Effective Home Remedies For Skin Fungus That Will Surprise You
Do you know that there are millions of fungi on earth? You might find this fact troubling when you know that some fungi can cause deadly diseases. Fortunately for us, only about 300 can make you ill.
However, skin fungi infections are common, because the fungi live in the soil, on the trees/plants, and even on our skin. Yes, thats right. Tiny microorganisms are living on your skin, as you read this article, and its completely normal.
Nevertheless, these tiny microorganisms can cause a lot of trouble and discomfort when their numbers grow. Usually, doctors prescribe topical antifungal medication. But thats not your only option, because you can employ some tested home remedies for skin fungus that will take care of the problem as fast as prescribed lotions.
Whats more, they are easy to prepare, and you have most of the ingredients at home. So, if youre interested in learning five home remedies for skin fungi, dont hesitate to keep on reading.
Well start by explaining what the most common types of fungus are and what symptoms to look for if we suspect a fungus infection.
Types Of Yeast Infections
There are different types of yeast infections, but all happen when an area of the body becomes infected with yeast-like fungi called candida . This fungus thrives in moist, warm, folded areas of the skin, such as the groin, under the breast, or the armpits. Candidiasis is the primary type of fungal infection in the body: It is caused by yeast and can occur in the mouth, gut, throat, and vagina, explains Niket Sonpal, MD, an internist and gastroenterologist in New York. If it is not treated correctly with medication, it is likely it can grow out of control and infect your kidneys and heart.
There are many different types of infections caused by candida fungus, depending on the location on the body it happens and the type of candida that is present. While they do have some overlap in symptoms, they can also have different symptoms. The most common candida infections are:
Yeast infections are common and happen in three out of four women at least once in their life, says Dr. Sonpal. Because vaginal yeast infections happen to most women, this article will be specific to the treatment and prevention of vaginal yeast infections only.
Using Bleach To Kill Fungus
Bleach can quickly kill fungus on nonporous surfaces, like shower tiles. Before getting to work, put on a mask, protective glasses and rubber gloves and open the windows and/or turn on a fan. Bob Vila recommends pouring 1 cup of bleach into a gallon of warm water. Dip a stiff-bristled brush into this solution and then scrub briskly. For tougher mold, pour some of the solution into a spray bottle, spray it on the area and allow it to sit for 30 minutes before scrubbing.
Bleach can also be used to remove mold from upholstery and fabrics. Since mold spores spread, first take the item outside. Then, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrape off as much mold as possible. If the fabric is white, you can pretreat it with the homemade bleach spray. Otherwise, use a store-bought stain remover. Be sure to read the product label to see if it is safe for your upholstery or fabric.
Do not let the homemade solution sit on the fabric for more than a few minutes otherwise, you could ruin it. After treating the mold, you can wash the fabric with detergent and hot water. It may be necessary to complete this process more than once to get rid of all the mold. Also, be sure to let it dry completely otherwise, new mold may appear.
Things You Will Need
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How To Kill Fungus Medically
Many fungal skin infections are topical, occurring on the skin surface. For this reason, these infections can be treated with topical medical preparations in the forms of lotions, creams, medicated powders and sprays. Many of these are available from pharmacists without prescription, and the pharmacist will give you advice accordingly. Consult your doctor if you are unsure or when the infection remains even after using over-the-counter remedies.
In the case of widespread skin infections, or infection of nails or scalp, it is recommended that you consult your doctor who will examine and prescribe more potent medication, usually in form of tablets. Due to the recurrent nature of fungal skin infections, you might be advised to take the medication for two weeks or more after the physical signs of the infection disappear.
Prescribed medication will usually clear the infection, although some of it may have some side effects such as skin irritation for topical preparations and upset stomach for oral medications.
When Should I See My Doctor About A Rash
Most rashes are not serious. But its always a good idea to see your healthcare provider if you have skin changes. Your provider can recommend a course of treatment to help you feel better and diagnose any underlying conditions.
- Is all over your body.
- Starts suddenly and spreads quickly.
- Is painful, blistered or infected.
- Happens along with a fever.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Fungal skin rashes can be uncomfortable and itchy, but they are treatable. See your healthcare provider if you notice any rashes or changes in your skin. Typically, a course of antifungal creams will clear up the rash and relieve the itchiness. Your healthcare provider can also discuss preventive steps to keep the rash from coming back.
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Taking Care Of Your Skin
Signs Fungus Might Be Taking Over Your Body
I bet if you looked in the mirror you wouldnt say to yourself, I look a little fungusy today. More than likely, you dont really know what it looks like to be fungusy.
Truth be told, you cant really look like fungus , but there is a good chance that fungus, to some degree or another, is compromising your health.
