Athlete’s foot can be a huge nuisance, but with some natural remedies you can alleviate the itching and burning, while at the same time supporting medical treatment, in order to achieve faster results. Below you can learn about the most used natural remedies for athlete’s foot.
Tinea pedis, more commonly known as athlete’s foot, is an infection caused by fungus on the feet. It usually occurs on the toes, but it can also occur on the palms or heels.
The duration of the athlete’s foot condition is indeterminate, in some patients it disappears in a few days and in others it lasts for months, but worst of all is that it is a problem that usually reappears even though the treatment used has been effective. But we should not stop using these natural recipes that will help treat athlete’s foot.
Table of Contents
Athlete’s foot characteristics
Fungi are highly contagious and can be transmitted through direct contact with the skin or through clothing or footwear. Common showers and swimming pools are also easy places to get infected.
This fungus thrives best in humid and warm places, so the risk of infection increases if you wear closed shoes all the time, keep your feet wet (for example on rainy days) or sweat a lot. Having injuries or small wounds on the feet or nails can also speed up this process.
Common symptoms of athlete’s foot
Symptoms include a burning or burning sensation, red and irritated skin, and blisters that ooze or become pimples. If the fungus spreads to the nails, it can affect them by changing their color, texture and in the worst cases, breaking them.
Home remedies to treat athlete’s foot
Home remedies are intended to alleviate the concomitant symptoms of athlete’s foot. Its effect has mostly not been scientifically proven, but being natural, and coming from the oral tradition of grandmothers, they are home remedies that have been put into practice for centuries.
Home remedy with salt water
Salt water is a very good remedy to end athlete’s foot. To apply it effectively we must take a basin and add eight small tablespoons of salt to half a liter of hot water. We put our feet in it and let it act. Mushrooms do not like salt at all, so this recipe acts directly on the problem. By way of prevention, if we have an open wound it may sting a bit.
Tea tree oil
This oil has antifungal properties. For its preparation we must mix olive oil and tea tree oil in equal parts. It is necessary to apply a couple of times a day in the affected area and in a short time we will begin to notice a considerable improvement in the symptoms of athlete’s foot. This procedure is not recommended in adolescents in full development stage.
Put the shoes in the sun
This remedy is one of the simplest that exist but no less effective. Before we indicated that having closed shoes all day can cause fungus to appear. Well, make a habit of putting them in the sun in a well-ventilated area when you’re not using them. In fact, it is especially recommended that you do it minutes before putting them on.
Baking soda for feet
Like salt, baking soda is one of the best-known natural recipes for treating athlete’s foot. We have to mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a little water until it becomes a paste.
Once done, we have to spread it between the toes and on the affected area. After we wash well and dry, this is an effective home remedy to treat athlete’s foot problems.
Apple vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is traditionally used as a natural disinfectant because it has an antimicrobial effect. That makes it a very effective home remedy for treating athlete’s foot.
For example, you can apply a few drops of vinegar to cotton wool or a clean cloth to clean areas affected by athlete’s foot.
You can also use an apple cider vinegar foot soak:
- Fill a large container with warm water. One liter of water should be enough.
- Now add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix the solution well.
- You can do a foot bath twice a day to relieve itching and reduce fungus.
Essential oils to treat athlete’s foot
Essential oils like tea tree oil are very beneficial in eliminating foot fungus. Tea tree oil is best applied slightly diluted to the skin.
Make sure to test the oil on a small area of skin before using it, as highly concentrated essential oils can quickly irritate our skin, which would only aggravate fungal disease.
Learn how to make a home remedy for athlete’s foot from essential oils:
- Add about ten drops of an essential oil (along with the tea tree oil and lavender oil) to a small bottle.
- As a carrier oil, now add ten milliliters of vegetable oil, such as olive oil.
- Shake the mixture well before applying it to the skin.
It is recommended that your feet be examined as often as possible for signs of athlete’s foot. Maintain proper foot care that should be done at least once a week anyway.