FUNGAL INFECTION

Symptoms, Cure & Home Remedies

More people get athlete's foot than any other fungal infections. It can be really vexing, but it's easy to control it and treated right away. The fungus that causes athlete's foot is like those that cause jock itch and yeast infections. It breeds in closed, damp places and feeds on dead skin cells. Walking bare foot in the shower at a gym and around the pools may increase your chances of getting athletes foot.

Jock itch is a fungal infection in the groin that most men get from time to time. Women on the other hand may get yeast infections. Which occurs when a fungus that that's already in the body displaces the helpful bacterium that keeps it under control. The infection begins in the vagina but spreads if left untreated. If you are pregnant, taking anti-biotic or birth control pills. Then you are more likely to get an infection.

 Thrush is a yeast infection in the mouth. It makes a white or yellow coating that may look like milk and is easy to scrape away, exposing raw, red skin. Babies frequently get thrush. People infected with AIDS or Cancer get infected more often. Taking large doses of anti-biotics can also bring on Thrush. People who perspire a lot or who are over weight and likely to have folds of skin that will rub against each other are also prone to fungal infections.

Symptoms:

Athlete's foot

• Itching, scaling and redness that often starts between the toes
  
• Dryness, flaking, or blisters on the toes or sole of the feet
  
• Toenails that thicken and become layered or scaly and yellowish
  
• Odor in severe cases

Jock itch

• Itchy red bumps in the groin and on the genitals. Rash may extend to the buttocks and inner thighs

Yeast infections

• Thick white, discharge from the vagina
  
• Itching, pain, or tenderness around the genitals
  
• Pain or soreness during sex
  
• Urge to urinate often. Urine may sting or burn
  
• A red itching rash with flaky white patches on moist skin areas
  
• Creamy yellow or white coating in the mouth or throat or on the tongue

Prevention:

• Bathe daily and dry your body well
  
• Avoid tight shoes and underwear, especially in hot weather

Athlete's foot

• Expose your feet to the air as much as possible. Wear plastic sandals in public dressing rooms and showers

Jock itch

• Change your clothes as soon as your finish working out, and don't share towels anywhere

Yeast infections

• Don't use feminine hygiene sprays or douches. They could kill the helpful bacteria in the vagina
  
• Wear underclothes and work out clothes which are made of cotton
  
• Wash your clothes in hot water after each use
  
• If you have repeated bouts of the infection and you take the pill, ask the doctor about trying a different method of birth control
  
• If you use steroid inhaler for asthma, rinse your mouth after each use

Cure:

Athlete's infection

• Wash twice a day and dry well between the toes after showering or swimming
  
• Apply an over the counter anti fungal powder, cream to your feet and sprinkle some powder in your shoes everyday
  
• Wash sports shoes at least once a week
  
• Wear clean cotton socks, and don't wear the same shoes everyday
  
• Take your shoes and socks off at home to give your feet plenty of air

Jock itch

• Use an anti fungal powder, cream, or spray, three times a day until the rash goes away. Keep using the medication for atleast a week after that to make sure the fungus is completely gone
  
• Don't wear tight pants or underwear's
  
• Change your underwear and jock strap daily. Wash them in hot water
  
• Dry your groin well after showering.

Yeast infections:

• Use condoms or stop having intercourse until you get treated
  
• Use an over the counter yeast medicine.
  
• Wear clean cotton underwear, and avoid panty hose and tight pants
  
• Eat plain yogurt containing active cultures if you have yeast infection after taking antibiotics
  
• For thrust, try a gentle mouth wash to loosen the white coat

Home Remedies for Fungal Infection

Athlete's foot

• If your foot has an odor that doesn't go away after treatment at home
  
• If your rash starts to spread or isn't better or isn't better after 2 weeks of self care
  
• If the infection has reached your nails. This is hard to clear up.

Jock itch

• If over the counter treatments fail to work after a couple of weeks
  
• If you develop an open sore that oozes pus
  
• If the rash spreads, gets worse, or keeps coming back

Yeast infection

• If you suspect you have one and you aren't better after using the over the counter drugs
  
• If you have signs of thrush. Your doctor may prescribe anti fungal creams, pills or suppositories