ve been somewhere risky, and how Terrasil compares with other similar soaps with the same active ingredient.

Do you need an antifungal soap, or is regular soap enough?

Regular soap does one job well: it cleans. It washes away sweat, oils and dirt, and that matters, because the fungus behind athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm loves warm, damp skin.^1,2 The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) advises washing your feet every day with soap and drying them completely.² But the CDC says athlete’s foot and jock itch are usually treated with non-prescription antifungal medicines used for 2 to 4 weeks.³ Plain soap isn’t one of them.

A soap with a labeled antifungal active ingredient is different. Clotrimazole is one of those over-the-counter medicines and if your soap has it, it will be found on the back of the product under the Drug Facts section. Clotrimazole 1% is the FDA-recognized active ingredient for athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm, and in a soap bar, it can’t actually treat (i.e., kill) the skin fungus, but it can very much help relieve the symptoms that stem from them.

So can you just wash your skin fungus away? With a regular bar, no. But with a clotrimazole soap, washing with it can help improve the quality of your hygiene routine, as long as you follow the label and finish the full course of whatever antifungal treatment you choose to use. We recommend our terrasil Antifungal Treatment Maximum Strength Ointment. In fact, according to the CDC, you must be sure to use an antifungal for as long as directed, even if symptoms start to improve.³

What if you’re already using an antifungal ointment or cream? Do you even need an antifungal soap? Good question. A good ointment may be enough on its own, since it stays on the skin between washes. But a medicated soap is still a useful addition to that routine, because it cleans the area with a soothing antifungal ingredient, and a good quality antifungal soap should also be formulated well enough to be gentle for daily use on skin that is already irritated.

What should you expect from an antifungal soap?

visual of woman examining product in store

Prices and promises vary a lot from one antifungal soap to the next, so it helps to know what a good one should give you, and these four checks cover it:

A real active ingredient that targets your specific type of skin fungus. Look for it under Drug Facts on the box, because without one you’re buying a cleanser rather than an antifungal.
Directions for a wash-off product. The label should say how long to leave it on, how often to use it and for how many weeks.
A formula gentle enough for repeat use. You may find yourself needing to wash your skin at least twice a day for weeks on skin that is already irritated, so everything in the soap bar besides the active ingredient matters too.
Transparency about what’s inside and where it’s made. A full ingredient list and a clear statement of where it’s made.

Use those four checks to see what you’re paying for, because a basic cleansing bar and a soap built around a medicine, a full course of directions and a formula made for daily use are different products, even when both say “antifungal.”

What types of antifungal soap are there?

Selecting terrasil antifungal soap from shelf

Clotrimazole soaps. Clotrimazole is an over-the-counter antifungal, and clotrimazole 1% soaps like the ones compared below list athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm on their labels, which makes them the ones made for body skin.
Ketoconazole shampoos and washes. Ketoconazole is used for fungal or yeast infections of the skin,⁴ but as a shampoo it’s built with the scalp in mind, so it does a different job from the soaps in this post.
Selenium sulfide products. Selenium sulfide is a topical antiseborrheic and antifungal used for dandruff,⁵ so think dandruff shampoo rather than a body bar.
Natural and essential-oil soaps. Tea tree, lavender and peppermint oils are popular in bar soaps for their scent and clean feel, but if a soap has no active ingredient listed, you’re buying a cleanser.

Is a bar or a liquid antifungal wash better?

We couldn’t find a study showing that one format works better than the other, so the choice comes down to the same things as above: a labeled active ingredient, directions that match your problem, and following them. Still, there are practical differences, and when you may be washing twice a day for weeks, they add up.

While some liquid washes are easy to pump and use (if it has a pump), it’s also just as easy to dispense more than you need. Hence, a bottle of liquid soap can run out much faster than you expect and a little extra goes down the drain with every wash.

