Do you have patches of scaly, itching skin, rough at the edges and lighter/darker than the rest of the skin around it? If you do, then you can suspect with great confidence that you have tinea versicolor. This is a yeast infection of our skin that is very common. It is started by an exaggerated growth of fungi that originally exist on our skin.
People from tropical countries are the ones who are most often stricken by the disease. This goes to show that one of the risk factors are hot and humid areas. Other possible instigators of the disease are excessive sweating, oily skin, poor nutrition, pregnancy, birth control pills, diabetes and corticosteroid pills.
Treatment of tinea versicolor entails different creams, shampoos, and lotions. At times, these happen not to be working for some patients or they don’t give long lasting results. This is the reason why many people try natural products and changing nutrition in order to get rid of the disease permanently. Here, we’ll introduce you to the fastest ways to alleviate the disease and even get better-looking skin as a result.
Tinea versicolor and natural and fast medicines
Yogurt is a natural and cheap product you get on a daily basis in a super market not knowing all of its potentials. Lactic acid from the yogurt will kill the yeast. Just apply it on the patches on daily basis and let this miracle dairy product take care of the rest.
Vinegar is one of the most popular natural products that is touted to cure even cancer. People frequently drink it diluted in water or juice in order to strengthen their immune system and cleanse their body. Besides the oral use, you can use it topically. It is suggested that you use a cotton ball to apply it to the affected parts of the skin. Of course, vinegar can be combined with other products known for their antifungal and antibacterial properties such as honey and lemon for example. There are also recipes including sea salt. These two actually create a great mask that has a double function: exfoliating and treating yeast.
Tea tree oil is popular because of its antifungal properties as well as its ability to dry the excess oil on the skin. It is no secret that sportsmen use it for treating athlete’s feet. This is why many people attempt using tea tree oil to treat tinea versicolor. Undiluted tea tree oil may irritate your skin so make sure to mix it with something like coconut oil. There is a probability that this combination turns out to be even more effective than the tea tree oil by itself as coconut oil also has antifungal qualities. Possibilities of using tea tree oil to treat the disease are indefinite. For example, use it with baking soda and make a real medicinal bath for yourself which will be both relaxing and useful. Sometimes you don’t have to combine the oil with anything else. Just pour a few drops of the oil into a cup of water, soak a cotton ball in it and apply to the affected area. Other solutions include oregano oil, aloe vera, lemon juice, garlic etc.
Aloe vera can undoubtedly be counted among ‘’the veterans’’ when it comes to beauty world and skin care. It stimulates healing of the skin and is apt at treating fungi really fast. If applied 2-3 times a day to the affected area you’ll see a great improvement. It can be added to your daily skin routine by itself or paired with other products that will intensify its effectiveness. Stores are packed with high-end aloe vera gels ready to be applied to your face but you can also make it on your own. Wash your hands well before cutting the leaves, and then look for the outer ones. These are most likely to be ripe and have a lot of gel you can use. Then dry the resin well in order to get rid of the latex which can be irritating for your skin. Peel the leaves and scoop the gel. Find a sterilized container and pour the gel there. If you’re planning to have the gel for a longer period, it is recommended that you put some preservatives in it such as vitamin C. Don’t use aloe vera on deep cuts and blistered skin because it could impair healing.
Oregano oil is one of the most potent antifungal oils out there. It will reduce the yeast and also reduce the symptoms. You can mix it with extra virgin oil and get the best solution for tinea versicolor possible. After application, leave it on the skin for 30 minutes and rinse it off and observe the disease fade away.
Garlic is a medicine from ancient times that is used for treating all sorts of skin condition, among which are the ones caused by fungi. Just apply the garlic juice to the issued areas and wait for 20 minutes. Then take a shower and repeat the same process daily for a few weeks.
Turmeric paste that, besides turmeric includes sandalwood powder and clarified butter, is also a wise way to exploit the best from these products. Rub it on the affected spots and leave it for 30 minutes. Follow this every day until you see the results.
We can’t leave out baking soda from this list. It is usually incorporated into skin bleaching and acne treatment but recently people have been reporting its effectiveness with tinea versicolor treatment. Patients tend to make antifungal baths with it by combining it with tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, and salt. However, they also tend to accompany baking soda with honey, olive oil, garlic or honey in order to make a paste and apply it directly to the skin. As with vinegar, solutions are really innumerable. What you have to bear in mind is moisturizing whenever you use baking soda. Although it is great for your skin, prolonged use could lead to skin drying and irritations.
Prescribed medications for tinea versicolor
Creams and lotions are always an option when it comes to tinea versicolor treatment. Some of the most popular ones are Clotrimazole, Miconazole, and Selenium sulfide. Sometimes patients are prescribed both topical and oral medications. Among the most common oral medications targeted at tinea versicolor are Fluconazole, Itraconazole, and Ketoconazole.
Nutrition and tinea versicolor
Diet is another crucial component in the battle with tinea. Eating a lot of veggies and fruits will promote more bowel movement. This will get rid of all the fungi’s toxic waste. Evade sugar at all costs since this is what fungus feeds on. Whole grains and fruits are better because they provide you with natural fibers and sugar that your body can use as an energy source. Fermented veggies are great dietary probiotics that will keep the microbial environment in the bowels in check. Basically, probiotics are generally very helpful when it comes to tinea versicolor. This is why you should consume a lot of yogurt, kefir and goat milk.
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