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What Are the Treatments for Face Fungus?
Face fungus is often treatable with antifungal creams, though the effectiveness of the treatment depends on the type of fungus that has caused the infection. A minor fungal infection may respond to over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal creams while more severe or persistent face fungus will likely require the use of a prescription antifungal cream or lotion. In the event that a person has a case that is less likely to respond to topical treatment, a doctor may prescribe oral medications instead.
An individual may first try topical antifungal agents for treating face fungus. If a person has a minor case, he can attempt to treat it at home with OTC antifungal creams and lotions. Often, these products have an active ingredient such as miconazole, terbinafine, or clotrimazole. Usually, the instructions for these products require a person to apply the cream or lotion to the affected area of the skin once or twice daily. If the individual does not see improvement after the number of days listed in the instructions, he may do well to seek the evaluation and treatment of a doctor.
If an individual has a severe case of facial fungus, he may benefit from seeing a doctor right away rather than attempting to treat it on his own. A doctor can prescribe a topical antifungal treatment that is stronger than those available over the counter and more likely to clear the infection completely and quickly. Likewise, a doctor can determine the specific type of fungus involved and know the particular antifungal agent that is most likely to work — something a patient isn't likely to be able to do on his own at home. This is an important consideration, as various types of fungus can affect the skin.
Sometimes a doctor may decide that a case of face fungus is better served by an oral medication instead of a topical treatment. Usually, oral antifungal agents are much more potent than creams and lotions. As such, they may be more effective. Unfortunately, oral medications are more likely to cause unpleasant side effects than topical treatment options.
Prevention of this sort of infection is generally desirable over having to treat it. This type of infection is preventable by practicing good hygiene and keeping one’s immune system healthy. Hand-washing is particularly important if an individual has been in the presence of a person or animal who has a fungal infection.
Discussion Comments
Is it possible to treat a fungal face rash with herbal remedies? I've heard that tea tree oil has anti-fungal properties. Can I use diluted tea tree oil for example?
@MikeMason-- I don't know how long it takes for anti-fungal creams to work. So you should ask your doctor about that. But if a prescription anti-fungal cream isn't working, I doubt that an over the counter one will. You will probably need an oral anti-fungal medication.
By the way, if you did indeed get the skin fungus from your cat, which is possible, you need to have him treated by a vet as well. Otherwise, you will just get the infection again. Both of you need to be treated at the same time.
I have white spots on my skin. My arms and my face are covered in them. My doctor diagnosed it as a fungal infection and gave me an anti-fungal cream but I don't think it's working. It's been more than a week and there has been no change. What is the best anti-fungal cream? Should I try something over the counter?
I think I got the infection from my cat because he has had fungal infections before.
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