| How to Make a Lasagna Using Zucchini Instead of Pasta Posted: 20 Sep 2016 05:00 PM PDT With the rising number of people trying to reduce or eliminate carbohydrates from their diet, more new low carb recipes are emerging. One way to have your lasagna and eat it too is to substitute the pasta for strips of roasted zucchini. Roasted zucchini holds up nicely in a lasagna dish without the carbs and sugar generated from the pasta noodles, plus it adds wonderful flavor. Additionally, you can chalk up one more vegetable to your daily intake, even if you want to add ground beef or turkey to your lasagna. EditIngredients - 2 large zucchini
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt (or vegetable, sea or Himalayan salt)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced
- 1 diced onion
- 2 cans whole crushed tomatoes
- 3 cloves of diced garlic
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 (15 ounce) container low-fat ricotta cheese
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 325ºF/170ºC. While the oven is heating, lightly spray a 9x13 inch (22cm x 28cm) baking pan with non stick olive oil cooking spray.
- Wash the zucchini, cut the ends off and cut lengthwise into thin slices. Be careful as the knife can slip on the shiny surface of the zucchini; work on a solid, unmoving surface. Sprinkle each side with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place seasoned slices on a clean plate.
- Warm a large skillet on the stove top at medium-high heat. Coat evenly with olive oil and allow oil to heat for one to two minutes.
- Place slices of zucchini in the pan––do not overlap. Cook each side of the zucchini thoroughly until browned and then turn over and roast the other side. Transfer pieces back to the clean plate once both sides have been roasted.
- Create the tomato sauce. Coat a large saucepan with olive oil and add the diced garlic, green pepper and onion. Place on the stove top at medium-high heat.
- Add two cans of whole peeled tomatoes and allow the garlic, green pepper, onion, olive oil and tomatoes to simmer at medium-high heat for approximately five minutes.
- Add oregano and basil and a dash of salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, cover sauce and simmer for an hour.
- Mix the egg and container of ricotta cheese together in a bowl until it is well combined.
- Remove the cooked sauce from the heat and allow it to cool for half an hour once it's fully cooked. Transfer the sauce to a blender and blend on high until smooth and velvety.
- Assemble the lasagna the same way you would build a lasagna made from noodles.
- Spread half of the sauce across the bottom of the pre-greased pan. Add one layer of roasted zucchini (using approximately half of the slices), cover well with the ricotta cheese mixture (about half the mixture), followed by 4 ounces (113g) of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the above step beginning with zucchini, ricotta cheese mixture and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil.
- Bake the covered lasagna for 45 minutes. To avoid having the sauce and cheese spill over onto the oven, bake on a cookie sheet.
- Remove the aluminum foil after 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 350ºF/180ºC and continue baking for 15 minutes.
- Allow the lasagna to stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a fresh salad of your choice.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Add various vegetables to increase your vegetable intake. Either combine in the sauce or you can layer fresh vegetables (such as spinach, squash, mushrooms or red peppers) between the ricotta mixture and the mozzarella layer.
- This works great with eggplant as well.
- For a meat eater's delight, add 1 pound (450g) of ground beef or turkey to your sauce. Brown the meat in a skillet and then add it to your sauce while it simmers.
- You can also cook the zucchini (or eggplant) on your george forman type grill. Cut lengthwise, spray top with butter flavored spray, and cook until you can pierce with a fork and see the grill marks. This carmelizes the zucchini (or eggplant).
- Avoid allowing the tomato sauce stay in contact with the aluminum foil, especially when storing. The aluminum will eventually erode from the acid and migrate into the food.
- If you plan on using meat in your recipe, always brown or cook meat before adding it to the sauce or dish to ensure it is fully cooked.
EditThings You'll Need - 9x13" (22cm x 28cm) baking pan or lasagna dish
- Cutting board and knife
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Aluminum foil
- Oven mitts
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations |
| How to Change Your Attitude at Work Posted: 20 Sep 2016 09:00 AM PDT Your attitude at work plays an important role in your productivity and job performance. A positive attitude is conducive to occupational success, whereas a negative attitude is counter-productive. Colleagues and customers don't like associating with employees who have bad attitudes. Having a positive outlook will also enable you to enjoy work more and feel better about yourself. Therefore, if you do not have a positive attitude, change your behavior to improve your work experience. EditPinpointing the Cause - Identify when your bad attitude began. Did you always have a bad attitude at work? Perhaps your attitude change has been more recent. Have you recently started a new job or position? Did your duties shift or did a new manager arrive? Did one of your favorite colleagues leave? Do you feel like you don't have any other friends in the office? Perhaps your business has been been reorganized. Understanding when your bad attitude began can help you determine the cause.
