Green Pages Where There Is No Doctor 2011 371
FOR RINGWORM
AND OTHER FUNGUS INFECTIONS
Many fungus infections are very difficult to
get rid of. For complete control, treatment must
be continued for days or weeks after the signs
disappear. Bathing and cleanliness are also
important.
Ointments with undecylenic, benzoic,
or salicylic acid
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Ointments with these acids can be used to treat
ringworm, tinea of the scalp, and other fungus
infections of the skin. Often they are (or can be)
combined with sulfur. Ointments with salicylic
acid and sulfur can also be used for cradle cap
(seborrhea).
Whitfield’s Ointment is a combination of salicylic
and benzoic acid. It is useful for many fungal
infections, including tinea versicolor. Apply twice
daily for 2 to 4 weeks.
Ointments and lotions are cheaper if you make
them yourself. Mix 3 parts of salicylic acid and/or
6 parts of benzoic acid with 100 parts of Vaseline,
petrolatum, mineral oil, lard, or 40 percent alcohol
(or rum). Rub onto skin 3 or 4 times a day.
Sulfur and vinegar
A lotion of 5 parts of sulfur to 100 parts vinegar
helps fight fungus infections of the skin. Let dry on
skin. Also, an ointment can be made using 1 part
sulfur to 10 parts of lard.
Sodium thiosulfate (‘hypo’)
Often comes as white crystals, sold in photographic
supply stores as ‘hypo’.
Price:_ _________________ for_ ___________________
Used for tinea versicolor infections of the skin
(see p. 206).
Dissolve a tablespoon of ‘hypo’ in ½ cup of
water and spread it on the skin with a piece of
cotton or cloth. Then rub the skin with a piece of
cotton soaked in vinegar. Do this twice daily until
the ‘spots’ go away and then once again every
2 weeks to keep them from coming back.
Selenium sulfide (Selsun, Exsel)
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes as lotion containing 1 or 2.5 percent
selenium sulfide.
Lotions with selenium sulfide are useful for
treating tinea versicolor. Apply to the affected area,
and wash off 30 minutes later. Use daily for one
week.
Tolnaftate (Tinactin)
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in: cream, powder, and solution of
1 percent tolnaftate.
This may be used for fungus infections caused
by tinea on the feet, groin, scalp, hands, and body.
Apply twice daily until 2 weeks after symptoms are
gone.
Griseofulvin
Name:__________________ price:________ for_ ______
Often comes in: tablets or capsules of 250 or
500 mg.
Preparations in ‘microsized’ particles are best.
This is very expensive and should be used
only for severe fungus infections of the skin and
deep tinea infections of the scalp. It is also used
for fungal infections of the nails, but this may take
months and does not always work. Pregnant
women should avoid taking griseofulvin.
Dosage of griseofulvin (15 mg./kg./day)—for
microsized particle form, 250 mg. capsules
Give once a day for at least a month.
adults: 500 to 1000 mg. (2 to 4 capsules)
children 8 to 12 years: 250 to 500 mg. (1 to
2 capsules)
children 3 to 7 years: 125 to 250 mg. (½ to
1 capsule)
children under 3 years: 125 mg. (½ capsule)
Gentian violet—for yeast infections (see p. 370)