23 Amazing Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot By Suzanne Collins - September 22, 2015
Got a foul odor coming from your feet? Do you have itchy, flaky skin in between the toes that doesn’t seem to go away no matter what you do? Chances are you are suffering from athlete’s foot, a form of skin infection caused by the tinea pedis fungus. While athlete’s foot gets its name from the fact that it usually sticks to your feet, there are high chances for infection to spread to other parts of your body as well.
How do you get Athlete’s Foot? The tinea pedis fungus is highly contagious. You can easily pick it up from the floors in common areas like gyms, swimming pools and locker rooms. You can also get it by sharing towels, socks and any other kind of clothing. Another cause for athlete’s foot may be related to a fungal infection inside the digestive system which could spread to the other parts of the body. The Symptoms to look out for Apart from the itchy, flaky skin you find in and around the affected region, here are some other symptoms of athlete’s foot you need to look out for. Cracked skin in between toes Red rash with a stinging or burning sensation Blisters between toes, and Pain and swelling near the infection
Best Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot Here are some very common home remedies for athlete’s foot that you can try out with ease. These remedies would help you treat the symptoms of athlete’s foot effectively while getting rid of the infection that causes it as well.
1. Baking Soda
The powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties of baking soda help get rid of the fungus causing athlete’s foot. Baking soda would also relieve the burning sensation in and around the infected region.
This remedy works well on many fungi caused diseases. It can cure toenail fungus and athlete’s foot in an excellent manner.
Method I: Baking Soda Paste Applying some baking soda paste to the infected area will help keep the infection at bay and reduce its symptoms in the process. What you need: Baking soda: 1 tbsp. Water: 1tbsp. What you need to do: Mix the baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply this paste evenly on the infected region. Wait for about 10 minutes and rinse the area with lukewarm water. Repeat this process at regular intervals until the infection is cured completely.
Method II: Baking Soda Powder Excessive sweating can create a favorable breeding ground for the tinea pedis fungus. Baking soda powder can help to reduce perspiration in the infected region, thus helping get rid of the fungus causing athlete’s foot. What you need: Baking soda powder: 1 tbsp What you need to do: Rinse the infected region with water and dry nicely. Apply some baking soda powder on the infected region. Apply the powder at regular intervals to prevent the fungus from spreading or multiplying.
2. Salt A warm salt water soak can help alleviate the symptoms of athlete’s foot, including the pain, itchiness and inflammation that accompany the condition. This is a common home remedy if you want to keep your feet clean, it is helps to prevent calluses on feet and treat athlete’s foot in no time. What you need: Salt: 2 tsp Lukewarm water: 2 cups What you need to do: Mix the salt in water and stir nicely. Soak the infected area in the water for about 10 minutes. Rinse the area with warm water afterwards. Follow this remedy thrice a day to get rid of Athlete’s foot and its symptoms.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is a magical cure for almost any kind of fungal infection. You might know it from a while that apple cider vinegar for acne is a proven remedy. Isn’t it good to know that it can help cure athlete’s foot as well? The anti-fungal properties of apple cider vinegar would get rid of the fungus causing the infection. Its anti-inflammatory properties will also bring down the swelling and discomfort caused by the infection.
Method I: Apple Cider Vinegar Soak Want a hassle free way to get rid of athlete’s foot? Soak your feet in apple cider vinegar for 30 minutes every night. Here’s how you do it. What you need: Apple cider vinegar: 1 cup Salt: 2 tbsp. Water: 2 cups What you need to do: Mix the apple cider vinegar and water. Pour the solution into a foot basin. Soak your feet in the basin. Dry the area with a soft towel afterwards. Do this regularly to get rid of Athlete’s foot and its symptoms.
Method II: Apple Cider Vinegar and Olive Oil Sometimes apple cider vinegar may sting on raw, infected skin. If this is the case, then you can use a mixture of apple cider vinegar and olive oil. What you need: Apple cider vinegar: 2-3 drops Olive oil: 2-3 drops Cotton ball What you need to do: Mix the apple cider vinegar and olive oil nicely. Dab the cotton ball on the mixture and place it on the infected areas. Remove the cotton ball after about 30 minutes and rinse off the area with lukewarm water. Do this every morning and night to treat athlete’s foot effectively.
4. Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is one of the excellent home remedies for athlete’s foot. It is loaded with antifungal properties that would kick out the tine pedis fungus from the body. It also contains antiseptic properties that promote quick healing of the infected site. [Read Here: Tea Tree Oil for Acne ]
Method I: Tea Tree Oil and Olive Oil A mixture of tea tree oil and olive oil will help treat Athlete’s foot and bring down its symptoms to a great extent. What you need: Tea tree oil: 5-7 drops Olive oil: 15 ml What you need to do: Mix the tea tree oil and olive oil. Apply this mixture on the infected area. Wait for 10 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. Repeat this athlete’s foot remedy twice a day continuously for desirable results. Note: Always combine tea tree oil with carrier oil like olive oil. Full strength tea tree oil can cause the skin to break out.
Method II: Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera Gel Tea tree oil when mixed with Aloe Vera gel can help treat Athlete’s foot without damaging the skin in the process. What you need: Tea Tree oil: 2-3 drops Aloe vera gel: 2 drops What you need to do: Mix the ingredients nicely. Apply this mixture on the infected area nicely. Wash off with lukewarm water after 15 minutes or so. Repeat at regular intervals throughout the day.
Method III: Tea Tree Oil Balm Tea tree oil can also be used in the form of a balm to reduce the symptoms of Athlete’s foot. The balm will prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body. Here’s how you can make your own tea tree oil balm for the same purpose. What you need: Tea Tree oil: 100 drops Jojoba oil: 10gm Sunflower oil: 20gm Calendula infused oil: 20gm Shea butter: 40gm Beeswax: 15gm What you need to do: Steam the shea butter until it reaches a temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep this temperature for about 20 minutes. Steam the sunflower oil, jojoba oil, beeswax and the calendula infused oil in another container for 10 minutes until they melt and mix together. Mix the shea butter with the molten mix. Add the tea tree oil and stir nicely to remove any lumps. Pour the hot mixture into an air tight jar and cool it in the refrigerator until it becomes solid. Apply a small amount of this balm on the infected region thrice a day to get rid of Athlete’s foot. Remember to wash off the balm with lukewarm water after 15 minutes or so.
5. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil has more than just a sweet smell. It also contains powerful antifungal properties that can help treat athlete’s foot and its symptoms easily. The main advantage of lavender oil is that it helps to keep the skin hydrated. It heals cracked feet instantly and cures athlete’s foot issue as well. The different ways in which you can use lavender oil to treat the condition include:
Method I: Lavender Oil and Jojoba/Olive Oil Applying a mixture of lavender oil and olive/jojoba oil on the infection is one of the best athlete’s foot cures. You can follow this remedy once a day to get rid of the itchiness and inflammation caused by athlete’s foot. Regular application will help treat the fungus causing the infection as well. What you need: Lavender oil: 3 drops Jojoba (or) Olive oil: 1 tsp What you need to do: Mix the two ingredients nicely. Apply it evenly to the infected area. Wait for about 10 minutes and rinse off the mixture with lukewarm water.
Method II: Lavender Oil and Tea Tree Oil A particularly nasty case of athlete’s foot can be easily treated with this simple home remedy. What you need: Lavender oil: 10 drops Tea Tree oil: 20 drops Aloe vera gel: 10 drops What you need to do: Mix the three oils together and store in an airtight container. Apply a few drops of the mixture on the infected site. Wait for 15 minutes or so for it to dry. Wash the infected area with warm water and dry immediately. Repeat this process once every day for quick and effective results.
Method III: Lavender Oil Foot Bath If you don’t prefer applying the oil directly on the skin, consider this alternate remedy for athlete’s foot using lavender oil. What you need: Lavender oil: 10 drops Tea tree oil: 7 drops Hot water: 3 cups What you need to do: Pour the hot water into a basin. Mix the oils and add them to the water. Stir nicely. Soak the infected region in this hot water bath for about 20 minutes. Do this at least 3 times a week to get rid of Athlete’s foot.
6. Coconut Oil
Want an easy and surefire remedy for athlete’s foot? Grab a bottle of raw coconut oil at once. The antifungal properties of coconut oil would ensure to get rid of the tinea pedis fungus from your system. The soothing properties of coconut oil will also help the skin heal properly from the infection. This treatment is considered as one of the proven health benefits of coconut oil which you can take benefit of, to keep the skin healthy. What you need: Raw coconut oil: 2-3 drops What you need to do: Apply a small amount of the coconut oil onto your fingertips and rub it on the infected area nicely. Wait for 20 minutes or so and rinse off the area with lukewarm water. Repeat at regular intervals throughout the day for quick relief. Note: Remember to wash your hands after applying the coconut oil. This will prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body.
