Fungal Rashes – The Fungus Among Us
Candida is a common ailment that is know to become resistant to antifungal drugs. However, a number of antifungal herbs have been used for centuries and are growing in popularity as more people look for natural remedies for all kinds of health issues.[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5628516/
Fungus lurks everywhere. It’s in locker room showers, and piles of used towels. It creeps in garden soil and borrowed shoes. It even exists in the very air we breathe and every surface we touch.
Fungus! Waiting to infect us with unspeakable rashes that can be hard to cure. Short of living in a bubble, what can we do about this nuisance of a malady?
Well, maybe it’s not as bad as all that. Fungus is certainly among us. It’s all around us, and even inside us as a beneficial part of our internal microfauna.
The Fungi Kingdom
The Fungi Kingdom[2]https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158134.php comprises yeasts, molds, mushrooms, and more. They’ve existed on the planet for at least a billion years. We decidedly younger humans evolved in a world that is positively loaded with various forms of fungus. Under normal circumstances, our bodies know just how to handle them.
Once in awhile circumstances come about that causes an imbalance in the fungus in or on us, and we develop an issue. External rashes like jock itch, ringworm, or athlete’s foot appear. Internal issues such as yeast infections, Candida overgrowth in the digestive tract, or thrush can arise. Not to worry.
While there are many prescription and over the counter meds that can help, Nature itself also offers up quite a few helpful, medicinal plants known for assisting with fungal infections. So don’t worry… you don’t need to live in a bubble. It probably has fungus on it anyway. Instead let’s reach for some of the best herbs and some of the best foods for fighting fungal infections.
Nature offers quite a few helpful, antifungal plants known for assisting with fungal infections.
How to Recognize a Fungal Rash
According to the folks over at Healthline, “Candida skin infections can occur on almost any area of the body, but they are more commonly found in intertriginous regions, where two skin areas may touch or rub together. Such areas include the armpits, groin, and skin folds, as well as the area between your fingers and toes. The fungus thrives in warm, moist, and sweaty conditions.”[3]https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/candida-fungus#Symptoms3
Risk Factors for Developing Fungal Rash:
- Being overweight
- Tight-fitting underwear (esp. males)
- Thyroid conditions (seem to have a predilection for fungal infections)
- High sugar diets (fungus feeds on sugar and thrives in the lowered body pH that high sugar intake causes)
- Autoimmunity disorders
- Recent antibiotic use
- Infants (diaper rash)
Candida by the way is a genus of yeast-like fungus that is responsible for many, if not most, fungal infections, both inside the body and on the skin. It’s not the only fungus that can cause a skin outbreak.
Trichophyton rubrum, for example, is the fungus most responsible for ringworm. However, candida is, certainly the naughtiest of the naughty fungi that can become pathogenic and cause fungal rashes.
Candida albicans is a common pervasive and persistent fungus.
Fungal Infection Symptoms
Fungal rashes are often easy to recognize. First is the location. They occur most frequently in the persistently dark, moist or sweaty areas of the body (groin, armpits, feet, inside mouth). Second is the appearance of the rash. Fungal infections on the skin tend to have a red, thick look to them, and are very itchy.
What Does Fungal Rash Look Like?
- Red rash, sometimes with darker red or purple patches
- Marked itchiness, and sometimes soreness
- Scaling or flaking of the skin (looks like you’re losing layers of skin)
- A white film over the skin can sometimes show
- Pustules can occur (looking like little whiteheads)
- Red and white mouth lesions in the case of thrush[4]https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-thrush
- Characteristic ring or roughly circular shape in the case of ringworm[5]https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/ringworm-of-the-skin-cause
- Pungent odor in some cases
Definitely take a trip to your doctor if you develop a rash that you’ve never had before. Fungus rashes — and especially candida — can be hard to eliminate. So visit your health care professional to get clear on what you’re dealing with. Once you know what you’ve got, you can make better informed decisions on how to treat the issue.
Plant Medicine is Both Ancient and Modern
The good news is that free medicine is readily available in the plants and weeds all around us. But if we can’t find the plants we need in our yard, garden or nearby nature areas, we can grow our own!
Growing our own food and medicine is immensely satisfying, rewarding and empowering❣️
40% of pharmaceuticals are derived from plants used for centuries, including the top 20 best selling prescription drugs in the US today.
~USDA Medical Botany[6]https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/ethnobotany/medicinal/index.shtml