- If you haven't always had a bad attitude at work, consider the possibility that the problem may not entirely be with you. No person lives in a vacuum, and things like abusive bosses and negative coworkers can have a significant influence.
- If you used to enjoy your work and now feel negatively about it, consider what has changed. Have you moved to a new position? Maybe you don't feel suited to your new duties yet. Are you at a different place in life? For example, perhaps as a teenager you enjoyed your job in retail, but ten years on you're looking for more than your current retail job can give you. A feeling of dissatisfaction or purposelessness could cause a bad attitude at work.
- Write timed diary entries. Keep a journal about your attitude at the office. Do timed diary entries throughout the day, every few hours or so. Do you notice any trends? Do you tend to have a worse attitude in the morning or late afternoon when you are tired? Does your attitude change depending on with whom you have a meeting? Other colleagues' attitudes could also impact you. If, for example, every afternoon you have a meeting with a negative colleague, perhaps this person is impacting your attitude. Being aware of shifts in your daily mood can pinpoint when and with whom your bad attitude emerges.
- If you hit a "midday slump" and get grouchy, the fix could be as simple as getting up to take a short walk or eating a healthy snack.
- If you notice that you frequently feel bad after interacting with one person, such as your boss or a coworker, you'll need to figure out how to address this. Taking action regarding negative influences at work can help you feel happier and more productive.[1]
- Reflect on your feelings. Now that you've determined when your bad attitude began and when it often appears, think about how exactly you feel in these moments. Write down how you feel when your attitude is negative. Perhaps you are feeling frustrated, tired, bored, or undervalued. Identifying your emotions is key to taking action.
- For example, imagine you see the following journal entry: "Boss yelled at me for being late with a project. I felt really dumb and stupid." This entry suggests you should talk to your boss about speaking to you more constructively, and also that you should remember that making the occasional mistake doesn't mean you're stupid.
EditReleasing Negativity - Take responsibility for your attitude. Although your circumstances can certainly influence how you feel, you develop your attitude from how you approach your circumstances. You alone determine how you respond to your personal situation. Recognizing that change begins with you is the first step towards improving your attitude.[2]
- For example, even if you have a horrible boss or a negative coworker, you can still choose to respond in negative or in positive ways. Will you contribute to the problem, or will you work to make it better?
- Negativity can spread from person to person.[3] Do not let yourself be a transmitter.
- Avoid negative trigger items. Do you always feel negative after reading certain newspapers? Perhaps watching the morning news puts you in a downwards spiral. When you have identified what things cause you to have a bad attitude, try to reduce your exposure to these items.[4]
- If you cannot reduce your exposure to negative items, change your reaction to them. When you see negative news like a story about a natural disaster, think instead about how you could help. Could you donate money, clothes, food, or your time? Consider positive actions that you can take in response to negative items.
- Reduce interactions with negative people. If you have one particular colleague who always brings you down, try to reduce your interactions with him.[5] If it is impossible to avoid him, ask him positive questions. Ask him what is going well with his work that day. Ask him what his favorite movies are. Try to steer your conversations towards positive topics.
EditTalking with Your Coworkers - Speak kindly. It can be tempting to use negativity when talking about issues, especially if they are serious problems. However, negativity breeds more negativity. Try these tactics instead:[6]
- Instead of saying something like "Bad idea---it'll never work," say something like, "I have concerns about that. Would you like to hear them?"
- Instead of passive aggression, which says things you don't mean or communicates sarcastically, be direct. For example, avoid saying things like, "Noooo, why would I have a problem?" if you are upset. Instead, try something like, "Yes, I am not happy with how you've been talking to me in front of my coworkers. Can we talk?"
- Workplace gossip can be a huge problem that contributes to negative attitudes. Don't participate in it.
