Effective Home Remedies To Treat Fungal Skin Infection

Fungal infections are one of the most common types of skin problems across the world. Let us learn about what they are, what causes them, and their preventive & remedial tips and recipes.

Skin is the largest organ in our body. And the uppermost layer of the skin is composed of dead cells. Our body also hosts some friendly microbes and our relationship with these microbes are biologically described as “mutualism”. Fungi are often the members of this mutual relationship and a variety of them are found in the skin, but they don’t cause an infection, because their growth is kept in a system of checks and balances by our body.

However, if the system fails and fungi proliferate, they can cause skin infections. Along with this, external fungi can also infect on our skin especially under conditions of poor personal hygiene. These include ringworm infections on skin folds, neck and finger webs, dandruff infections on scalp causing itchiness and hair fall, athlete’s foot in the toes, to name a few. Example, the ringworm infections are caused by a fungal species called dermatophytes that attack keratinized tissues like skin, hair and nails. The characteristic of this infection is the annular growth of thickened skin patches and constant itching which at times is overwhelming.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Especially active against the opportunistic pathogen called Candida albicans, Apple Cider Vinegar is very effective against fungal infections due to its acidic nature which helps to regulate pH levels of our skin.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar

Method

Take two teaspoons of this apple cider vinegar and put it into your bathtub. Bathe with this water. It will wash your skin off the accumulating fungal spores by its anti-fungal action.

For oral thrush caused by candidiasis, you can have a hot water apple cider vinegar gargle before bedtime. 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of hot water is sufficient.

Plain Yogurt

Yogurt is full of probiotics containing live lactobacillus strains which help to get rid of the fungi and help treat the fungal infection.

Ingredients

Yogurt that contains Lactobacillus

Methods

You can either apply yogurt topically to the affected areas of the skin.

-or-

You can consume yogurt after meals to provide immunity to your body against fungal infections.

Lavender Oil

Imparting a soothing aroma, lavender oil has prominent antifungal properties. It works against both Candida and Dermatophytes infection.

Ingredients

Lavender essential oil, cotton balls, alcohol spirit, your regular body oil.

Methods

Add 2-3 drops of this lavender oil into your regular body oil and massage it over your body before or after taking a bath.

Dilute this essential oil with a carrier oil or water and use a cotton pad to lightly dab it over the affected areas of your body.

Baking Soda and Epsom Salt

A valuable and detoxifying agent. Along with Epsom salt, this mixture provides significant relief against itchiness and swelling in the skin.

Ingredients

Cup for measurement, Epsom salt and bicarbonate soda

Methods

Add ½ cup soda bicarbonate had ½ cup of Epsom salt to a hot water bath and soak for 15-20mins. Bathe with this solution.

You can also add lavender oils and Eucalyptus oils for their additional anti-fungal properties to this mixture of bath water for better results.

Oregano Oil

Apart from seasoning your pizza slices, oregano essential oils have been found to eliminate candida infections. It contains thymol that dehydrates the yeast cells and kills them.

How to cure fungal infections on the face and body using oregano oil

Ingredients

Oregano essential oil, water

Methods

You can add 2-3 drops of oregano oil into a glass of water and drink it.

Tea-Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is a topically active anti-fungal which can also soothe the irritations and itches caused by the infections due to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, it should not be used orally due to its systemic toxicity.

Ingredients

Tea-tree essential oil, water, Cotton pad, regular body oil

Methods

You can dilute 2-3 drops of this tea-tree oil in your regular body oil and massage it normally onto your skin before or after taking a bath.

Add a few drops of tea tree oil to a tub of water and soak your feet that have been infested by fungi.

Garlic

Garlic which has natural antifungal and antiseptic properties is especially effective against candida infections.

Ingredients

Warm compress, cotton gauze, garlic cloves, first aid tape

Methods

- Apply warm moist heat to the region affected by the fungus to open the pores.
- Apply mashed garlic cloves to a cotton gauze
- Put this cotton gauze onto the fungus infected area
- Tape it with a bandaid tape.
- Remove this dressing every 3-5hours and use fresh garlic cloves for a new dressing.

Coconut Oil

Inexpensive and highly moisturizing, this has significant antiseptic properties which treat the fungal infections effectively.

Ingredients

Cold pressed coconut oil, Cotton swabs.

Methods

Take 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil and microwave it for a few seconds. For mouth ulcers, swish this coconut oil into your mouth for 10seconds and spit it out. Don’t eat or drink anything for 30mins after that.

You can directly soak a cotton pad into the jar of coconut oil and apply it directly to the affected area.

Tea

Black tea and green tea both contain polyphenols and catechins that have prominent anti-fungal action.

Ingredients

Tea bags soaked, water

Methods

Apply a soaked tea bag onto the skin affected by the fungus.

You can alternatively drink green tea before going to bed.

Olive Leaves

It contains Hydroxytyrosol and Oleuropein that have prominent antifungal properties.

Ingredients

Olive leaves, water, heat, olive capsules

Methods

Boil olive leaves and make tea out of it. Drink 1-3 cups of it every day.

You can alternatively take 500mg capsules after every meal.