7. Neem Oil
Neem contains potent antifungal properties that can be a nightmare for any fungus, including the one that causes athlete’s foot. Regular application of neem oil can help get rid of the tinea pedis fungus and bring down the symptoms of athlete’s foot before you even know it. What you need: Neem oil: 2-3 drops Cotton ball What you need to do: Dab the cotton ball in neem oil and apply it to the infected site. Wait for 15 minutes or so and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Repeat this remedy once a day for quick and effective relief from the condition.
8. Oregano Leaves Soaking feet in a hot water bath containing oregano leaves can help alleviate the symptoms of athlete’s foot to a great extent. Follow this remedy once every two days to get rid of fungus completely. What you need: Oregano leaves: 4 ounces Warm water: 3 cups What you need to do: Boil the oregano leaves in the water for about 15 minutes. Let the mixture cool down and pour it into a foot basin. Soak the infected area in this mixture for about 20 minutes. This will help the itchiness and inflammation caused by the condition.
9. Tea
Not many know that tea can help treat fungal infections, including athlete’s foot. Tea contains tannic acid, which helps dry out sweaty areas in the body. This, in turn, will prevent the spread of tinea pedis fungus until it dies off. What you need: Tea bags: 5 Water: 1 cup What you need to do: Boil the water and steep the tea bags in it. Allow the tea bags to simmer in the water for 10 minutes or so. Cool the solution and soak your feet in it for about 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water afterwards. Repeat this remedy twice every day to treat athlete’s foot effectively.
10. Yogurt
Yogurt contains good pathogens called acidophilus bacteria which can provide instant relief from the symptoms of athlete’s foot. The good bacteria will fight off the fungus and provides instant relief. . What you need: Plain unsweetened yogurt: 2 tbsp. What you need to do: Dab some yogurt on the infected areas and let it dry for about 10 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water afterwards and dry the area with a soft towel. Repeat this remedy until the infection is cured. Note: Do not use flavored or sweetened yogurt as they can create a favorable environment for the athlete’s foot fungus to grow and spread rapidly.
11. Mustard
Mustard contains antibacterial and antifungal properties. These properties help to reduce the symptoms of athlete’s foot considerably. Mustard is quiet popular as a pain killer agent. It is widely used to get rid of foot pain and thus work well to reduce the pain and inflammation caused by athlete’s foot. What you need: Mustard powder: 1 tsp (or) Mustard oil: 1 tsp Warm water: 3 cups What you need to do: Pour the water into a foot basin. Apply the mustard powder/oil to the water and mix nicely. Soak your feet in this solution for about 30 minutes or so. Follow this remedy twice every day for quick results. [Read Here: Mustard for Heartburn ]
12. Grapefruit Seed Extract Grapefruit seed extract is known to have antifungal properties. The extract can thus, help reduce the symptoms of athlete’s foot significantly, and treat the underlying infection as well. What you need: Full strength grape fruit seed extract: 2- 3 drops What you need to do: Apply the extract evenly over the infected region. Let it dry and wash it off with lukewarm water afterwards. Follow this athlete’s foot home remedy 2 to 3 times a day for quick relief.
13. Onions
Surprised? Well don’t be. Onions are known to take care of several fungal infections, including athlete’s foot, in the most effective manner. Onions contain compounds called quercetin and sulfur, which help eradicate harmful pathogens and toxins from the body. You can therefore, use onions to treat athlete’s foot quickly and easily. What you need: Onions: 2 Cheesecloth What you need to do: Grind the onions to form a paste. Use the cheesecloth to extract the juice from this mixture. Apply a few drops of this onion juice on the infected area and let it dry for 30 minutes. Rinse off the juice with lukewarm water afterwards. Remember to follow this remedy every morning and night to take care of Athlete’s foot and its symptoms.
14. Ginger
Ginger contains antibacterial properties that can help treat athlete’s foot effectively. You can follow this remedy every day to get instant relief from the symptoms of the condition as well. What you need: Fresh ginger: 1 ounce Water: 1 cup What you need to do: Boil the water. Chop the ginger into tiny pieces and add it to the boiling water. Let the solution simmer for 20 minutes or so. After letting it cool, apply a few drops of the mixture on the infected region. This will even remove the foul smell caused by athlete’s foot.
15. Garlic
Why leave out garlic, often considered the best athlete’s foot treatment? Applying some garlic to the spaces between the toes can help get rid of the fungus in these areas. It can also help reduce the symptoms of the condition. What you need: Fresh garlic cloves: 2 -3 Olive oil- 2 drops What you need to do: Peel the garlic and mash it to form a paste. Mix this paste with the olive oil nicely. Apply this paste evenly on the site of the infection. Leave it on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water afterwards and dry the area with a soft towel. Continue this treatment until your system is completely rid of the tinea pedis fungus.