- Be a positive presence. Greet people happily and even if you are having a bad day, try not to spread gloom at work. Understand the concept of WOW--watch our words. What you say reflects what you feel and believe. Let your voice be a positive one of encouragement in the workplace. Offer smiles, compliments, and support to others.[7]
- If you are going through a rough time or have experienced a tragic event, do speak with your supervisor or a trusted coworker to let her know that you might need support. [8]
- Approach a problem colleague. If a colleague's negativity is bringing you down, try approaching him politely. It's entirely possible he's making others uncomfortable too, but nobody feels comfortable explaining the problem.[9]
- Keep your statements "I"-focused, such as "I would like to talk to you about something. I notice that lately you've been talking a lot about what bothers you about your clients. I know we all have irritations with our clients, but the consistent focus on negativity is really making it hard for me to stay positive and energized at work. Would you like to talk about what's going on?" Using "I"-statements avoids issuing blame or sounding judgmental, and can keep your coworker from going on the defensive.
- Listen to what he has to say. You don't know what is going on with your coworker, so listen to him as he explains. Maybe his mother is ill and that's making him more irritable. Maybe he's worried about underperforming, or doesn't feel valued as a team member. Understanding where the negativity is coming from can help you work together to reduce it. In many cases, your colleague may just be glad to have someone to listen.[10]
- Use empathetic statements, such as "That sounds like it's really hard for you" or "I'm sorry you're going through that."
- Even if the conversation doesn't go well, you have tried to address the problem. If you need to take the matter to HR or to your boss, you will be able to say you tried to work with the other person and didn't get anywhere.
- Recognize the signs of an abusive boss. Everyone can have a bad day now and then, but some people are just workplace bullies. If your boss is abusive, or even simply not very constructive in how she gives criticism, it can make it very hard to keep a good attitude at work.
- Abusive, unacceptable behaviors include: intimidation, harassment, deceit, humiliation, personal criticism or name-calling, and aggression.[11] If the behavior is consistently and significantly abusive or hostile, you may have a legal case.[12]
- For example, if your boss criticizes your work by saying, "This looks terrible! My grandmother could write a better report!" this is an abusive behavior. However, it probably isn't enough to sue her over.
- Sometimes, bosses just don't have very good communication skills. For example, if your boss criticizes your work by saying, "This is terrible. Fix it," it isn't necessarily abusive, but it definitely isn't helpful. It's also likely to make you feel bad about yourself. If you think your boss's communication style could use some work, it's a good idea to approach her about it.[13]
- Speak with your boss. It can be hard to have a good attitude at work when your boss is abusive, either to you or to others. You may be afraid to approach your boss, but negative bosses can actually make you less efficient and make you anxious.[14] Be mindful of power dynamics when approaching your boss. Be polite, tactful, and considerate.
 - Approach the issue as a collaboration.[15] Remember, your boss may not even realize that she has a problem, and she may not be intending to be hurtful. For example, you could say something like, "I notice I'm having some issues at work. Can we chat about ways to address them?"
- Look for common ground. For example, you could say something like, "I know we both really value making sure that our projects are high quality" to let your boss know that you and she have the same ultimate goal.[16]
- Be direct but respectful. Use "I"-statements. You could say something like, "I've found I work best with specific, concrete feedback rather than general commentary. Do you think you could offer me more specific feedback on my reports? I think that would really help me make them the best they can be."
- Be honest. If your boss has said things that are belittling, harassing, or mean-spirited, be clear about that, but avoid sounding judgmental. For example, you could try something like, "I really felt hurt when you yelled at me in front of my office-mates last week. It would help me if you talked with me privately about areas where I can improve." By modeling clear, honest, but polite discussion of your feelings, you may even help your boss deal with you better.
- Avoid passive-aggressive behaviors. While studies suggest they may be better than nothing, they don't communicate your actual needs and wishes to your boss.[17]
- Apologize to others. If your negative attitude has impacted your team members, consider apologizing to them. Share that you have been having a rough time but are striving to do better. Ask others to hold you accountable. When they hear negativity coming from you, they can tell you to stop.
- For example say, "Hi, everyone. You might have noticed that I have been complaining a lot recently about our company and the hours we work. I am sorry for bringing down the energy here at the office. I actually know that our company offers great benefits and support to us and I am very grateful for that. I am going to try to be more positive from now on!"
EditStriving to Be Positive - Brainstorm some alternatives. Once you discover what is causing your counter-productive attitude, determine what you can do to remedy those causes. For example, if your attitude suffers because you feel tired, try to sleep more at night. Alternatively, you could take power naps during your lunch and break times. If your work is not challenging enough and you feel bored, ask your supervisor about taking on new tasks.