Dont get too wigged out when I use the word fungus. We are all covered in fungal communities they take up residence on us and within us, forming tight-knit colonies according to their kind. Many of these fungi are harmless, and a good number are quite necessary for health. However, when the bad guys move into the neighborhood, things get funky.
Fungi vs. bacteria
Before I go on, lets first take a quick look at the difference between fungi and bacteria. Both are minute organisms that are found in almost every ecosystem on earth, and both can associate with other groups of living things. As mentioned above, they can either be harmless and necessary in biological processes, or they can be highly dangerous.
The main difference between fungi and bacteria is their cellular structure. Bacteria are prokaryotic organisms, meaning they do not possess a nucleus, while fungi are eukaryotic organisms, meaning they have a very well-defined nucleus. While both organisms have cell walls, what makes up these cell walls is different. Fungi, for the most part, have long hollow tubes that form networks .
Types of fungal infections
Candida albicans
Signs of yeast gone wild
Garlic
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What Is A Fungal Skin Infection
Fungi live everywhere. They can be found in plants, soil, and even on your skin. These microscopic organisms on your skin typically dont cause any problem, unless they multiply faster than normal or penetrate your skin through a cut or lesion.
Since fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, fungal skin infections can often develop in sweaty or damp areas that dont get much airflow. Some examples include the feet, groin, and folds of skin.
Often, these infections appear as a scaly rash or discoloration of the skin that is often itchy.
Some fungal skin infections are very common. Although the infection can be annoying and uncomfortable, its typically not serious.
Fungal skin infections are often spread through direct contact. This can include coming into contact with fungi on clothing or other items, or on a person or animal.
More About Candida Glabrata And Infections
The incidence of Candida glabrata infections has been increasing over the years.
Interestingly, Candida glabrata is more closely genetically related to bakers yeast than it is to Candida albicans or Candida parapsilosis. Most yeast species that are closely related to Candida glabrata arent associated with humans, but are instead found in plants and soil.
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Focusing On Sleep Exercise And Stress Reduction
There are other lifestyle factors besides diet that affect your gut health. We think about the buckets of stress, movement, and sleep, Johnston says. If these things are not optimized, meaning youre not getting enough sleep, youre getting very little exercise, youre feeling extremely stressed, those things can further exacerbate Candida and cause an imbalance in the body.
Namely, factors like sleep, exercise and stress all impact your gut microbiome . If your gut microbiome is already imbalanced, stacking less-than-optimal sleep, movement and stress patterns on top of it can worsen the imbalance.
To increase your chances of balancing out Candida, make sleep, movement and stress reduction a priority.
Aim to get at least seven hours of sleep per night, as recommended by the National Sleep Foundation. Find a calming activity you can do an hour or two before bed to help lower stress and get your body ready for sleep. Johnston recommends meditation, journaling, reading, taking a hot bath or shower, and easy movement like yoga, stretching or walking.
Wash With Soap And Water
Clean the affected area with soap and water twice daily before you apply any home remedies or any other medication. This will control the spread of infection. While soap and water may not always be able to eliminate a fungal infection entirely, it helps to keep the spread down and lower the intensity of the infection.
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Eliminating Fungal And Parasitic Infections Naturally
A woman felt symptoms of parasite infection and practiced some methods to kill the offenders then pulled an 18 inch worm from her privates, described Paul Chek author of Healing Fungal and Parasite Infections. She took the worm in a jar to the doctor where they tested her, the lab test showed negative, no parasite found. They retested three times, three times it came back negative. The worm identified was a rare vaginal escarus worm infection.
Many fungal and parasite infections go undetected. This gives them the ability to grasp a stronghold on the host. Once established fungal and parasite infections are often very difficult to eradicate.
Through improper diet, You become a walking molotov cocktail of bug food, youre just walking around begging bugs to eat you. Diet is extremely important as you dont want to feed the bugs, you want to starve them out and eliminate them, says Chek. Overeating is the perfect environment for parasitic infestation. If a persons bringing in food in excess the body can not break it down and eliminate it. If youre eating more flesh foods than you need you attract parasites. If you overeat sugars you will attract worms that are sugar lovers.
Chek says the optimum diet for controlling parasitic overgrowth is through eating an anti-fungal diet of anti-parasitic foods: meats, veggies and fermented foods. He emphasizes DO NOT overeat.
Home Remedies For Yeast Infections
While yeast infections can be a common occurrence, they can also be an annoyance, and even worse, embarrassing for women. Although severe infections may require a trip to the doctors office and a prescription, there are over-the-counter options and several home remedies for yeast infections. Learn how to identify a yeast infection, when to go to the doctor, how to treat a yeast infection at home, and how to prevent them from recurring.
