10 Home Remedies for Athlete Foot
Athletes foot is most common in people whose feet become sweaty in a confined space, usually tight-fitting shoes. Tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) is a fungal infection that usually starts in between the toes, and it has the potential to spread to the toenails and even the hands.
In most cases, athlete’s foot isn’t dangerous, but it can be quite tricky to cure. It should be noted that if you suffer from diabetes or a weakened immune system and think you may have an athlete’s foot, it’s a good idea to see your doctor as soon as possible.
There are many types of fungal infections of the skin and toes, so it’s good to know what symptoms to look for when it comes to identifying athlete’s foot. Here are the most common symptoms.
- Most common is a scaly red rash
- The rash most commonly begins in between the toes
- Occasionally blisters and ulcers
- Chronic dryness of the skin and scaling on the soles that may extend up to the sides of the foot, similar to eczema
- One or both feet may be affected
- Foul odor originating from the feet
When to see a doctor?
Although athlete’s foot isn’t dangerous in most cases, there are some reasons to visit a doctor if you have athlete’s foot. If you’re experiencing any of the following things, see your doctor as soon as possible:
- A rash on your foot that doesn’t improve in less than two weeks after beginning self-treatment
- If you have diabetes, and you notice symptoms of athlete’s foot
- If you notice any signs of a secondary bacterial infection
- Excessive redness
- Swelling
- Drainage
- Fever
There are plenty of over the counter medications and ointments available to treat athlete’s foot, but it’s important to point out that there are plenty of home remedies that are effective, natural and more healthy than the pharmaceutical option. It should be noted, that the best cure for any ailment is prophylactic prevention, but if you’re already suffering from this fungal infection, here are 10 home remedies for athlete’s foot:
10 Home Remedies for Athlete Foot
#1 – Prevention There are a few things you can do to prevent athlete’s foot from happening in the first place. This might not be comforting to know if you’re already suffering from it, but it will help prevent you getting in the future:
- Athlete’s foot is contagious, make sure you wear shoes or flip-flops in public showers, around pools, gyms, locker areas. This is actually the most common way people contract athlete’s foot
- Keep your feet dry, athlete’s foot fungus thrives in hot and sweaty shoes. Wear breathable footwear, or sandals/flip-flops when it’s hot outside
- Wash your feet with anti-bacterial soap daily
- Alternate shoes you wear from day to day
- Make sure your shoes are dry before you put them on
- If you live with someone that has athlete’s foot, don’t share shoes, the shower, towels or linens
#2 – Keep your immune system strong One of the best ways to prevent and fight athlete’s foot is to have a strong immune system. Here are the best ways to give your immune system a boost:
- Take care of your gut health. Eat plenty of probiotic foods
- Exercise is a great way to build up your immune system
- Wash your hands frequently
- Shower after work
- Take vitamins, or make sure to eat enough fruits and veggies, so you don’t need to supplement
- Do what you can to reduce stress. Yoga, exercise, meditation, hobbies, reduce unhealthy processed food intake
- Practice deep breathing
- Get the proper amount of quality sleep
- Stay positive, this helps keep stress away and also helps you make healthy decisions
#3 – Apple cider vinegar ACV is a great home remedy for many ailments. It has anti-inflammatory properties, and it can be quite effective in reducing inflammation and pain, and helps kill the fungal infection responsible for causing athlete’s foot.
Take half of a cup of ACV and mix with two cups of warm water, pour into a small basin and soak your feet in the mixture for about 15 minutes. You can do this twice a day until the symptoms go away.
#4 – Lavender oil Lavender oil has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and it’s an effective remedy when it comes to fighting the fungus that causes athlete’s foot.
Add 12 drops of lavender oil and mix with 30 mL of a carrier oil, such as coconut oil. Apply this mixture directly to the area that is affected by athlete’s foot, allow it to dry. You should repeat this two to three times per day.
#5 – Peppermint oil Peppermint oil is a great remedy for athlete’s foot because it contains menthol. Menthol is anti-inflammatory and has soothing properties that help reduce pain and inflammation. It’s also anti-fungal, so it’s great at fighting fungal infections.
Mix 12 drops of peppermint oil with 30 mL of coconut oil and apply the mixture to the affected area of your feet. Let it dry and repeat three times per day.
10 Home Remedies for Athlete Foot
#6 – Tea tree oil Tea tree oil is an age-old remedy known for its antimicrobial properties that can help with many skin conditions, including athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, and it can help reduce inflammation, swelling and pain.
Mix 12 drops of tea tree oil with 30 mL of coconut oil and apply the mixture to the affected area of your skin, allow it to dry and repeat this three times per day until your symptoms go away.
#7 – Baking soda Baking soda is a great remedy for a myriad of ailments. Baking soda is antiseptic, stops secondary infections and helps keep your feet free of moisture. It creates an environment that is uninhabitable for athlete’s foot.
Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of water, mix until you have formed a thick paste. Apply this paste to the affected area of your skin and allow it to dry. Rinse the paste off, repeat this three times per day.
#8 – Garlic Garlic is one of the few naturally occurring antibiotics, and it’s a great natural remedy for athlete’s foot. Garlic contains allicin, this compound is anti-inflammatory and antifungal, and it’s great at killing athlete’s foot. It also helps relieve pain.
Crush two cloves of garlic and mince them into a thick paste, mix with a few drops of olive or coconut oil. Apply to the affected area of your skin, leave it on for about 20 minutes. Rinse off and repeat two times per day.
#9 – Ginger Ginger is a powerful herb for treating athlete’s foot, it’s antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and it helps get rid of foul odours.
Cut an inch of ginger into thin slices, boil in one cup of water for 20 minutes, strain and let it cool down. Apply a few drops of the solution to the affected area of your skin. Repeat this three to four times per day.
#10 – Jojoba oil Jojoba oil is very well known for its strong anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. This helps fight the fungus that is responsible for athlete’s foot and alleviate the symptoms.
Apply a few drops of jojoba oil directly to the affected area and leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off, pat dry and repeat three times per day. You can also leave the jojoba oil on your skin and let it fully absorb.
Athlete’s foot can be taken care of by these natural and healthy methods, negating the need for a pharmaceutical option in most cases. It’s important to note that if your symptoms don’t go away or improve after two weeks, you should see a doctor right away.
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Athlete Foot References and Athlete Foot Information
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/athletes-foot/symptoms-causes/syc-20353841
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/athletes-foot/symptoms-causes/syc-20353841
- AAD: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/athletes-foot-prevent
- Riverside Medical Centre: https://www.riversidemedicalclinic.com/10-ways-to-boost-your-immune-system/
- Apple Cider Vinegar (Book): https://books.google.co.in/books?id=DQW_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT40&dq=apple+cider+vinegar+for+athlete%27s+foot&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiE8dTPsIzaAhUMY48KHRDFCo0Q6AEIRzAF#v=onepage&q=apple%20cider%20vinegar%20for%20athlete’s%20foot&f=false
- US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4621348/%22HYPERLINK%20https:/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4621348/
- US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4262447/
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1303075/
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12017929/
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9009665/
- Pub Med: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16125680/
- US National Library of Medicine: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5796020/
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