- Focus on having a positive mindset. How you think about something ultimately is how you will feel about something. If you want to control your attitude, be aware of your thoughts. Focus on the positive things.[18] Eliminate your negative thoughts by consciously attempting to think with a positive, internal voice.[19]
 - For example, when you feel frustrated because someone is taking too much space on the subway, think instead about how grateful you are for public transit. Think positively about how happy you are not to have to drive your car through snow and ice to work.
- Remind yourself to think positively during tense moments in the day. For example, before starting your commute or before a big meeting, pause and reflect on what has been going well. Watch out for negative thoughts such as, "Wow, I am not looking forward to this meeting. Sarah is always so hard on me." Instead, try thinking: "I'm looking forward to hearing what Sarah has to say about my pitch. I think her feedback could be useful."
- Thinking positively takes practice. Do not feel frustrated if your mind sometimes wanders back to negativity.
- Stoicism encourages positive thinking but also allows you to visualize the worst-case scenario when your thoughts dwell on negative moments. Usually you can handle more than you think. See Be Stoic for more tips.
- Express gratitude. Consider creating a gratitude list. Write down all the personality traits and friends for which you are grateful. Focus on the things for which you are grateful. Tell others out loud.[20] Consider doing this exercise while preparing to sleep. Reflect on what well during the day.[21]
- Trade your bad attitude for more gratitude. When you miss a meeting because of road construction, change your attitude. Rather than being frustrated about bad traffic, find some gratitude. Survey your surroundings and consider all the things for which you are thankful. For example, you could be thankful for your health, mental wellbeing, physical strength, close friends and family, or the natural beauty that surrounds you.[22]
- Recognize with humility your place in the world and how wonderful it is to be living. Think of life as a gift rather than a right.[23]
- State positive affirmations. Throughout your day, realign your thinking through positive affirmations. Construct sentences that speak of personal strength, conviction, and self-confidence. For example, you could say, "Today, I am going to use my IT knowledge to improve our website. I will be diligent and industrious and do my best." If you repeat affirmations several times each day, you can train your subconscious into thinking positively. Sending positive responses to your subconscious, you will trigger positive feelings that then drive action.
- Keep your affirmations focused on what you have control over. If you try a positive affirmation that relies on others' actions or responses, you may well find that it doesn't work out, because you can't control how anyone behaves except yoursel.[24]
- For example, an unhelpful affirmation might look like: "Everything is going to go great today!" You don't have control over that. A colleague might be having a hard day. An important file might get corrupted. You might spill your lunch all over yourself. However, if you repeat an affirmation such as "I am strong enough to get through whatever life throws at me today," you're focused on what you can do, which will be helpful.
- For some people, eliminating any thoughts of the negative can actually be detrimental.[25] In those cases, it is best to acknowledge the negative and move forward. Recognize your imperfections but still look for the positive.
- Visualize your better attitude. How do you look? Are you smiling or being friendly? Psychological studies about peak performance suggest that many successful people, like Nelson Mandela for example, use visualizations to improve their skills and talents. By picturing your good attitude, you might start to believe you have one.[26]
- Give your visualization as much detail as possible. The more detail, the more likely you will be to use it as a way to drive yourself to that goal.
EditBringing Your Attitude to Work - Approach your work realistically. Have a clear mental image of what your relationship to work should be. Accept that certain tasks of your job might be less fulfilling than others. Aim to do these tasks with a positive attitude. Consider rewarding yourself with a coffee or other reward after completing long, tiresome tasks.
- Set work goals for yourself. Take your strengths and weaknesses into account. Focus on accomplishing your tasks in a way that is tailored to your personal work style. For a major goal like finishing a big project, set smaller sub-goals. That way each time you accomplish a sub-goal you will feel a sense of accomplishment. In the end, seeing your goals come to fruition can benefit your attitude towards work.
- For example, if you have a huge project to finish that is stressing you out, try to separate it into sub-tasks such as "Research the market information on Monday," "Consult with the small business advisor on Tuesday," "Write an outline on Wednesday," "Write a first draft on Thursday," and "Revise on Friday." This is much more do-able than a single huge goal, and will give you a positive sense of accomplishment as you check off the sub-tasks.
- Meet with your supervisor. Explain that you have identified ways in which you would like to improve your productivity at work. Ask for new tasks. Explain that you want to do you best at work. Discuss opportunities for a different work pattern or schedule. Perhaps your company does volunteer initiatives. Ask your supervisor about getting involved.
- When you meet with your supervisor, you improve that relationship and assert yourself as someone who takes your job and performance seriously. By doing this, you can reap positive job-related benefits.
