Targeting Fungal Skin Infections with Lippia alba Essential Oil

Background/Objectives: Dermatophytosis is a common superficial mycosis of keratinized tissues caused predominantly by species of the genera Epidermophyton, Microsporum, and Trichophyton. The present study aimed to investigate the antidermatophytic efficacy and skin reparative potential of essential oils from Lippia alba chemotypes. Methods: Essential oils from two L. alba chemotypes collected during the dry season in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, were evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against clinical and reference strains. The essential oil showing the highest antifungal activity was subsequently evaluated in antibiofilm, cytotoxicity, and fibroblast wound-closure assays, as well as in an ex vivo human skin model of Trichophyton rubrum infection. Results: Chemotype I, rich in citral and α-copaene, and chemotype II, rich in citral and limonene, both demonstrated antidermatophytic activity. However, chemotype II showed greater efficacy, with a minimum inhibitory concentration as low as 12.5 μg/mL. This oil was more effective at preventing early biofilm development than disrupting mature biofilms. It also exhibited low cytotoxicity, was associated with enhanced wound closure, and reduced fungal colonization and lesion development in the skin, particularly as a preventive strategy. Conclusions: L. alba citral–limonene chemotype showed promising antidermatophytic activity and effects associated with wound closure and reduced fungal progression in the models evaluated, supporting its potential as a candidate for further investigation in topical approaches to dermatophytosis.