Looking for an effective home remedy for athlete’s foot? Whether you just don’t like pharmaceutical creams, or simply want the convenience of using something that you probably already have laying around, these natural cures for athlete’s foot should interest you.
Medically known as tinea pedis, athlete’s foot is a kind of infection that takes its roots at damp and warm places. It usually grows between your toes because most of us are not too conscious about keeping that area of our bodies dry. Another way of catching it, is through using someone else’s towel. The tinea fungus survives in the damp towel and is easily transferred to another person. Typical symptoms include redness, smelly feet, white patchy and scaly skin lesions, especially between the toes.
Athlete’s foot is not a condition which you can ignore because it irritates a lot. The itchy, stinging sensation can make you feel quite restless and distracted, so it’s a good idea to apply a remedy as soon as you notice any one of these symptoms.
Athlete’s foot fungus is also found in public showers, gyms, indoor swimming pools and health and fitness clubs. You can avoid getting in contact with this fungal disease by taking a few precautions.
- Always wear clean, washed socks.
- Do not share your towel with anyone
- Keep your feet clean and dry.
- Use an anti-sweating spray between your toes.
- Try using a tissue every time you are drying your feet.
- Cut your toenails regularly. Long toenails are more prone to cultivating fungal infection because moisture is trapped underneath them.
- Avoid wearing flip-flops (thongs) at public showers.
- Avoid wearing sweaty shoes or socks as much as is practical. If you need to wear your used pair of socks again, just put them under sunlight before wearing again.
Choose Your Preferred Home Remedy for Athlete’s Foot Here!
If athlete’s foot comes knocking don’t worry. Here are some good natural remedies which you can use to overcome the problem in no time.
Tea Tree Oil:
Tea tree oil contains almost magical qualities that destroy fungus and stop it from spreading. Take a tub and add lukewarm water to it. Add 40 drops of tea tree oil to the water and soak your feet in it for 10-15 minutes. After that, dry your feet thoroughly with a cotton cloth or tissue and then apply the tea tree oil directly to the affected area and gently massage it in. Doing this will destroy the fungus and stop it from spreading into unaffected areas.
Garlic:
Garlic is known for its strong odor but it works well for severe fungal infections. Crush some garlic cloves and make a paste. Apply this paste to the area between your toes or any other affected places and leave for the next 24 hours. Do not clean or wash your feet.
Garlic contains an ingredient called allicin, which is an active compound that retards the rapid growth of trichophyton rubrum which causes athlete’s foot. You can also use garlic in your food. Not only does it improve the flavor, but it also has a positive effect on your health and natural immunity to fight against various diseases.
Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt:
Another amazing home remedy for athlete’s foot is to combine half a cup of apple cider vinegar with 2 tablespoons of Himalayan crystal salt in warm water. The acidic environment which the vinegar creates kills the fungus and it stops spreading right there.
One of the nice things about this home remedy is, that you can keep a solution of salt and vinegar in a spray bottle and spray your feet with it after taking a bath. Too easy! Keep this solution on your feet for 10 minutes and do not forget to wipe it off with soft cotton cloth or tissue afterward. You should also put some of this solution on a cloth and wipe the inner surface of your shoes to eliminate the athlete’s foot fungus from that little breeding ground.
Corn Starch and Baking Soda:
This home remedy for athlete’s foot is aimed at preventing your socks and feet from getting sweaty while at the same time, killing the fungus. If you’re planning on wearing closed-in shoes then first, dry your feet thoroughly after taking a shower and sprinkle some corn starch and baking soda on your feet in the same way that you would use talcum powder. It will have a dual effect. Corn starch is quite absorbent and it will help prevent your feet from sweating, while baking soda is one of those substances that kills tinea-causing fungus and keeps your feet fresh and odor free.
Ginger:
Ginger is a spice with a stron
g and unique aroma which works wonders for your feet. It contains a powerful healing compounds called caprylic which is great for curing fungal skin infections. It also happens to be an ingredient commonly used in weight loss supplements. In order to create your home remedy for athlete’s foot, you’re going to need to make a ginger tonic.
Here’s what to do:
Take an ounce of fresh ginger and chop it well. Simmer it for 20 minutes in hot boiling water to make a tea out of it and then let it cool. Keep this solution in a bottle and apply twice a day on clean feet. It is a very effective and strong anti-fungal for treating athlete’s foot.
Oregano oil:
Oregano is a strong smelling herb which is most commonly known for adding flavor to meals. When using it for athlete’s foot, you should boil 4 ounces of chopped oregano in 3-4 cups water. You will notice that it looks like green tea once it has brewed. When the solution has cooled, soak your feet in the oregano water about 2-3 times daily. Make up a fresh solution daily for best results.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is ideal for killing off bacteria and fungus, so soaking your feet in it can help clear up the little buggers that are making you so dang uncomfortable. It will also help with any fungus that may be clinging around or under your nail as well. Just remember that it can sting, and this may be especially true if you have cracked skin.
You will need:
- 1 pint 3{eef26fc93b61ddb9bfec17769e72a868f3f5221ee68d5e1e0793f6670a3680df} hydrogen peroxide
- 1 gallon of clean, distilled water
- Spray bottle (optional)
Mix one pint of 3{eef26fc93b61ddb9bfec17769e72a868f3f5221ee68d5e1e0793f6670a3680df} hydrogen peroxide into 1 gallon of clean, lukewarm water. Soak for 20-30 minutes morning and night daily as needed to clear up your athletes foot. Let air dry or rinse off and dry completely. Make sure you’re using 3{eef26fc93b61ddb9bfec17769e72a868f3f5221ee68d5e1e0793f6670a3680df} hydrogen peroxide (food grade) which is mainly what is sold in stores. More concentrated forms don’t equal wiping out the fungus any faster and may be harmful to the skin. In fact, 90{eef26fc93b61ddb9bfec17769e72a868f3f5221ee68d5e1e0793f6670a3680df} hydrogen peroxide is used to produce rocket fuel, which is not what you want on your feet!
Sesame and Coconut oil:
Whether you have organic sesame oil or coconut oil available, both have an impressive track record for killing foot fungus rapidly. Apply it directly to the affected area at least twice a day and you will be amazed by the results after a day or two. 
All of the above listed remedies are easily available at any supermarket. You may choose to visit a doctor if the infection doesn’t go away but in 99{eef26fc93b61ddb9bfec17769e72a868f3f5221ee68d5e1e0793f6670a3680df} cases, these home remedies for athlete’s foot are effective and you should not need to buy all those expensive creams which doctors prescribe. Also these herbs and oils do not have any side effects and will leave your feet adorably soft and fresh. Many of the oils mentioned above are used in skin beautifying processes and spas.
Acknowledgements: We thank John Alex for his contribution to the above material. John has been researching and writing on health topics for over three years.
