With Winter in it's last month (Summer, for our friends in the northern hemisphere), we're about to enter the Spring/Autumn season.

Spring and Autumn are the times of the year that show our true skin type or skin types. These moderate seasons allow our skin to behave in a “normal” way. That is if your skin is dry in Winter, it will likely become less so as the days start to warm and the humidity rises.

Similarly, as Summer comes to an end and the days get cooler, oily skin tends to be less of a problem. Spring and Autumn give us a chance to see what our true skin types actually are. This is a great opportunity to identify the regions of our facial skin that change with the seasons, so we can use this information proactively and take steps to normalise our skin in anticipation of the coming season.

Often your true skin type is most obvious during the mid-Autumn/mid-Spring seasons. These seasons are usually mild, representing an average of the seasonal extremes. It is then that your true skin type(s) is most easily determined.

I'll give you an example. Most of the year round, my skin type is generally normal to dry from the neck down. My face has a tendency to a slightly oily T-Zone, while the lower half of my face and cheeks are slightly on the dry side and my neck is normal.

In summer, my T-Zone gets oilier and the rest of my body's skin stays mostly normal, maybe with a slight tendency to dryness. In Winter, my oily T-Zone becomes normal, the rest of my face stays normal to dry, but my lower legs become very dry unless I stay on top of it and make sure I drink enough fluids and use plenty of moisturising cream.

Remember that most people have several skin types over their body and especially on their face. It is more common to see two skin types, as illustrated in the example above, than just one uniform skin type.

As I mentioned above, mid-Spring and mid-Autumn are like the average of Summer and Winter, respectively and often during this time, your “true” skin type is revealed. However, you need to be aware that even during these two seasons your skin type may change as either Winter or Summer gets closer. So as soon as the Spring/Autumn equinox is approaching it is a good idea to start changing your skin care products to suite the upcoming season.

So, if Summer is approaching, and your skin tends to become oily, start using your skin care products formulated for oily skin – you can swap between the skin care systems for Normal and Oily skin depending on the day being cooler or warmer.

If Winter is on the approach and your skin tends to get dry in Winter then start introducing the system for dry/sensitive skin on the cooler Autumn days. This way you’re preparing your skin for the upcoming season.

In addition, think about the foods you’re eating. Use cooling citrus fruits on warm spring days and warming vegetables such as ginger, fenugreek, pumpkin, garlic, etc., on cool wintry days.

 

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Fungal Infections - Tinea, Thrush, and Candida Can Be Treated Naturally

 

Fungi usually make their homes in moist areas of the body where skin surfaces meet: between the toes, in the genital area, and under the breasts. Many fungi (dermatophytes) that infect the skin live only in the topmost layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) and do not penetrate deeper. Obese people are more likely to get these infections because they have excessive skin folds. People with diabetes tend to be more susceptible to fungal infections as well.

Strangely, fungal infections on one part of the body can cause rashes on other parts of the body that are not infected. For example, a fungal infection on the foot may cause an itchy, bumpy rash on the fingers. These eruptions are allergic reactions to the fungus. They do not result from touching the infected area.

Types of Fungal Skin Infections

Your health care professional may suspect a fungal infection upon seeing a red, irritated, or scaly rash in one of the commonly affected areas. They can usually confirm the diagnosis by scraping off a small amount of skin and having it examined under a microscope or placed in a culture medium that will grow the specific fungus so that it can be identified.

There are several different fungi that can affect the skin, nails or hair/scalp and these include:

• Ringworm (Tinea)
  • Athlete's foot (Tinea pedis)
  • Nail ringworm (Tinea unguium, onychomycosis)
  • Jock itch (Tinea cruris)
  • Scalp ringworm (Tinea capitis)
  • Body ringworm (Tinea corporis)
  • Beard ringworm (Tinea barba)

• Candidiasis (Candida albicans)
  • Genital Candidiasis (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC), Vaginal Yeast Infections)
  • Invasive Candidiasis
  • Oral Thrush
  • Oropharyngeal Candidiasis (OPC, Thrush)

 

Symptoms associated with Candida albicans

Depending on the site of infection, symptoms may vary and are outlined below:

Location	Symptoms
skin folds or navel	rash patches that ooze white fluid pimples itching or burning
vagina	white or yellow discharge from the vagina itching redness in the external area of the vagina burning skin legions or rash
penis	redness on the underside of the penis scaling on the underside of the penis painful rash on the underside of the penis
mouth (thrush)	white patches on tongue and side of mouth pain
corners of the mouth (perleche)	cracks and/or tiny cuts at the corners of the mouth
nail beds	swelling pain pus white or yellow nail that separates from skin

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Fungal infections are caused by microscopic organisms (fungi) that can and do live on the skin. They can live on the dead tissues of the hair, nails and outer skin layers of the body and may or may not cause any problems. Fungal infections include mold-like fungi (dermatophytes, which cause tinea infections) and yeast-like fungi (such as candida).

Cutaneous candidiasis involves infection of the skin with candida. It may involve almost any skin surface on the body, but usually occurs in warm, moist, creased areas (such as armpits and groins) or where skin surfaces frequently touch. Cutaneous candidiasis is fairly common.

Candida is the most common cause of diaper rash (nappy rash) in infants, where it takes advantage of the warm moist conditions inside the nappy. The most common fungus to cause these infections is Candida albicans.

Candida infection is particularly common in individuals with diabetes and in people who are obese. Antibiotics and oral contraceptives increase the risk of cutaneous candidiasis. Candida infections are however not isolated to the skin. Candida can also cause infections of the nail, referred to as onychomycosis, and infections around the corners of the mouth, called angular cheilitis.

Oral thrush, a form of candida infection found on the mucous membranes of the mouth, may be a sign of HIV infection or other immunodeficiency disorders when it occurs in adults. Infected individuals are not usually considered infectious to others, though in some settings transmission to immunocompromised people can occur.

Candida is also the most frequent cause of vaginal yeast infections, which are extremely common and includes the following symptoms:

• Localised itching (may be intense)
• Skin lesion or rash
  • skin redness or inflammation
  • enlarging patch
  • macule or papule
  • may have satellite lesions
  • located on the skin folds, genitals, trunk, buttocks, under the  breasts or other skin areas
  • infection of hair follicles ("folliculitis") may have a pimple-like appearance

Signs and tests

Diagnosis is primarily based on the appearance of the skin, particularly if risk factors are present. A skin scraping can show typical yeast forms, suggestive of candida.

Treatment

General hygiene is vital to the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis; keeping the skin dry and exposed to air is helpful. Weight loss may eliminate the problem in obese people, and good sugar control in diabetics may also be helpful. External application of antifungal preparations may be used to treat infection of the skin; systemic antifungal preparations may be necessary for folliculitis or nail infection in combination with external application of suitable preparations.

Expectations (prognosis)

Cutaneous candidiasis is usually treatable, but occasionally is difficult to eradicate. Recurrence is common.

Complications

• Recurrence of candida skin infection
• Infection of nails may cause nails to become oddly shaped and may cause paronychia (infection around the nail)
• Disseminated candidiasis may occur in immuno-compromised individuals (patients on immune suppressing drugs, AIDS patients etc.)
  

Prevention

Good general health and hygiene help prevent candida infections. Keep the skin clean and dry. Drying powders may help prevent fungal infections in people who are susceptible to them. Weight loss and good sugar control in diabetics may help prevent these infections.

 

Natural Treatment Approach of Fungal Infections

The treatment approaches outlined below are intended for information only, not self medication/prescription purposes. CONSULT A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL to assist you in developing a specific treatment approach for your condition.

 

General Treatment Approach for Fungal Skin Infections:

For External Use Only:

• Tea Tree Oil
• Cedarwood Oil
• Chamomile Oil
• Everlasting Oil
• Thuja Tincture
• Lemon Oil
• Geranium Oil
• Clary Sage Oil

For Internal Use:

• Thuja Tincture
• Celandine Tincture
• Black Walnut Extract
• Garlic Oil
• Echinacea (purpurea)
• Grapefruit Seed Extract
• Acidophilus Capsules
• Natural Un-flavoured Yogurt

Implementation of general treatment approach for Fungal Skin Infections as applicable to site of infection:

For the external treatment of :

Related Product Wildcrafted's Antifungal Cream is used for fungal infections of the skin and scalp, such as tinea, thrush, warts and corns. The herbal extracts in Wildcrafted's Antifungal Cream are known to kill fungal and viral organisms, prevent secondary infection and stimulate wound healing and healthy skin function. It contains Chelidonium majus, Thuja occidentalis, essential oil of Tea tree. ...more information

Athlete's Foot (Tinea pedis), Jock itch (Tinea cruris) and Body ringworm (Tinea corporis) (skin infections associated with skin folds).

