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.
