7 Easy And Effective Home Remedies For Skin Fungus

Jul 31, 2018 by apost team

Ringworm is a fungal infection that sends more than 700,000 people to the doctor each year. If you have an infection and it is not clearing up, in addition to seeing a doctor, you can try these remedies.

Curcumin, a component of turmeric, is said to have anti-microbial properties. Turmeric is also an anti-inflammatory. It can be consumed in food or tea, but as an anti-fungal agent, it is more useful to apply it topically. Mix it with coconut oil or water until its texture is paste-like, then place it on the affected area. Leave it on as long as you like. Although it will stain the skin, this is harmless.

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Apple cider vinegar is another anti-fungal. While it neutralizes pH, regulating yeast growth, it also relieves dryness and itching. Soak a cotton ball in the vinegar and apply it to the affected area. You can do this up to three times per day. However, if you are going out or if the ringworm is an area that tends to get sweaty, rinse it off after about 15 minutes.

In India, this is known as "neem" and has been used for hundreds of years as an antifungal agent. To extract the active ingredient, boil the leaves of the plant for a few minutes and wash the ringworm-infected area with the water. Do not apply the leaves directly to the ringworm or boil the water for a long time as both of these can lead to skin irritation.

Coconut oil is not much use on severe skin infections but can be helpful for milder infections. The fatty acids damage the fungus's cell membranes. Apply it to the ringworm area three times per day. After the infection is gone, you can continue to use the coconut oil as a moisturizer and as a preventative against a reinfection.

The carvacrol and thymol in wild oregano inhibit fungal growth. Make sure that you have the wild oregano oil which is harder to find than common oregano. Apply it three times per day.

Garlic is a great remedy against a whole host of infections in addition to ringworm including Cryptococcus, Candida, Torulopsis and Trichophyton. Make a paste from the garlic and mix it with coconut or olive oil. Applying the garlic directly to the ringworm without mixing it with oil can irritate your skin. Use a cotton ball or clean cloth to smear the paste on the ringworm, and leave it for two hours. Do this two times per day.

Aboriginal Australians have long known tea tree oil has powerful anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. It can also reduce inflammation. You can apply tea tree oil directly to your skin unless your skin is sensitive. In that case, dilute it to 2 percent with coconut oil and apply it three times each day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can reduce the likelihood of getting ringworm by keeping skin dry and clean, avoiding tight clothes in hot weather or tight shoes, showering immediately after exercise, changing underwear and socks every day, wearing shoes in communal showers, avoiding sharing socks and towels, washing your hands after touching an animal and keeping your fingernails and toenails clipped.

If you already have ringworm, you should avoid tight clothes and irritating fabrics. If you must wear tight clothes, place homemade cotton pads on your skin to cut back on irritation. Do not use towels on other areas of your body that have touched the infected area. Don't scratch, avoid perfume, change clothes daily and clean the area once or twice each day.

Let us know in the comments if you have used any of these remedies and if they worked for you. Make sure to tell your friends about these treatments as well!

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!