- Ask to work with someone who inspires you. If there is a person in your workplace who has a good attitude, you can learn to be positive by spending time working alongside that person.
- Ask your supervisor whether he can reassign tasks that you feel undermine your ability to have a positive attitude at work. If possible, alter your responsibilities so they align more with your strengths and occupational goals.
- Redefine your job role. Although your duties might not change, redefine how you think of yourself. Instead of focusing on your title or label, think about what you do well. Redefine how you think about your daily tasks. If you are an administrative assistant and spend much of your time writing emails and answering phone calls, consider yourself as the person who enables businesspeople to connect to one another and complete important transactions. Your job is to be the essential link rather than to do busywork.[27]
- Avoid comparing yourself to others who seem to enjoy the parts of their jobs that you don't enjoy. Remember, it is likely that your coworkers dislike parts of their jobs that you enjoy
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Prevent Skin Fungus Posted: 20 Sep 2016 01:00 AM PDT If you've ever gotten a yeast infection or athlete's foot, you may not have realized that you actually had a skin fungus. A fungus is a group of organisms that make spores. Fungi, the word for more than one fungus, live most everywhere and usually don't cause infections or skin growths. But, you may occasionally get fungal growths on your skin, like ringworm, athlete's foot, jock itch, or vaginal yeast infection. Don't worry. Fungal infections on the skin are not life-threatening and don't usually cause significant harm or damage. And, there are things you can do to reduce your risk of getting a skin fungus. EditReducing Your Risk - Learn who is at risk of getting a fungal infection. There are some things that may increase your risk of a fungal infection, like sharing clothing or personal care products (brushes/combs) with an infected person.[1] But, some people are also more likely to get an infection, based on risk factors. Individuals at risk include:
- People who have depressed immune systems from medications, steroids, other infections or illnesses[2]
- People taking long-term antibiotics or immunosuppressant drugs
- People or babies who are incontinent or unable to hold their urine (this creates a moist genital environment)
- People who perspire heavily
- Individuals who work or spend time in an environment where they come in contact with people who are at high risk, such as nurses, school teachers, hospitalized patients, students and coaches.
- Recognize what areas of your skin are at risk of a fungal infection. Parts of your skin that are moist are more at risk for fungal infections since the fungus needs moisture to thrive.[3] These parts include the areas between your toes, under the breast tissue, in the genital region (including the vaginal area), and between folds of skin.
- Take care in public places. Since fungal infections are contagious, you can get them from exposure to skin cells that have the infection. Try to reduce your exposure to public areas where other people with fungal infections may have been. If you use public locker rooms, showers, or pools, wear flip flops. You shouldn't ever share towels or combs in the locker room either.[4]
- Never touch other people's infections or share shoes.
- Keep your skin clean and dry. Fungi live in warm, moist areas, like between the toes or in the groin. By keeping your skin clean and dry you reduce the potential for infection. There are several things you can do to keep dry.
- Change your socks once daily or twice daily if you sweat a lot. Let your bath towels air dry completely before using them a second time.[5]
- Clean and dry any skinfold areas such as under the breast or under the stomach. Apply a drying or medicated powder to the skin folds when you are exercising or are going to be in a hot environment.
- You should also alternate your shoes so they can dry completely between wearings, especially if they get sweaty. Also, wash your athletic supporter after each use.
- Boost your immune system. You're more likely to get a fungal infection if you have a depressed immune system. To improve your immune system, take a daily vitamin supplement[6] and consider taking a probiotic.[7] Try to eat a balanced diet high in healthy fats and reduce your carbohydrate intake. You should also stay hydrated by drinking water. Your urine should be very light yellow in color.[8] Your immune system may also benefit from 8 hours of sleep a night.[9]
- Your immune system may not be in the best shape, even if you don't have a medical condition or are taking medications that might depress it. This makes it important to strengthen your immune system.
- Prevent current infections from spreading. If you already have a fungal infection, prevent it from spreading to more parts of your body or to your family members. Other family members should be examined and treated, if infection is suspected. Since fungal infections are contagious, take the following precautions to prevent spreading the infection:[10]
- Avoid scratching your infection. Wash your hands frequently and keep them dry.
- Use flip flops in the shower if you have athlete's foot.
- Wash all towels in warm, soapy water and dry in the dryer. Use a clean towel every time your shower or clean up.
- Clean your bathroom sink, tub and floor well after using.