A bar gives you more control over how much you use. You wet your hands, work the bar between them, and wash the area with what you get on your hands instead of pressing the bar against your skin, so each wash uses only a small amount and one bar can go a long way. A bar also comes in a cardboard box rather than a plastic bottle, which some shoppers prefer, and it’s easy to pack for the gym or a trip. The trade-off is that a bar needs a draining soap dish so it can dry between uses, and it’s best kept for your own use, since the AAD advises against sharing towels and other personal items when you have a fungal skin infection.⁶

That’s why we made the terrasil® Antifungal Cleansing Bar a bar: it puts clotrimazole 1% and our patented Activated Minerals® into a natural format that’s easy to control, simple to keep on hand, and built to go a long way, with directions written for it.

What is the best antifungal soap for athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm?

For these three skin conditions, the terrasil® Antifungal Cleansing Bar was made for the job: it pairs clinically proven clotrimazole, a fast-acting antifungal, with patented Activated Minerals® and high-quality soothing botanicals in a formula that supports absorption and skin healing, and the rest of the bar is built for twice-a-day use with plant oils and butters like jojoba oil, plus beeswax and lavender, peppermint and tea tree oils.

A few notes by condition:

Athlete’s foot: Pay special attention to the spaces between your toes, wear well-fitting, ventilated shoes, and change your shoes and socks at least once a day.
Jock itch: If you’re a guy looking for the best antifungal soap for jock itch, the same rules apply: wash the affected area well, rinse after 2 minutes and dry thoroughly, and keep in mind that tight clothing traps warmth and moisture, so breathable clothes help.⁶
Ringworm: The classic ring-shaped rash can show up almost anywhere on the body, and if you’re not sure what you’re looking at, this guide on telling jock itch from ringworm can help.

Want to compare creams too? See our guides to the best athlete’s foot treatment, best jock itch treatment and best ringworm cream.

How do you use antifungal soap?

Always follow the label on the product you choose. On the terrasil bar’s Drug Facts, the directions look like this:

Wash the affected area well with the bar.
If you can, let the soap sit on the skin for 2 minutes and then rinse. This just allows some time for the Clotrimazole to work.
Dry thoroughly with a clean, freshly washed towel, since moisture is what the fungus likes.
Use twice daily, in the morning and at night, or as directed by a doctor.
Keep going for the full course: 4 weeks for athlete’s foot and ringworm, and 2 weeks for jock itch.

That last step matters because stopping early is a big reason the itch keeps coming back, and the CDC says to keep applying an antifungal for as long as directed, even if symptoms start to improve.³ If that sounds familiar, read why ringworm keeps coming back.

A word about towels, because they’re easy to overlook. It’s tempting to assume a towel is clean after a day or two on the hook, but a towel that has touched an infected area should be washed before it touches your skin again. The AAD advises drying the infected area with its own towel, using a different clean towel for the rest of your body, and washing used towels in hot, sudsy water before using them again.⁷ So keep one towel just for the affected area, use a freshly washed one every time if you can, and at the very least swap in a clean one every day so you don’t reinfect yourself.

How long after contact does a fungal skin infection start, and can you wash it off?

Symptoms usually start 4 to 14 days after exposure, according to the CDC’s overview of ringworm,⁸ which is the gap between touching something contaminated and noticing an itch or a rash, and because athlete’s foot and jock itch are types of ringworm,¹ that range is a useful rule of thumb.

As for whether you can wash it off before it takes hold, none of the health sources we found gives a set window, so we won’t make one up. What experts do agree on is that these fungi live in warm, damp places like locker rooms, pools and shower floors,⁹ and that daily habits matter most: Harvard Health advises washing your feet thoroughly every day, drying each toe and putting on clean socks afterward,⁹ and the AAD adds shower shoes at pools, gyms and locker rooms.²

Plenty of people like to use an antifungal soap after they’ve been somewhere risky, and we think the terrasil bar makes a smart extra precaution after possible exposure as part of a full hygiene routine: shower, wash the spots that touched the floor or mat, like your feet, and dry well. It isn’t a replacement for shower shoes and thorough drying.

The bar is meant to help relieve symptoms, not to prevent infections, so we can’t promise it will stop one. If you do use it after exposure, follow the label by washing well, rinsing after 2 minutes and drying thoroughly, and focus on the areas that touched the surface rather than scrubbing head to toe.