Use either a cream or powder base preparation.

A cream containing:

• Tea tree oil
• Thuja occidentalis and
• Chelidonium majus

will work well if applied regularly.

Nail ringworm (Tinea unguium, onychomycosis)

Hands - Always wear disposable gloves when preparing food, washing clothes or general cleaning. Make sure you keep your hands as dry as possible.

Feet - Wear cotton or woolen socks, dry well after shower or bath, avoid synthetic foot wear and keep feet well aired and as dry as possible.

Make up a mixture of the following ingredients:

• 25 mls Thuja tincture
• 25 mls Celandine tincture
• 3 drops of Chamomile oil
• 10 drops of Tea tree oil
• 5 drops of Lemon oil

Using an eye-dropper, apply 1-2 drops to the affected nail and gently massage in. If the nail is badly infected, it may be necessary to cover it with a band aid, which should be changed 2x daily.

Scalp ringworm (Tinea capitis)

Make up a mixture of the following ingredients:

• 10 mls Jojoba oil
• 1 ml Tea tree oil
• 2 mls Thuja tincture
• 5 drops of Clary Sage oil

Apply 2-3 drops to the affected area of the scalp, 2-3 times daily.

 

Beard ringworm (Tinea barba)

Make up a mixture of the following ingredients:

• 10 mls Jojoba oil
• 1 ml Tea tree oil
• 2 mls Thuja tincture
• 5 drops of Geranium oil

Apply 2-3 drops to the affected area, 2-3 times daily.

 

Treatment of Genital and Oral Thrush

Vaginal Thrush:

Douche: Make a herbal mix of 100mls using Glycerine and Rose Water (equal parts) as the base and to this add:

• 10 drops of Thuja tincture
• 10 drops of Tea tree oil
• 5 drops of Chamomile oil

Make sure you mix all the ingredients together well so that the oils and tincture are dispersed evenly through the base.

For Women - Take about 5 mls of this mixture and mix with 200 mls of warm water apply with douche apparatus.

For Men - The above ingredients should be mixed into a cream base using the same quanta ties (excluding the Glycerine and Rose Water). Apply 2-3 times daily. Or our Antifungal Cream may be used.

Note: Personal hygiene is important to prevent cross contamination between partners.

 

Oral Thrush

Gargle for Adults ONLY - Make a herbal mix of 100mls using Glycerine and Rose Water (equal parts) as the base and to this add:

• 10 drops of Thuja tincture
• 10 drops of Tea tree oil
• 5 drops of Chamomile oil
• 5 drops of Geranium oil

Take 5 mls into 100 mls of warm water, rinse mouth and gargle - DO NOT SWALLOW. Repeat 3 times daily. You should also replace your toothbrush.

For treatment of young babies and children Consult you health care professional.

 

Systemic (internal) Treatment of Fungal Infections

Hygiene:

Maintaining a high degree of personal hygiene is vital in the successful treatment of fungal infection.

Avoid using synthetic based foot wear, under wear and other non natural fiber clothing. Air your body as much as possible, go "au naturale" where possible.

Food:

Reduce intake of food which have a high sugar content. For example: cakes, lollies and refined wheat products.

Eat a well balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. In addition, drink plenty of water to help eliminate toxins.

Eat natural, un-flavoured yogurt

Alcohol:

Eliminate alcohol.

Vitamin supplementation

Increase Vitamin B-Complex.

Internal Medication:

Herbal medicines that can assist in the treatment of fungal infections include:

• Garlic
• Dandelion root
• Echinacea
• Black Walnut
• Pau D'Arco
• Thuja
• Celandine
• Grapefruit seed extract
• Acidophilus and Bifodus Capsules.

NOTE: If you have a severe reoccurring fungal infection, consult your health practitioner as you may have a serious underlying health problem.

 

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