Athletes Foot Home Remedy

On this page you'll find several athletes foot home remedy. It also answers your questions on what is athlete's foot and what are athlete's foot symptoms.

Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that is contagious. It is also known as tinea pedis and is caused by the trichophyton fungus. One of the most common reasons a person gets infected is when the feet are exposed to moist environments such as airtight shoes, floors of locker rooms and even the bathroom.

Some of the common athlete's foot symptoms are flaking, itching, redness and scaling on the sole of the feet or between the toes. In severe cases, cracks will appear, the toenails can split, blisters and red weepy lesions can develop.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 1 - Wash and dry

There are two important things to do to treat athlete's foot and also avoid recurrence of outbreaks. One of them is to wash your feet at least twice daily with water and anti fungal soap. The other one is to keep your feet dry. A further action that you need to do if you have the fungal infection is to wash your tub or shower with antiseptic cleaner after bathing.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 2 - Tea tree oil

After washing and drying your feet and using a damp thin towel and drying the area between your toes, apply tea tree oil with a cotton ball. Tea tree oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, and antiviral properties.

You can also use a mixture of equal parts tea tree oil and peppermint oil. One of the active ingredients in peppermint oil is menthol which provides a soothing and cooling effect. It is also effective in treating many skin problems, infections and inflammations including acne.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 3 - Oil of oregano

You can also use oil of oregano instead of tea tree oil. Oil of oregano contains carvacrol which has anti fungal, anti bacterial, anti parasitic, anti septic and anti viral properties.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 4 - Vicks vaporub

Although Vicks vaporub is meant to soothe the common cold, it is a favorite home remedy to get rid of fungal infections including athlete's foot and nail fungus. The ointment contains castor oil which has analgesic, anti inflammatory and healing properties. The compounds in the ointment will penetrate inside your skin. What you need to do is rub the ointment every night and continue doing it.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 5 - Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural products that helps fight fungal and bacterial infections and provide athlete's foot relief. To stop athlete's foot itching, soak your feet and toes in a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar. After you've done that, dry your skin with a cloth or use a hair dryer that is set at a warm setting. Once it is dried, use any of the topical applications mentioned above.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 6 - Black tea

Another option is to use black tea mix with water to soak your feet and toes. Black tea contains tannic acid that has the ability to kill the fungus as well as producing a soothing effect.

Athletes foot home remedy No. 7 - Wear proper footwear

Sandals and shoes with open toes are the best footwear to avoid fungal infection and athlete's foot. If you have to wear closed-toed shoes, wear a pair that is made of leather. Avoid shoes made of plastic or rubber and those that are watertight. These types of shoes will trap your sweat and cause your feet to become moist and thus allow fungus to grow.

Have extra shoes so that you can dry and air one pair in the sun to remove any odor and kill the fungus. Before putting on your shoes and after removing them, treat the shoes with anti fungal spray and sprinkle anti fungal powder on your feet and between your toes.

When at home, go barefoot as much as possible. But don't go barefoot at public places. A pair of thongs would help prevent the exposure to the fungus.

Choose acrylic socks because this type of socks help keep your feet dry as well as prevent them from developing blisters. Socks made of cotton or wool is the next option. Change your socks often especially if your feet sweat and wash them in hot water.

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