Natural home remedies to soothe and treat Ringworm and Eczema

Ringworm and Eczema are skin ailments that cause very similar looking rashes and levels of discomfort. There are several natural remedies to soothe and treat both conditions that are effective and more likely to be free from side effects than prescribed medications, so certainly worth giving them a try. Let us discuss a few of these options in more detail:

What is Ringworm?

Ringworm is a fungal infection of the skin – not a worm at all! Different types of fungi can cause ringworm. It is thought these fungi may live as spores in the soil. The infection can also be spread through contact with infected humans and animals.

There are 4 main types of ringworm:

Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis). This is very common in children

Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)

Jock itch (tinea cruris) around the groin, inner thighs and buttocks. Not unsurprisingly, this is most common in men and adolescent boys.

Natural Remedies to Treat Ringworm:

Soap and Water:

It is essential to keep infected skin as clean as possible to keep the infection under control and prevent it from spreading.

Wash thoroughly with water and anti-bacterial soap and dry thoroughly (don’t re-use the same towel) as moisture encourages the fungus to spread. Pine and coal-tar soap are older home remedies but they can be irritating to sensitive skin. You could contact a specialist natural soap manufacturer such as Bean and Boy as they will be able to recommend the most appropriate bar of soap to use.

Once you have cleaned and dried the area, you might wish to try one of the following home remedies.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is a readily available ingredient which has strong antifungal properties. Choose an organic option when possible. Apply to the infected area using a soaked cotton ball three times a day,

Tea Tree Oil:

Native Australians have used tea tree oil for hundreds of years for its antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Apply in the same way as above, two or three times a day, although if you have sensitive skin you might prefer to dilute the oil with a carrier oil such as coconut oil.

Coconut Oil:

Coconut oil has numerous microbial and antifungal properties and has a number of topical uses. As it is also an excellent hair conditioner, it is an ideal and effective treatment for ringworm of the scalp.

Coconut oil solidifies at normal room temperature. To use the oil, warm it in your hands until it becomes liquid and massage all over the scalp, or direct to the affected area if using elsewhere.

More obscure treatments:

Some people even use nail polish for ringworm! Whilst this might not sit particularly well with a natural approach, and isn’t something we would necessarily encourage, many people do seem to vouch for its effectiveness.

What is Eczema?

Atopic eczema, which is the most common form, is a condition that causes skin patches to become red, itchy, dry and cracked. Such an infected area may appear cracked and rough.

The NHS states that:

“The exact cause of atopic eczema is unknown, but it’s clear it is not down to 1 single thing.

Atopic eczema often occurs in people who get allergies. “Atopic” means sensitivity to allergens.”

Erica White in her excellent article Nutritional Answers: Allergy and Erratic Reactions describes an allergy as:

“An abnormal reaction to a normally harmless substance which might be inhaled, swallowed, injected or touched. …There are degrees of severity, the worst being anaphylactic shock when immediate emergency medical treatment is required. Less severe reactions …..include hay fever, asthma, migraine, sinusitis, eczema, hives, irritable bowel, swelling, depression, anxiety, panic attacks and inflammation of joints or muscles.”

Below are some natural eczema remedies which will help to calm and soothe affected areas, but they may not address the root cause of the problem. You might wish to consider seeing a nutritionist, homoeopath and/or have an allergy test to try find the allergens that are personal to you.

Aloe Vera Gel:

Aloe Vera gel is one of the most potent plants which has been used to treat various health conditions for centuries. The gel has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, immune system-boosting and wound-healing properties, making it ideal to soother the cracked and broken skin typical of eczema and promote the healing process.

Aloe Vera gel is widely available in good supermarkets, health stores and online.

Additionally, Aloe Vera plants filter benzene and formaldehyde, and increase oxygen at night, making them ideal plants to help improve your sleep.  Why not grow a plant or two in your bedroom and use the gel directly from its leaves?

Whatever form you use, as the gel is so potent it is recommended you start with a very small amount of gel and increase as required.

Colloidal Oatmeal:

Colloidal Oatmeal is also known as Avena Sativa, and it is made from oats that have been ground and boiled to extract the skin healing properties.

A 2015 study reports that colloidal oatmeal has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that will reduce various skin issues such as skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itching.

Ensure you use a product that doesn’t contain additives or fragrances.

You can add pure powdered colloidal oatmeal to a warm bath and soak, or purchase lotions and creams with colloidal oatmeal as the primary ingredient.

Bathing:

It is essential to keep the skin clean and shower or bathe daily as part of eczema treatment protocols, but it is important to ensure the process doesn’t dry the skin which will aggravate the condition. Take these precautions:

Bath only a couple of times a week and limit soak time to 10-15 minutes. Shower on other days.

Use lukewarm water.

Don’t scrub the skin

Try medicinal baths as above using colloidal oatmeal, cider vinegar or even baking soda.

Use a gentle cleanser instead of soap or contact a specialist natural soap manufacturer to find a soap specifically recommended for eczema and other similar skin conditions.

Pat the skin dry gently with soft, fluffy towel

Apply an oil-based moisturiser, or honey as detailed below, within a few minutes.  –

Honey:

Honey, particularly Manuka Honey (although this can be very expensive), is an excellent anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory product which has been used to treat eczema and other skin-related issues such as wounds and burns for centuries. Honey is an excellent moisturiser which can help speed healing and prevent further infections.

Apply pure honey on to the area of inflammation and see the result within a few days of applying it.

Conclusion:

Thus, from the above discussed natural remedies, one may be able to address Ringworm and Eczema effectively using readily available home remedies. However, if the condition persists, it is better to consult a skin specialist to avoid any further severity.

Author Bio:

Henna is a proficient writer who firmly believes in the age-old remedies and holistic medicine as a primary cure for several diseases. After graduating she embarked on a journey to find the truth about holistic and natural remedies.

SOURCES:

https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-ringworm
https://www.healthline.com/health/ringworm
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324228.php

IMAGE CREDIT

Image by Werner Suchomel from Pixabay