Overview

Suffering from itchy hands? Tinea manuum, also known as ringworm of the hands, is a stubborn and frustrating fungal infection. Natural remedies, such as herbal treatments, may be exactly what you need to treat this. This article will discuss what they are and how they work in treating tinea manuum.

What is tinea manuum, and what causes it?

Tinea manuum is a fungal infection that affects the hands.^1,2 It is known to be caused by a group of fungi called the dermatophytes.² These dermatophytes infect the keratinised structures of the skin, such as the nails, and feed on the nutrients provided by the keratin.³ The part of the body that the dermatophytes affect is where the tinea infection is found, in this case, the nails and the hands.³

These dermatophytes infect one or both of the hands by spreading across the palm, dorsum and interdigital folds:²

What are the symptoms?

Tinea manuum infects the outer layer of the skin.⁴ This can present with:⁴

• Thickened skin on the palms
• Itchiness
• Dry hands
• Red and inflamed patches on the hand 

The image below shows an example of what this infection can look like:⁵

What causes tinea manuum?

The condition of the dermatophyte-infected area and the surrounding areas can influence the risk/chance of tinea manuum development.³ A warm and moist environment can increase the chances of infection, as well as poor personal hygiene.³ 

How is tinea manuum diagnosed?

Tinea manuum is diagnosed through microscopy.³ This is when some skin from the infected area is scraped off using a scalpel.³ It is then put under a microscope to confirm the presence of the infection.³ Once the infection has been diagnosed, treatment can be decided.

Treatments for tinea manuum

Rather than conventional treatments, some may decide to go for a more natural route and try herbal remedies instead. 

How do herbal remedies work?

Herbal remedies work by targeting the fungal cells through a variety of mechanisms, including:

•  Inhibition of fungal growth
•  Anti-inflammatory effects
• Moisture control

Inhibition of fungal growth

The inhibition of fungal growth occurs when fungal cells are targeted and their normal functions are disrupted.⁶ This includes the disruption of the fungal cell membrane and prevention of cell growth and reprodcution.⁶ Some herbs contain components that cause these disruptions including:⁶

• Tea tree oil
•  Neem
•  Garlic
• Turmeric

Tea tree oil⁹

Tea tree oil, otherwise known as melaleuca alternifolia, is a plant native to Australia and is a popular herbal treatment for many different ailments.^6,7,8 It is an antifungal essential oil that works against dermatophytes.^6,7 It contains a component called terpinene-4-ol, which causes the disruption of the cell membrane.⁶ This leads to cell lysis, which is the breakdown of the outer membrane of the cell.⁶ This prevents cell reproduction and renewal, helping with fungal infections such as tinea manuum.⁶

There is growing scientific evidence that supports its antifungal properties.⁷ There have been several clinical studies performed proving its positive effects against dermatophyte-related infections.¹² One such study, focused on tea tree oil as a treatment for tinea pedis (similar to tinea mannum but affecting the feet), found tea tree oil to be twice as effective in treating the infection as the placebo.¹²   

Neem, otherwise known as Azadirachta indica, is another herb that has anti-fungal properties.⁸ It is a plant native to India, and it works to stop fungal growth by interfering with the cell membrane, similar to tea tree oil, leading to the disruption of cell reproduction.⁸ It contains a component called azadirachti, which plays a major role in the anti-fungal properties of neem.⁸

Several studies have been done to prove the antifungal properties, with one in particular that confirmed neem’s ability to inhibit the growth of some dermatophytes, proving it is effective against dermatophyte infections such as tinea manuum.¹⁴

Garlic¹¹

Garlic, otherwise known as Allium sativum, is known for its pungent smell and flavour.⁸ It has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries.⁸ It contains a component called allicin, which is formed when garlic is crushed, and is the primary component responsible for garlic's antifungal properties.⁸ It also works by damaging the cell membrane, leading to cell death.⁸

Studies have proven the effectiveness and antifungal effects of garlic.¹³ In one particular study, garlic extract performed better than the synthetic drug fluconazole when tested against dermatophytes.¹³