- Wear clean, dry clothes every day and avoid sharing clothes or socks.
- Treat all infected pets.
- Children and adults may want to use medicated shampoo 2 to 3 times a week for 6 weeks to prevent tinea capitis (itching/ringworm of the scalp).
- Soak combs and brushes for 1 hour a day in a mixture of half bleach and half water for 3 days if you have tinea capitis. Don't share combs, brushes, hats, pillows, helmets or towels with other people.
EditRecognizing Symptoms - Determine if you have ringworm. Although it goes by several different names depending upon the location on the body, all are caused by the same fungus (not a parasitic worm, despite the name). If you have athlete's foot, jock itch or ringworm the fungus is the same, the location is different. The symptoms may be slightly different depending on the location of the fungal infection.[11]
- Recognize the symptoms for athlete's foot. Athlete's foot, also called tinea pedis, causes red or itchy skin around and between the toes, and less often on the soles of the feet. You may experience burning or stinging pain and the skin will blister and crust.[12] You may also find red, scaly bumps between your toes.[13]
- Learn the symptoms of Jock Itch. Jock Itch, also called tinea cruris, is common mostly in teen boys and adult men. Symptoms include red, raised scaly patches with defined borders that blister in the groin. They are redder on the outside and more flesh colored on the inside, giving them a classic ring appearance of ringworm. They can also cause abnormally dark or light pigmentation on the skin which can be permanent.[14]
- This infection is more common in boys who play athletics and spend time in a public locker room.[15] They may also have athlete's foot from the same fungus with which they reinfect themselves in the groin.
- Check your body for ringworm. Tinea corporis is a ringworm infection which appears on the body, but not the scalp, inside a beard, on the feet or in the groin area. It begins as a small raised red area that looks like small pimples. It is itchy and quickly becomes scaly. The rash will slowly take on a ring shape classic to ringworm with a redder exterior border and a flesh colored middle.[16]
- You should also look for dermatophytids (a rash). This rash affects another part of your body and can accompany body ringworm. You may experience an itchy bumpy rash on your fingers which is related to an allergic reaction to the fungus. This does not result from touching an infected area.[17]
- Look at facial hair for ringworm. Tinea barbae is ringworm found in a man's facial hair. It can cause a deeper infection in the follicles of a man's beard and may result in permanent hair loss from scarring with follicular infection. Symptoms include a reddened area on the skin that is itchy and can become scaly. Depending upon the location you can see the classic ring characteristic with redder border and more flesh colored interior. The man will also lose hair growth with an active fungal infection.[18]
- You should also look for dermatophytids (a rash). This rash affects another part of your body and can accompany facial ringworm. You may experience an itchy bumpy rash on your fingers which is related to an allergic reaction to the fungus. This does not result from touching an infected area.[19]
- Watch for symptoms of ringworm on your scalp. Tinea capitis is ringworm found on the scalp and may involve a small portion or the whole head. Areas that are infected will be itchy and red, often inflamed and can have pus filled sores. It also may cause a lot of scaling of the scalp, either in one area, or of a large part of the scalp. You can also look for 'black dots', which are the broken hairs that occur with scalp ringworm. Individuals with tinea capitis will lose their hair during an active infection and the infection can cause lasting scar tissue and permanent hair loss if not treated properly. Individuals may also experience a low grade fever below 101 degrees Fahrenheit or swollen lymph nodes in the neck area as your body is fighting the infection.[20]
- You should also look for dermatophytids (a rash). This rash affects another part of your body and can accompany tinea capitis, or ringworm on your scalp. You may experience an itchy bumpy rash on your fingers which is related to an allergic reaction to the fungus. This does not result from touching an infected area.[21]
- Recognize if you have a vaginal yeast infection. Yeast are actually fungus and can cause vaginal infections for women. The vagina, labia, and vulva can all be affected by a yeast infection. You shouldn't try to treat symptoms at home if you've had more than 4 infections in the last year, are pregnant, have uncontrolled diabetes, have a depressed immune system, or have tears, cracks, fissures, or sores in the vaginal area. Most yeast infection symptoms range from mild to moderate and include:[22]
- Itching and irritation in the vagina or at the entrance to the vagina
- Redness or swelling at the entrance to the vagina
- Vaginal pain and soreness
- Burning sensation with urination or intercourse
- Vaginal discharge that has a cottage cheese appearance and is white, thick and odorless
EditTreating Skin Fungus - Treat athlete's foot. Over-the-counter antifungal powders or creams are effective in controlling or eliminating the infection. Look for products that contain miconazole, clotrimazole, terbinafine or tolnaftate. Follow the packaged instructions and apply the medication for at least 2 weeks and an additional 1-2 weeks after the infection is cleared to prevent it from returning.[23] Wash your feet twice a day with soap and water. Be sure to dry your feet and between the toes, then put on a clean pair of socks after each washing.