Should you use antifungal soap with an antifungal cream?

applying terrasil antifungal ointment to foot

With a powerful, effective ointment like terrasil® Antifungal Treatment MAX, that may be all you need, since it contains clotrimazole 1% and works on its own for athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm.¹⁰ Adding the terrasil® Antifungal Cleansing Bar is a way to build a more careful hygiene routine around it, which can be especially powerful when the problem keeps coming back and you want to give your skin every advantage. Here are a few good reasons to keep a bar in the routine:

Repeat flare-ups. If the itch keeps coming back, a daily antifungal wash adds one more careful step to your routine, alongside drying well and using a fresh towel.
After the gym, pool or locker room. The bar makes a smart extra precaution after possible exposure, as part of a full routine that includes shower shoes and thorough drying.
Cleansing before you apply. Washing the area first means your ointment goes onto clean, dry skin.
Running out of ointment. If you’re waiting on a refill, a gentle antifungal soap can help relieve symptoms in the meantime, though it doesn’t replace the ointment.
Gentle daily care. The bar is made for twice-a-day use and pairs soothing botanicals with clotrimazole, so you’re not choosing between a formula that’s kind to your skin and one that helps relieve symptoms.

If you’d like both together, the Serious Fungal Treatment 2-Product System pairs the ointment with the cleansing bar, and for more on choosing a topical you can read what is the best antifungal cream.

How does Terrasil compare with other antifungal soaps?

People ask us how Terrasil stacks up, so here is a side-by-side look at it and other clotrimazole soaps on the market, with everything drawn from each product’s own label as posted on otclabels.com (revision dates from November 2024 to July 2026).^{11,12,13,14,15} All five list clotrimazole 1% as the active ingredient and the same three uses: athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm.

Soap (label date)	Rinse time on label	Plant ingredients and extras listed	Patented Activated Minerals®	Where made (stated on posted label)
terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar (11/2024)	After 2 minutes	Lavender, peppermint, tea tree and jojoba oils	Yes	Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA
RoyceDerm Antifungal Bar (03/2026)	After 2 minutes	Tea tree oil, aloe, shea butter, charcoal powder, volcanic ash	Not listed	Not Stated
RoyceDerm Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Soap (02/2026)	Not stated	Tea tree oil, witch hazel, ceramide, coconut, palm and olive oils	Not listed	Not Stated
Hermon Clotrimazole Antifungal Soap Bar (03/2026)	Not stated (“rinse thoroughly”	Tea tree oil, witch hazel, ceramide, coconut, palm and olive oils	Not listed	Not Stated
Tea Tree Antifungal soap, Hong Kong Unordered Trading (07/2026)	Not stated	Tea tree oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, menthol, fragrance	Not listed	Not Stated

As of October 2026, the active ingredient is the same across all five, so it isn’t what separates them; the formula around it is. Terrasil pairs clinically proven clotrimazole with high-quality soothing botanicals and patented Activated Minerals® technology in a formula that supports absorption and skin healing, and none of the other four labels list it. Tea tree oil shows up in every soap in the table, so some plant oils alone aren’t the difference; the technology is. Terrasil also offers a matching MAX ointment and a bar-and-ointment kit for anyone who wants to build a routine.

Where a soap is made matters to many shoppers, and understandably so. Terrasil is proudly made in the USA—specifically, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, USA, by Aidance Scientific, in an FDA-registered facility.¹¹

We believe in being open about what goes into our products and where they’re made, because what you put on your skin matters. We’d encourage you to expect the same from any soap you choose, and when a label doesn’t tell you where a product is made, it’s reasonable to ask the company before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

Which body wash is best for a fungal skin infection?

Look for a wash or bar with an antifungal active ingredient listed under Drug Facts and uses that match your problem, which for athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm means clotrimazole 1%, because a regular body wash cleans but doesn’t contain an antifungal.

How often should you change your towel when you have a fungal skin infection?

Use a freshly washed towel every time you dry the affected area if you can, and at the very least a clean one every day. The AAD advises drying the infected area with its own towel, using a different clean towel for the rest of your body, and washing used towels in hot, sudsy water before using them again.⁷

Is regular soap enough for athlete’s foot, jock itch or ringworm?

