Mold on Skin: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
Mold Grows on Skin?
Why not? Skin is made of biodegradable material just like couches, carpet, or sheet rock - so why then would skin be immune to mold growth?
However, mold growth on skin is considerably more dangerous than dealing with mold contamination on last night’s dinner or on your shower tile.
Causes of Mold on Skin
There can be many causes for mold growth on the skin. What makes dealing with mold on the skin so difficult, is that because of the variety of causes, treatment then varies. There are 3 main causes for mold growth on the skin:
Skin Moisture Prevention
Because mold needs moisture, warmth, and fuel to reproduce and grow, the human body is one of the most optimum places.
Our body temperatures are high and warm, our skin is made of biodegradable material that mold spores love to attach onto. That leaves moisture!
If you aren’t drying immediately and properly, or if the humidity levels are high, and your skin remains moist constantly without being able to dry out, it would only make sense that mold spores would begin to reproduce.
In order to prevent mold growth on the skin from causes of moisture, be sure keep the humidity levels atleast in your home, as low and as dry as you possibly can.
Be sure after bathing, that all areas especially the warmer places like armpits, are completely dried.
A good tip to remember when preventing break out is to use baby powder which keeps the area dry and comfortable.
High Yeast Diets Increase Chances of Mold
Skin is the largest organ in/on the human body. It also tends to be the last place that body shows signs of inner problems.
Because the skin is a kind of opening for the body’s waste’s to get out (ie. sweat glands/pores etc) there are often times when an over abundance of certain consumed items can seep out of the skin.
Many times, when too much yeast containing products are consumed, there is an over abundance of yeast in the blood which can result in yeast infections, or in an outbreak of mold on the skin.
Treatment for Mold Growth on the Skin
Depending upon what the causes of mold growth are, there are several treatment ideas.
Because I am not yet a doctor, I can neither diagnose nor prescribe treatment, therefore the following treatments are merely suggestions from different individuals who have attempted to deal with mold growth on the skin.
External Treatments
There are a number of different things that have been suggested for topical use on mold growth or fungal breakouts on the skin. I’ve put together an easy to read list of ideas for semi fast relief :
- Dandruff shampoos
- Athlete’s foot creams
- Daily vinegar baths or apply packs soaked in vinegar water for 15 minutes.
- Daily apply geranium essential oil in an olive oil base.
- Apply a black walnut tincture daily with cotton.
- Yeast infection medication cream like Monostat that can be found at most local drug stores.
- Lavender oil
- Coconut oil
- Selsun Blue
- Tea tree oil
- Wash everyday with extra strength neem soap and an exfoliant.
- Scrub with crushed Bayer aspirin. (salicylic acid kills fungus)
- Apply coptis powder mixed with Pau D’Arco tincture as a paste over the effected area.
- Clay Poultice - Purchase clay in powder form from a local healthfood store, soak in water in a glass container for 2 hours, then apply directly to the skin or in a poultice.
** Special note : Clothing also, like with poison oak, can hold fungus or mold infection. Be sure to wash clothing in hot water after each wearing and also wash bedding as often as possible. If sheets are not being washed daily in hot water, atleast wear clothing over the infected area to prevent re transmitting the fungus each night at bed time.
Advice from a Poster on Tribe.com
1. Make a mix of 1/2 witch hazel, 1/4 distilled water, and 1/4 apple cider vinegar. Use this on and around any areas of skin having issues. Apply with fresh cotton swab or cotton balls. DO NOT DOUBLE DIP!!! Meaning if the cotton swab/ball has touched your skin, you do not dip it into this mixture because it will contaminate it with the fungus. Use morning and night after washing face and allow to dry completely before using any other products.
2. Make a sea salt scrub by filling a small glass jar that has a tight closing lid about 1/2 way with sea salt. Pour olive oil on top and let it penetrate (stir a little if you need to), till all the salt is moistened, but not swimming in oil. Use once or twice a week before bed by taking out a bit with your fingertips and rubbing it onto affected areas. Scrub-a-dub-dub, rinse thoroughly with warm water and apply witch hazel/acv astringent. Once again, don’t double dip. If you need more wash and dry your hands thoroughly before getting more from the jar.
Keep in mind that:
- using products like makeup can reinfect you repeatedly so you might want to lay off makeup during treatment (if you use any) and replace it afterwards
- lotion can spread it around so probably a good idea to not do that during treatment either (if you can I would try Rose’s suggestion of coconut oil as a moisturizer during treatment if you need it, extra virgin)
- Also throw away any loofahs or scrubbies (sorry :-(), or anything else you use on your body regularly.
- For the 4 weeks you undergo treatment you need to use a new, freshly laundered wash cloth.
- Also, add acv or white vinegar to everything you launder in hot water, about a cup per load.
Internal Treatments
In many cases, topical mixtures just will not permanently rid your skin of mold growth. In these cases it is entirely possible that the growth is more than just a “fungal infection on the skin.” Extreme measures may need to be taken.
- A diet life style change may be the best option.
- Eliminating completely yeast, sugar, and wheat.
- Trying a yeast cleanse while stopping from eating any more yeasts.
- Consuming a Pau D’Arco tincture daily
- Drinking a glass of cranberry juice a day.
Sum it Up
- Mold CAN grow on skin
- 3 causes of mold growth on the skin:
- It is very important to prevent excess moisture on the skin.
- The skin is the largest organ in the body as well as its last filter.
- There is both external treatments for skin mold growth as well as internal.
- In many cases, eliminating yeasts from your diet can prevent and treat mold growth on the skin.
1. Excess moisture from humidity or improper drying procedures.
2. Diet; too much yeast, etc.
3. Skin reaction from infection or other outside source.
** Baby powder may be used to prevent moisture and keep the skin dry.
Further Recommended Reading :
- Top 3 Things Mold Needs to Grow
- 12 Tips to Prevent Moisture & Mold
- Impact of Mold on Thoughts, Emotions, & Personality
Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team
Source: How to get rid of skin fungus?
I am so interested in this topic as the strangest thing happened to me a few years ago. I had been having skin reactions daily, specifically to the area around my eyes, then one morning I woke up and in the corners of my eyes there was a brown discoloration that continued to spread for a few days. The discoloration has persisted and I went to several doctors who were no help at all. I finally did a little research of my own and realized that it was mold related. Needless, to say it is the most persistent and somewhat difiguring ailment. Although, I am not constantly ill , I know my immune system has been compromised. I immediately started using Selsun Blue to my face and the itching stopped after a few applications, but the discoloration is still noticeable. It is very depressing, because I get many mean comments from people ranging from ” You need to get some sleep” to ” Have you ever been arrested for doing drugs?”.
Mari on July 2nd, 2008