Authored by Dr Harsh Sharma, Edited and Peer Reviewed by Dr. Pooja Sharma

Published July 17, 2014, Last updated October 21, 2016

While the monsoon is able to bring a little relief from excess heat to the general polpulation and to the farmers for their agricultural activity, it can be a nightmare for those who suffer from or are prone to fungal and other diseases of the skin like urticaria, dermatitis, eczema and ringworms. Allergic skin diseases and more commonly the fungal infections tend to flare up much more during the rainy season. There may be multiple factors for this increase in incidence of skin troubles during the monsoon season, some of them being related to the environment.

Fungal infections and rains

During the monsoon season, the weather is such that the temperatures are mild and do not go too high. At the same time, the humidity levels in the air are quite high. Combination of these two things is ideal for the rapid growth of fungi. A number of skin diseases like tinea or the ringworm and whitish fur like growth in the fingers and toes are the result of such fungal infections and are quite common in this weather. One tends to perspire a lot in the rainy and humid weather; at the same time, the sweat does not evaporate easily as the moisture content in the air is already too high. This means that the sweat remains on the skin surface for much longer than desired. The most common areas prone to this sweat are the folds of the skin like the neck, armpits, elbow region, the back portion of the knees and the inner thigh region. A lot of salts are present in the human perspiration. The presence of these salts irritate the skin. At the same time, the growth of fungi is very fast in such region and this causes a lot of itching and redness.

Allergy and rains

The presence of a lot of allergens in the air at this time gives rise to allergies. These allergens may be in the form of moulds or pollens or dander or flowers or some insects. Any person who is even slightly prone to allergies himself or has a family history of allergies like asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema etc can get an allergic reaction to any of these things present in the air or the atmosphere. That is why some allergies tend to flare up during the rainy weather. Another factor that is often overlooked is that once itching starts, a person tends to scratch which injures the epidermis and exposes the lower layer of the skin. This exposed layer of skin may provide a facile breeding ground for various bacteria, viruses and fungi. Under such circumstances, one should avoid scratching the skin and if it has been scratched, the area should be washed with a disinfectant and should be kept covered.

Do’s and Dont’s

• Avoid scratching the skin. If one feels some itching, one should use the flat area of the palm and not the nails.
• As perspiration leads to a loss of salts and water, this loss of electrolytes should be suitably compensated as it can otherwise cause dryness of the skin and itching subsequently.
• Allergy prone people should try to remain indoors and avoid exposure to allergens.
• Personal hygiene is quite important. Wash your hands properly with a soap.
• Keep your skin dry as much as possible.
• If you have perspired a lot, especially on your feet, wash off the sweat with soap and water and try to keep the area dry.
• Keep any wound or cut on the skin covered. Disinfect the wound daily and dress it properly to prevent infection and suppuration.
• Air conditioners are effective at controlling humidity and also reduce sweating.

Homeopathy for skin troubles

Homeopathic medicines like Rhus Tox, Dulcamara, Merc Sol and Calcarea Carb are very effective in treating allergies and infections that tend to crop up duing the rainy season. To be able to prescribe the right medicine, the doctor ought to know the symptoms in detail.