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Dealing With Athletes Foot
Athletes foot is a fungal infection that can cause serious skin damage. To avoid that, antifungal ointment, spray, or powder can be prescribed. However, if the fungus doesnt respond, you might need stronger treatment by pills.
You can also try bleach to soak for Athletes foot: dissolve 1 tsp of bleach in ½ gallon of warm water and keep your feet immersed for 10 minutes every night before going to bed.
And of course, make sure you follow the major rules of hygiene e.g. washing and drying socks daily in hot water, spraying footwear with the antifungal spray after each wear, and wear well-ventilated shoes.
Regarding hygiene, people often wonder: can the Athletes foot live in a carpet? Yes, it can. And such a carpet must be cleaned by professional cleaners immediately since regular vacuuming and mopping wont destroy the spores!
What Causes Candida Overgrowth
The proficiency of every component of your immune system is what determines whether or not Candida or other fungal infections will take hold in your body. Therefore, what permits Candida overgrowth will be factors that affect the immune systemand diet plays a major role.
While diet is the most vital corrective and preventative element of the immune system, there are several other immune-suppressing factors that often escape responsibility for weakening your bodys defenses:
alcohol intake
chronic or high stress
oral contraceptives
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Twomodify Your Grain Intake
As Im sure you know, grains are a major controversy these days. Some issues with grainswhen it comes to what causes Candidais that many modern grains are nearly completely devoid of nutrients and linked to inflammation and lowered functionality of the immune system. This is because the grains and the mechanisms by which they are grown impairs white blood cell function. White blood cells are a major component of your immune system.Modern grains also break down too easily into sugar, which causes the body to store the excess blood glucose as fat. Individuals carrying excessive fat stores are the primary sufferers of Candida infections.
In addition, there is the controversy over gluten. Some experts claim gluten causes leaky gut, inflammation, insulin resistance, leptin resistance, and impedes thyroid functionall of which encourages Candida overgrowth.
Lastly, many of the issues caused by modern grains are unheard of in Europe and other regions of the world. This is because agricultural chemical pesticides, such as Round Up, have been banned in those regions, but ever since the introduction of advanced pesticidal treatments on grains in the United States, there has been a staggering rise in wheat and gluten intolerance, as well as every associated health condition, including Candida.
Learn to be better acquainted with organic grain options and ancient grain options. Some of the safer, ancient grains are emmer, spelt, and einkorn.
Recurring Genital Or Urinary Tract Infections
Candida is found in the vaginal tracts of most women.
An overgrowth of it can lead to candidiasis of the vagina, also known as a yeast infection.
Its estimated that 75% of all women will get at least one vaginal yeast infection in their lifetime, and half of those will have at least one recurrence .
Men can also get genital yeast infections, but its much less common.
Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis include redness, swelling, itching, painful intercourse and a thick, white discharge from the vagina.
Although its much less common, Candida can also cause a urinary tract infection .
Candida-related urinary tract infections are most common in the elderly, hospitalized or immune-compromised individuals .
Symptoms of a UTI include a burning feeling when you urinate, a frequent urge to urinate, cloudy, dark or strange-smelling urine and pain or pressure in your lower abdomen.
Although, other bacteria like E. coli are more likely to cause UTIs.
However, if you suffer from recurring infections and believe they are a result of Candida overgrowth, you can have your urine tested to find out.
Summary:Candida can cause genital and urinary tract infections, both of which can lead to pain and discomfort.
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Candida Die Off Or Herxheimer Reaction
When Candida or other yeast cells are killed, they give off toxins. Candida gives off 79 different toxins. These toxins can overwhelm the body, causing allergic reactions and inflammation. These toxins can actually damage the body as well.
Die off symptoms can include nausea, headache, fatigue, fever, an increase in muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, digestive disturbances, sweating, elevated heart rate, itching, hives, rashes, and skin breakouts, as well as brain fog. Some also experience sinus, vaginal, and prostate infections.
The first defense against an excessive toxic response is to follow your diet. The fiber included in an 80% raw diet will help quickly move the fungus out of your system. Twice daily doses of diatomaceous earth will also help remove the dying fungus from your body.
It is imperative that you drink a lot of clean water. We recommend cranberry lemonade as much as a gallon a day, sipped throughout the day. It will give you vitamin C, support the kidneys, and help flush out toxins.
This is the time to support your immune system. Molybdenum and milk thistle will help your liver expel toxins. If you are having a bad reaction, this support is essential. Candida releases a neurotoxin, acetaldehyde, during die off that is particularly destructive to the body. It attacks red blood cells and kills brain cells. Molybdenum converts acetaldehyde into acetic acid which the body can expel or turn into digestive enzymes.