Regular soap helps keep skin clean, and the AAD advises washing daily and drying completely,² but the CDC says these infections are usually treated with non-prescription antifungal medicines,³ so a soap with an antifungal active ingredient like clotrimazole 1% can help relieve symptoms when used as directed.

Is a bar or liquid antifungal wash better?

We couldn’t find a study showing one format beats the other, so look for a labeled active ingredient and directions that match your problem, and give it the full contact time on the label.

How long after exposure do fungal skin infections show up?

The CDC says ringworm symptoms usually start 4 to 14 days after exposure,⁸ and because athlete’s foot and jock itch are types of ringworm,¹ that range is a useful rule of thumb.

Can antifungal soap help after you’ve been to the gym or a locker room?

Showering, washing the areas that touched the floor and drying well are the habits health experts recommend,^2,9 and an antifungal soap can be an extra precaution as part of that routine, although the terrasil bar is meant to help relieve symptoms, not to prevent infections.

Does antifungal soap work on the scalp or nails?

No. The terrasil box says the product is not effective on the scalp or nails, and we’d be wary of any soap that claims otherwise. For scalp concerns, look for a product made for the scalp, such as an antifungal shampoo.⁴

Conclusion

The best antifungal soap has a real antifungal active ingredient, a label that matches your problem, directions you’ll actually follow and a formula gentle enough for twice-a-day use, and for athlete’s foot, jock itch and ringworm on the skin, the terrasil® Antifungal Cleansing Bar checks those boxes and pairs well with Antifungal Treatment MAX if you want a complete routine.

Ready to try it? The cleansing bar and the MAX ointment are available on our site, and if this tends to be a recurring issue for you, subscribe and save options help you keep relief always on hand, with the best savings. What you put on your skin matters, so whichever products you choose, we hope this guide helped and that you find relief and feel better soon.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ringworm Basics. https://www.cdc.gov/ringworm/about/index.html
American Academy of Dermatology. How to prevent athlete’s foot. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/athletes-foot-prevent
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of Ringworm. https://www.cdc.gov/ringworm/treatment/index.html
Cleveland Clinic. Ketoconazole Shampoo (Nizoral): How to Use. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20386-ketoconazole-shampoo
Godse G, Godse K. Safety, Efficacy and Attributes of 2.5% Selenium Sulfide Shampoo in the Treatment of Dandruff: A Single-Center Study. Cureus. 2024;16(3):e57148. doi:10.7759/cureus.57148
American Academy of Dermatology. 8 reasons your groin itches and how to get relief. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/itchy-skin/itch-relief/relieve-groin-itch
American Academy of Dermatology. Ringworm: 12 tips for getting the best results from treatment. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/ringworm-self-care
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clinical Overview of Ringworm. https://www.cdc.gov/ringworm/hcp/clinical-overview/index.html
Harvard Health Publishing. Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis). https://www.health.harvard.edu/a-to-z/athletes-foot-tinea-pedis-a-to-z
DailyMed, National Library of Medicine. TERRASIL ANTI-FUNGAL TREATMENT MAX (clotrimazole) ointment. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
Aidance Scientific, Inc. terrasil Antifungal Cleansing Bar, package Drug Facts, and FDA label listing (revised 11/2024; manufacturing establishment registered with the FDA). https://otclabels.com/lib/otc/otc-meds/terrasil-antifungal-cleansing-bar/
RoyceDerm LLC. RoyceDerm Antifungal Bar (clotrimazole soap) label, revised 03/2026. https://otclabels.com/lib/otc/otc-meds/roycederm-antifungal-bar/
RoyceDerm LLC. RoyceDerm Tea Tree Oil Antifungal Soap label, revised 02/2026. https://otclabels.com/lib/otc/otc-meds/roycederm-tea-tree-oil-antifungal-soap/
Beautivity LLC. Hermon Clotrimazole Antifungal Soap Bar label, revised 03/2026. https://otclabels.com/lib/otc/otc-meds/hermon-clotrimazole-antifungal-soap-bar/
Hong Kong Unordered Trading Co., Limited. Tea Tree Antifungal (clotrimazole soap) label, revised 07/2026. https://otclabels.com/lib/otc/otc-meds/tea-tree-antifungal/

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