Aloe barbadensis miller or Aloe vera has been used for therapeutic purposes since ancient times with antifungal activity known to be amongst its medicinal properties.
Aloe barbadensis Mill, is a short succulent herb resembling a cactus, with green dagger shaped fleshy, spiny and marginated leaves, filled with a clear viscous gel. Aloe vera has potent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
It is a natural compound that helps relieve fungal infections. Aloe Vera: Extracts from the Aloe vera plant are quite potent. They can help moisturize the skin and keep fungal infections at bay.
Aloe Vera Gel
Thanks to its anti-microbial properties, it restricts the growth of infection-causing bacteria or fungi.
Widely used for soothing the skin, aloe vera is one of the best natural remedies for skin and is also a great healing agent for fungal infections. As it is antiseptic in nature, aloe vera works against fungus and bacteria, killing them. It can also inhibit the growth of yeast.
Tea tree oil is naturally antifungal and antibacterial. Mix it with any carrier oil like coconut oil or olive oil and dab over the infected area about three to four times a day. This is one of the most effective home remedies to treat fungal infections.
Thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) is already known to be effective against fungi infecting humans.
Polyenes, the oldest class of antifungal drugs, also have to be given intravenously. These drugs—the best known of which is amphotericin B—have been around since the 1950s. They kill fungi by binding to ergosterol, a sterol in the fungal cell membrane.
Your health care provider may prescribe an antifungal cream, such as efinaconazole (Jublia) and tavaborole (Kerydin). You rub this product into your infected nails after soaking. These creams may work better if you first thin the nails.
Several studies have shown the positive effects of Aloe vera to treat wounds such as psoriasis, mouth sores, ulcers, diabetes, herpes, bedsores, and burn wounds.
It has antioxidant and antibacterial properties
These polyphenols, along with several other compounds in aloe vera, help inhibit the growth of certain bacteria that can cause infections in humans. Aloe vera is known for its antibacterial, antiviral, and antiseptic properties.
Fungal infections are more common in places on your body that trap moisture or have a lot of friction. You're at higher risk for infection, especially severe ones, if you have poor circulation or diabetes, or if you have a weakened immune system from: HIV/AIDS. Cancer or cancer treatments.
Some fungal infections are caused by fungi that often live on the hair, nails, and outer skin layers. They include yeast-like fungi such as candida. Sometimes, these yeast penetrate beneath the surface of the skin and cause infection. In cutaneous candidiasis, the skin is infected with candida fungi.
Amphotericin B, an effective but relatively toxic drug, has long been the mainstay of antifungal therapy for invasive and serious mycoses. However, newer potent and less toxic triazoles and echinocandins are now often recommended as first-line drugs for many invasive fungal infections.
Despite its rather rancid scent, vinegar can prove to be quite useful in a wide variety of situations. The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source.
Apple cider vinegar has long been used as a home remedy to treat candida overgrowth and protect against yeast infections and thrush. Studies show apple cider vinegar has powerful antimicrobial activities and can inhibit the growth of C. albicans and other pathogens.
Honey is a natural product that is used for its antifungal activity[14]. Several factors may influence the antifungal activity of honey.