- Wear shoes that are well ventilated and made of natural materials. You should also alternate your shoes everyday to give them time to dry out thoroughly.
- If you have athlete's foot that isn't responding to home treatment, your doctor may prescribe oral medications after testing your infection by taking a culture.
- Treat Jock Itch. Use over-the-counter antifungal products to help control the infection. These medications should contain miconazole, tolnaftate, terbinafine or clotrimazole. You should notice the infection start to clear up within a few weeks. If it lasts longer than 2 weeks, is severe, or returns frequently (more than 4 times a year), you should see your doctor.[24] If it doesn't respond to home treatment, your doctor may prescribe oral medications after testing your infection by taking a culture.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing or anything that rubs or irritates the skin.
- Wash all undergarments and athletic supporters after one use.
- Treat ringworm on the body. Use over-the-counter creams that contain oxiconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, ketoconazole or terbinafine. Follow packaged instructions for 10 days. In general, you should wash and dry the area, then apply the cream from the outside to the center of the infection. Wash and dry your hands after applying the cream. Don't put a bandage over ringworm because it will keep the moisture in your skin.[25]
- If you have ringworm on your scalp or beard you must see your doctor for treatments. If you have ringworm on the body that isn't responding to home treatment, your doctor may prescribe oral medications after testing your infection by taking a culture.
- If you're treating school-aged children for ringworm, they can return to classes once treatment has started.
- Treat vaginal infections. Uncomplicated vaginal yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter preparations. Use antifungal vaginal suppository creams, foams, tablets or ointments from a class of azoles. These include butoconazole, miconazole, clotrimazole, and terconazole. You may notice some slight burning or irritation to the area when you apply the medication. Always follow the packaged instructions.[26]
- The oil-based nature of these creams can weaken a latex condom or diaphragm. If these are your forms of birth control, realize that they may not be as effective while using the medication.
- Treat complications from vaginal infections. You may need long-course vaginal therapy that includes using a prescription vaginal cream in the "azole" family which is stronger than what can be purchased over-the-counter. You'll use the cream for 10 to 14 days. If you have complications from vaginal yeast infections, your doctor may prescribe fluconazole (Diflucan) to be taken 1 time by mouth.[27] Or, you may be given 2 to 3 doses of fluconazole by mouth, instead of a cream. This is not recommended for pregnant women.
- If you have repeated infections, you may take a maintenance dose of fluconazole once a week for 6 months or a vaginal suppository of clotrimazole.
- See your doctor if you have diabetes or a depressed immune system. Your doctor will need to help you treat fungal infections because diabetes or a depressed immune system can increase your risk of experiencing more severe symptoms from a fungal infection.
- See your doctor for early treatment to reduce potential health problems or significant secondary infections from scratching.
- See your doctor if a fungal infection is on your scalp or your beard. Your doctor will give you an oral medication that will include griseofulvin, terbinafine or itraconazole. Take the medication according to your doctor's instructions, usually for a minimum of 4 weeks and up to 8 weeks. You can improve your chance for successful treatment by:[28]
- Keeping the area clean and dry
- Washing the hair and beard with medicated shampoo that contains selenium sulfide or ketoconazole. This will help stop the spread but will not get rid of the current infection.
- Treat fungal infections early to potentially reduce spreading the infection to other parts of your body and to other people. Early treatment also increases your chances of successfully treating the fungus.
- If your fungal infection has not cleared in 2 to 3 weeks, see your doctor for stronger medical treatments and to make sure that the rash isn't from something else, such as psoriasis or a bacterial infection. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics if there may be a secondary bacterial infection from scratching.
- Other infections, including sexually transmitted infections, can cause some similar symptoms as a vaginal yeast infection. It is important to see your doctor if you do not improve with treatment, to make sure you don't have something more serious.
- If you have a vaginal infection, any sexual partners don't usually need to be treated.
- See your doctor for treatment if you have a depressed immune system from medications or illness. You should also see your doctor for fungal treatment if you have diabetes.
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