A COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HERBAL VS. ALLOPATHIC CREAMS IN TREATING FUNGAL INFECTIONS

Fungal skin infections are widespread and impact millions worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. These infections, caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds, often require topical treatments for effective management. This review compares the effectiveness of herbal and allopathic (conventional pharmaceutical) creams in treating fungal infections. Allopathic creams, such as those containing clotrimazole, miconazole, and terbinafine, are widely used due to their clinically proven efficacy and rapid action. In contrast, herbal creams made from natural extracts like neem, tea tree oil, aloe vera, and turmeric are gaining popularity for their antifungal properties and minimal side effects. The review explores available clinical data, patient outcomes, recurrence rates, and safety profiles. Findings indicate that while allopathic treatments provide faster relief, herbal alternatives offer a safer long-term option, particularly for patients sensitive to chemical formulations. The study concludes that integrated treatment approaches may enhance outcomes and recommends further research to validate the efficacy of herbal remedies through standardized clinical trials.