Fungi naturally produce many compounds that kill harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This review explores how these fungal compounds could replace antibiotics that no longer work due to drug resistance. These natural substances could be used not only as medicines but also in cosmetic products to prevent bacterial growth and improve skin health.
A young woman had a persistent facial rash for 10 months that was initially misdiagnosed as dermatitis because early fungal tests were negative. When fungal testing was repeated, it finally confirmed a fungal infection (tinea incognito) caused by contact with a dog. Treatment with antifungal medication alone initially worsened the condition by causing bacterial infection, but combining antifungal and antibiotic medications resolved it. The infection returned after using the same contaminated skincare products, but was successfully treated again with the combined medication approach.
A 60-year-old woman developed unusual hair loss and rash on her scalp that looked like dandruff. Tests revealed three types of fungi, including Microsporum canis (usually found in animals) and two types of Malassezia yeast. Treatment with antifungal medications for three months cleared the infection. Laboratory experiments showed that the yeast species may actually help the fungus grow better, which could explain why adults sometimes get scalp fungal infections differently than children.
A 23-year-old woman developed a severe fungal infection in her genital area caused by a fungus typically found in dogs. The infection initially appeared bacterial and did not respond to antibiotics. Fungal cultures identified Microsporum canis, which was successfully treated with oral antifungal medications, though the patient experienced some scarring and pigmentation changes.
A 60-year-old woman developed unusual hair loss and scalp inflammation that looked like dandruff but was actually a fungal infection caused by multiple fungi working together. Doctors found three different fungi in her scalp samples: one dermatophyte and two Malassezia species. Lab experiments showed that the Malassezia fungi actually helped the main disease-causing fungus grow better, which explains why the condition looked different from typical cases. After three months of antifungal medication, her symptoms cleared and her hair grew back.