Turmeric¹⁸

Turmeric, a plant also known as Curcuma longa, has been used in herbal medicine for centuries.⁸ It contains something called curcumin, which has several medicinal effects, including anti-inflammatory and, more importantly, antifungal.⁸

One way the curcumin component in turmeric works is that it interferes with processes within the fungal cell.⁸ It has been found through research that curcumin disrupts the process of reactive oxygen species regeneration. This causes damage to cells, as fungal cells need a balance when it comes to reactive oxygen species.⁸ Therefore, turmeric may be effective in the treatment of tinea manuum. 

Anti-inflammatory

Inflammation is when the immune system responds to infections, such as tinea manuum, to try and get rid of it. Some of the symptoms of tinea manuum include dry skin and red/patchy lesions. These are caused by an inflammatory response. Therefore, in order to treat these symptoms, inflammation needs to be lowered.  

Aloe vera is an example of a natural remedy that does this. 

Aloe vera¹⁷ 

Aloe vera, or Aloe barbadensis miller, is a plant that is also known as the wonder plant for its many medicinal properties.⁸ A gel can be extracted from the fleshy part of the aloe leaves and can be used for several purposes, as it contains many compounds which are known for their medicinal uses, including anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties.⁸

The symptoms of tinea manuum include red and inflamed patches on the hand, which are caused by inflammation of the skin due to the infection.^2,4 This means that to decrease this irritation, the inflammation must be decreased, which can be achieved with anti-inflammatory herbs such as aloe vera.

There have been many studies on the efficacy of aloe vera. One study on living organisms showed that aloe vera improves the wound healing process by stopping wound healing inhibitors such as thromboxane.¹⁵ Aloe vera has also been shown to stop inflammation by stopping inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, which is involved in increasing inflammation.¹⁵

Moisture control

With dryness being a big symptom of tinea manuum, moisturising the affected area can help manage symptoms and make it easier to live with.

Virgin coconut oil is a natural remedy that does this.

Virgin coconut oil¹⁸

Virgin coconut oil is known to provide moisture to dry skin, which is a symptom of tinea manuum. It is also said to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used as a moisturiser in traditional medicine for centuries, as it soothes the skin.^15,16

The anti-inflammatory properties have been seen in scientific studies where virgin coconut oil worked to inhibit some inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6.¹⁶ It has been shown to improve the health of the skin barrier, which can help with symptoms caused by infections such as tinea manuum.¹⁶

Though there is evidence of coconut oil being moisturising and anti-inflammatory, there is no evidence to support its efficacy against dermatophyte infections such as tinea manuum. 

Safety and precautions

Herbal remedies should be taken with caution as they can cause negative effects.²⁰ This can be from herbal remedies reacting to drugs already being taken, allergic reactions and incorrect dosages of herbs used.²⁰

It is also important to check the companies from which the herbs are being bought, as they can differ from company to company.²⁰

Consulting with a healthcare professional on what herbal remedies suit you is the way to get the best results.²⁰

Conclusion

Tinea manuum is a fungal infection of the hand which can affect the palm, dorsum and digital folds of the hands. It is caused by dermatophytes, leading to symptoms such as dry hands and itchiness. While conventional medicines can treat this infection, natural remedies such as tea tree, neem, garlic, turmeric, aloe vera, and virgin coconut oil can help alleviate symptoms and treat the infection. This can be done through herbal properties (such as anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and moisture control) and their mechanisms and components that allow these effects. While there is scientific evidence proving the efficacy of these herbal treatments and their effects, for the most part, there is not enough research done on these treatments to confirm they are fully effective, not just in alleviating the symptoms of tinea manuum but also specifically treating it.

Despite the benefits of herbal remedies, it is important to be careful, as they can cause adverse effects and make the infection and its symptoms worse if used incorrectly. Consulting with a healthcare professional is recommended before continuing with herbal remedies, as this is the most effective and safest way.