Fungal skin infections
Fungal skin infections are very common and can grow on almost any area of the body. They are often highly contagious so should be treated in isolation.
The infection is usually more irritating than dangerous but they can cause further issues if it remains untreated
Signs and symptoms:
Fungal skin infections symptoms might be drastically different depending on where your infection is on the body and the type of fungus that caused it.
Most commonly, sufferers will see some kind of change to their normal skin type. Red and itchy patches may form or the skin might become scaly and dry.
You may also notice these changes across different areas of your skin, scalp, hair or nails that could cause them to weaken. For example, infected nails become brittle and yellow and an infected scalp might cause hair loss.
Lifestyle tips:
Some simple environmental factors can cause a fungal skin infection to form. Walking barefoot in showers or pool areas and not drying your skin properly after bathing are two of the biggest contributing factors to the infections.
Keeping your skin healthy is important for prevention. Treat cuts or abrasions as soon as they happen to minimise the chance of them becoming infected. Let your skin breathe by wearing loose-fitting clothing and moisturise regularly to stop it from drying out and cracking.
Overweight people are also highly at risk from fungal skin infections. It’s important to maintain a good diet with plenty of exercise and sleep to stay within a healthy weight range and keep your body’s immune system strong.
Diet tips:
For good skin health, eating a diet rich in minerals such as Zinc and vitamins A and D will help protect your skin cells and promote the production of collagen, which improves your skin’s elasticity.
For those who suffer from regular infections, it could be beneficial to introduce antibacterial foods into your diet. These help to stimulate your immune system and build a natural resistance to infections. Eat raw honey, garlic, cabbage and ginger regularly as these are rich with antibacterial properties.
Akoma recommends:
Fungal infections should be treated with products which have strong antibacterial properties to help the skin heal.
Akoma Tea Tree Essential Oil is packed with antibacterial ingredients. The oil also has antifungal and antiseptic properties so it’s been used across the world for years to treat fungal infections.
Use a swab and apply the oil directly onto the affected area a couple of times a day to stop the infection spreading and help its recovery.
To keep clean and fresh during your recovery, use Akoma Black Soap. It is a natural antibacterial product that reduces inflammation of the skin.
Akoma Black Soap is made from raw shea butter, organic virgin coconut oil and cocoa pods that gently treat infections. It is also rich in antioxidants that improve the general health of your skin, helping it to fight off infections in future.