16. Cinnamon
Did you know a strong cup of cinnamon tea is just what you may need to recover from athlete’s feet? A cinnamon tea soak will not only slow down the fungus causing the condition, but it would reduce the symptoms of athlete’s foot to a great extent. What you need: Cinnamon sticks: 8-10 Water: 4 cups What you need to do: Break the cinnamon sticks and boil them in water for about 15 minutes. Let the sticks simmer in the water for another 30 minutes. After the solution has cooled down, soak your feet in it for 15 minutes. Do this every day and the symptoms would start vanishing within a week.
17. Honey
Honey has potent antifungal properties that would help you get cured from Athlete’s foot in no time at all. It also has soothing properties that help you treat the condition without harming the skin in the process. What you need: Raw honey: 1 tbsp. Cotton ball What you need to do: Dab the cotton ball in the honey and place it on the infected site. Keep it there for about 30 minutes. Rinse off the honey with lukewarm water. Repeat at regular intervals throughout the day until the pain and itchiness reduce. General Tips to keep Athlete’s Foot at Bay Think you have stumbled across the best athlete’s foot home remedies? Well, let us remind you that unless you follow a few general lifestyle tips, there are no way these remedies would work. Here are some of those tips you would need to follow in order to ensure that these remedies have any effect on the infection. Dry your feet thoroughly: This applies to whenever you wash your feet, during a shower or even a bathroom break. The infected area needs to be dry to keep the fungus at bay. Air out your feet: The athlete’s foot fungus thrives in dark, moist environments. So kick out your shoes and let your feet catch some much needed air. This will allow your feet to dry, thus chasing away the fungus in between your toes. Wear open toed shoes: At least, until the infection clears off. This beats walking with bare feet as well as walking with a growing fungal infection inside your closed shoe. Choose socks made of natural fibers: These are the best options to cover your feet during a fungal infection. They absorb moisture better, thus preventing the athlete’s foot fungus from spreading further. Note: Make it a point to wash your socks every day as well in order to remove any traces of the fungus that might have latched onto the fiber. Bleaching them would also be an effective way to get rid of the fungus. Stay away from plastic and rubber shoes: These can lead to excessive sweating in between the toes, thus worsening the condition. Opt for leather shoes instead. Change your shoes: This works in case your feet sweat a lot. Airing out your shoes every two days would also be considered a wise way to stay safe from the tinea pedis fungus that causes Athlete’s foot. Wear slippers in common areas: Moving around barefoot in these areas are definitely not at all advisable. Wear slippers for areas like the swimming pool, gyms, locker rooms, health clubs and any other public place. Spray anti-fungal powder inside your shoes: If you have athlete’s foot, chances are the fungus would remain in your shoes whenever you take them off. To avoid getting infected again, air out the shoes properly and dust their insides with anti-fungal powder before wearing them. This tip will keep you away from skin psoriasis as well as it helps to keep the feet healthy. Note: You can also choose to sprinkle some anti-fungal powder on your feet before wearing your socks. This would also help prevent the fungus from spreading. And finally! Eat healthy, immune boosting foods: A compromised immune system can lead to several infections and ailments. The best way to keep your body clear of these infections is to strengthen your immune system. This can be done by eating immune boosting foods like red meats, broccoli and scallions, etc. on a daily basis. Call the Doctor: This would need to happen in case the infection does not die down even after a week or so. If you find none of these athlete’s foot remedies work and notice the symptoms worsening instead, call the doctor immediately. Athlete’s foot can be a pretty disgusting fungal infection to handle. However, with the right combination of these home remedies and tips you can get rid of the infection in a very short span of time. These remedies would also help you get relief from the pain, discomfort, itchiness and inflammation caused by athlete’s foot. So what are you waiting for? Rush to the kitchen to whip up these home remedies for athlete’s foot and show that athlete’s foot fungus the door!
Suzanne Collins https://www.1800remedies.com
Hey all, I am Suzanne, I love collecting new information on natural cure for health ailments. I always feel that nature has remedies for all our health problems, we just have to use it in the right way. I am DIY pursuer and thus keep trying natural things to get rid of nasty diseases. You will be amazed to know about the treasure mother earth has and how it can help us improve our health. Join me in a journey which take you closer to nature and keep you healthy.
