I grew up spending most of my summer holidays in Wales – playing on sludgy sand and swimming in a brown sea. Don't get me wrong, I have amazing memories from those summers, but it does make living in Bermuda feel rather glamorous. Few of us are lucky enough to be surrounded by palm trees and pink sand and there are times when I can't get over how good life gets. There are also times when I wonder what on earth I'm doing.

As I did battle last night with a cockroach of monolithic proportions, I have to say I questioned my sanity. Armed with only a bottle of environmentally friendly cleaning spray, I tried to commit roach murder with little to no effect. Fortunately Jasper the dog stepped in and saved the day.

However, this was swiftly followed by discovering several pairs of shoes and a few dresses covered with a fine layer of mould in our closet. As I had Damp Rid trays and a heating bar in there I had thought I could relax the mould patrol. Obviously not. What was even worse though, was discovering that I had gone mouldy too.

I had my first run-in with a skin condition called "Tinea Versicolor" a few years ago. Despite sounding a little obscure, it's actually so common here that we have our own attractive terminology for it - "Bermuda rot". Bermuda rot is caused by an overgrowth of a normal skin fungus (yeast) called Pityrosporum orbiculare, which rapidly colonizes the surface of the skin in scattered patches. The yeast then "leaks" an acid which bleaches skin and causes it to change colour, resulting in a mottled rash effect. It is also common for light, crusty scales to cover the surface of the rash.

The scattered patches of Bermuda rot can be anything from white or pink, to tan, to dark - depending on skin colour. It is most common on the chest, neck, upper arms and upper back. Fortunately, despite the fact that it thrives on oily skin, the face is rarely affected. Bermuda rot also thrives in warm moist environments, which would explain why it's so common here.

The first time I "rotted", I was told that the white patches could take between six months and one year to disappear, the reason being that the patches don't tan well in the sun at all – and you have to wait for skin cells to regenerate. Instead, I was really lucky and it disappeared completely in three months. Yet despite this, I was still adamant I wouldn't let it happen again – Bermuda rot is hardly sexy now is it?

Fast forward a few years and one baby however, and I've found myself in the same predicament. In an effort to cram in as much sleep as possible, I often go to bed without drying my hair properly…a fatal mistake as it turns out. However, on the positive side it's not nearly so bad this time as I was at least following all the other preventive measures.

Although the medical profession does not give any dietary recommendations to those with Bermuda rot, I would suggest that a healthy diet and lifestyle does improve the speed at which skin recovers, and also helps to prevent serious recurrences. Whilst it's perfectly normal to have some skin fungus, some people get Bermuda rot and some people don't, even under the same climactic conditions. My thoughts are that lifestyle and diet can certainly influence (if not dictate) who gets Bermuda rot and who doesn't – and also the speed at which it clears up. So if you've suffered from Bermuda rot in the past, here are some tips from one mouldy person to another!

Preventing Bermuda Rot:

1. Use preventive treatments.

Once you've had Bermuda rot, it's easy for it to recur. Your doctor or dermatologist may advise doing preventive re-treatments via creams or shampoo. Alternatively buy a natural shower gel (such as the Jason's Natural Cosmetics pumps from Down to Earth or Harrington Hundreds) and add 5ml tea tree oil – shake well to mix in properly. Tea tree oil is a natural anti-fungal agent that works really well preventively. It actually works best when diluted, so don't be tempted to apply it neat!

2. Shower after exercising. This is obvious, but as the fungus thrives on oily skin, make sure you shower as soon as possible after exercising or being very hot.

3. Don't go to sleep with wet hair. Don't be tempted to go to bed with your hair wet; the fungus also loves damp conditions!

4. Dehumidify your home and work environment. Keep your home and work environment as free from damp as possible.

5. Choose breathable fabrics. Try to wear loose, cool, cotton or other "breathable" fabrics, rather that clothes that keep sweat close to the body.

6. Avoid foods that feed yeast. Remember, some yeast on the skin is normal but we want to prevent it from becoming prolific. Refined sugars (sugar, candy, chocolate, ice cream, fruit juice, sugary sodas, fruit punch, cakes, and cookies) all feed and encourage the growth of yeast in and on the body. Yeast seasoning (for example on popcorn), vinegar and alcohol also encourage the proliferation of yeast.

Eat anti-fungal foods. Both garlic and oregano are naturally anti-fungal, so use them liberally in your cooking. However, if you have a sensitive or irritable bowel, be careful when eating garlic as it can upset delicate stomachs.

8. Supplement friendly bacteria. Friendly bacteria, such as l.acidophilus and b.bacterium, help to rebalance gut flora and combat excessive yeast in the body. The KyoDophillus and Solgar brands at Down to Earth are good. Rock On also stocks good quality formulas. Bear in mind that the contraceptive pill, alcohol, stress, sugar and spicy foods, all deplete friendly bacteria.

9. Boost your immune system. A healthy immune system helps to boost the health of your whole body – including your skin! Fresh fruit & vegetables, wholegrains, unroasted nuts & seeds and green tea are all rich in naturally occurring antioxidants. Blueberries, pomegranate juice (diluted), red berries, broccoli, spinach, yellow and orange peppers, sprouts and avocados are all antioxidant rich. They are also especially rich in vitamins A, C and E which are all crucial for skin health.

Treatment of Bermuda Rot:

• Follow the preventive steps above.

• Your doctor may prescribe a fungal cream, body shampoo or tablets (in severe, extensive or recurrent cases) – follow directions accordingly. Although tea tree oil and other anti-fungals may be strong enough to treat Bermuda rot, I suggest you use them as preventive measures, rather than relying on them as treatments in this instance.

The advice given in this article is not intended to replace medical advice, but to complement it. Always consult your GP if you have any health concerns. Catherine Burns is a fully qualified Clinical Nutritionist. She can be contacted at clinicalnutrition@gmail.com