Povidone Iodine as an effective and cheap topical antifungal
-
Around 5 years ago in university, when I was probably hypothyroid, I picked up several toenail fungus infections. I struggled against this for a while using a combination of stuff like essential oils (tea tree, etc, didn't really work for me), coconut oil, niacinamide powder. I wasn't seeing any progress with these really and gave them up fairly soon.
Within the past year, I've also developed ringworm around the groin. No good.
I picked up some "amazon basics" povidone iodine for something like $7, and I've actually been able to treat the ringworm totally!
The nail fungus is necessary a year-long project or so, just given how slowly they grow. But for the first time, I've actually made progress to the point of seeing healthy nail. On my best nail, it's around 1/2 of it that is healthy now.
My next experiment will be to try it on the scalp to see it can treat my dandruff. Probably the right way would be to let it sit on the scalp for a number of minutes, then wash it off. If my dandruff is related to a yeast infection, I'm hoping it can help things. @CrumblingCookie had written that it may be harmful to hair follicles, but my suspicion is that it's not a huge deal for an intermittent treatment. Further, as far as I understand, he was using a KI solution, rather than povidone iodine solution, which should be less irritating. Here is a journal article from 1959 describing this: https://archive.org/details/newyorkstatejour5919medi/page/2892/ and showing great results (89% of seb derm patients cured)
I know that extra iodine can be considered problematic for those with thyroid issues, but my own experience has been very positive. Especially compared to the expensive oral antifungal drugs that probably don't even work and screw with your liver (which I haven't tried).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4599634/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1569938/ -
@Rah1woot said in Povidone Iodine as an effective and cheap topical antifungal:
My next experiment will be to try it on the scalp to see it can treat my dandruff.
First of all, you have to avoid an amalgam of dead skin and let the scalp breathe. Otherwise it will be more complicated. So 2 sides here:
Anti-Dandruff and Itch Shampoo
Anti-dandruff shampoos generally contain specific ingredients (ketoconazole, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, zinc pyrithione) that help fight dandruff and soothe the scalp.
Be careful with the following ingredients:
Methylisothiazolinone (MI): Preservative. Not suitable for allergenic, fragile skin.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (LSS): Irritant. Not to be confused with sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), but moderate the frequency and duration of use.
Note 1: You can add 2 drops of Tea Tree & Lavender to your last shampoo if you don't mind the scent. Leave it on for 3 to 10 minutes before rinsing, at the beginning of the process, for 3 weeks. Wash twice a week at first.
Note 2: Not tested. I use a shampoo with zinc. I use a scalp brush (handle on one side and pins on the other), purchased from a hairdressing utensil retailer. Can be found on amazon.
-
I find seb derm being cured by it very interesting, because AGA sufferers often have it.
There have been a number of studies regarding associated diseases with AGA. In this study, associated diseases were observed in 72.7% of males and 71.7% of females. Seborrheic dermatitis was the most common disease in males (51.2%) and females (45.7%).
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3662911/#:~:text=There have been a number,%25)%20and%20females%20(45.7%25).
I've said in the other thread I think parasitical/fungal infections probably play a bigger role than people think, but I don't have the answer for why those infections take hold. It could be as simple as a poorly functioning thyroid causing downstream issues, that allows the body to be attacked and not defend itself with the proper resources.
Would be pretty crazy if just including iodine in a shampoo could cure aga and seb derm for a lot of people.
Dr. Robert Cassar includes iodine in his anti-fungal/anti-parasite homemade hair shampoo, which is one of the main things that got me on this theory.
I had made a modified/incomplete version of that recipe before but I never included the iodine. I had some success with it even without it. Now I definitely need to try the iodine.
-
Just logging the first use on the scalp here for completeness. I applied two teaspoons (~10mL) of 10% Povidone Iodine solution to the scalp, diluted in ~250mL of water, using a squirt bottle. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then wash off.
For the rest of the day I felt good, and my scalp felt somewhat less inflamed than usual. One of those things where you don't notice where you're at until you get away from it. Mentally I seemed to be somewhat faster than usual, and I felt hungrier and ate more without feeling slowed down by it.
I'll probably try it something like once or twice a week then report if it seems to have helped a lot down the line (or if it completely deletes my thyroid, or something like that).
-
Since I didn't blow up yesterday and felt a bit itchy in the scalp again today, I decided to give the treatment another go. Two days in a row, I know. Dangerous.
I was more liberal about it this time and applied even some of my povidone iodine mix to my eyebrows and the sides of my nose, behind the ears, where I sometimes have dandruff/mild seb derm problems, flaking of skin etc.
P.S. I resolved with a wood lamp's test that some of the areas on my face that have flakiness (immune reaction?) also have almost no orange dots (while the rest of the face does), which I think might mean pores containing a lot of bacteria. Interesting stuff. My skin actually looks a lot more inflamed under a blacklight/wood's lamp than with the LED in my bathroom, which could be an interesting aspect to the "occult" side of these irritations/infections.
I wonder to what extent usual accessories like over-ear headphones, glasses, and sleeping masks contribute.
-
I am curious how this turns out for your skin conditions!
@CrumblingCookie said in Reversal of hair loss in Mice with “sugar gel”:
I had tried topical iodine (diluted Lugol's) on my scalp before and wouldn't recommend it. I suspect the oxidative action of iodine is bad for hair follicles and the papillae.
@Rah1woot said in Reversal of hair loss in Mice with “sugar gel”:
What method of application did you use for the iodine on the scalp?
he was using a KI solution, rather than povidone iodine solution, which should be less irritating. Here is a journal article from 1959 describing this
@Hearthfire said in Reversal of hair loss in Mice with “sugar gel”:
How much did you use, CrumblingCookie? Did you notice it drying out your hair or something?
I had used I2/KI dissolved in an alcohol-based nettle extract hair/scalp tonic but I don't remember the concentration. I don't think I went overly crazy with the amount but it caused increased root micronization and telogen hair loss for me and yes it also sort of dried out my scalp so that it almost ached a little like a patch of dry skin which you'd want to soothe.
It says in that 1959 article that the relatively delayed-released PVP-iodine is much less or even not at all irritating in comparison to free iodine.
The PVP-I should be much better and safer for tackling issues on the surface of the skin (less absorption/penetration than free I2 or KI). Also interesting that in those studies linked by @Rah1woot simply a PVP-I shampoo proved effective over time. That would be very practical for everyday as it wouldn't even require a separate topical solution to apply and wash out again.@Rah1woot said:
Mentally I seemed to be somewhat faster than usual, and I felt hungrier and ate more without feeling slowed down by it.
This could be due to the systemically absorbed iodine. If you're going to feel somewhat down and cold and lethargic from about day 3 or 4 that would be a transient effect to have to go through until day about day 8/9.
-
That is very interesting indeed about the spots. If you keep applying and that changes, you'll know whatevers in there is being wiped out.
-
Still doing it maybe twice a week. I haven't had any big "attacks" of plaque/dandruff since, which cautiously makes me think this could be at least somewhat helpful.
-
Still haven't had any dandruff attacks, so I'm stopping until I see them again.
-
I still haven't tried this yet. Need to. Noticed any positive benefits to the hair/scalp besides fixed dandruff? Hows the hair texture?
-
@Hearthfire It seemingly makes my curls coil a little tighter.
Besides that, I haven't noticed much dramatic. Maybe a few new baby hairs.
