August 29, 2018
Are you looking for natural athlete’s foot remedies you can do at home? This fungal infection is itchy, painful, and it’s something you want to find a solution for right away. Not to mention, taking quick action is necessary, since athlete’s foot is contagious. Try these home remedies to ease athlete’s foot symptoms and prevent infecting others, too.
7 Easy Everyday Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot
1. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is used as a natural antiseptic because of its antifungal and antibacterial properties, and soaking your feet in tea tree oil is one of the most popular ways of treating athlete’s foot. The natural antifungal chemicals make it effective for treating athlete’s foot. Put ten milliliters of tea tree oil and three milliliters of olive oil in a clean bowl with a 33 oz of water, and soak your feet for 20-30 minutes, three times a day.
2. Garlic
Garlic’s medicinal properties make it effective against fungi and bacteria. Allicin, a compound found in garlic, suppresses the growth of the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. Crush the garlic and mix it with olive oil to create a paste. Use cotton swabs to apply the paste into affected areas and leave it on for 15-30 minutes. Wash and dry your feet and repeat daily.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide Mixed with Iodine
Hydrogen peroxide is a strong antiseptic that kills both fungus and bacteria, helping clear the skin off of athlete’s foot. Combining hydrogen peroxide with iodine makes it more effective and kills 16 different types of fungi. Dilute hydrogen peroxide and iodine in a bucket of water, and dip your feet into the mixture for 20-30 minutes.
Note: Make sure to dilute hydrogen peroxide and iodine first before using it. Its raw form is very potent and may irritate the skin.
4. Cornstarch
You probably already have cornstarch in your pantry right now so making this won’t be much of a challenge. Cornstarch, just like foot powder, is a good product to keep the toes dry. But, another way to use cornstarch is making cornstarch paste.
Simply mix 1/2 cup of cornstarch with warm water and mix until you have a paste mixture. Rub the mixture in between the toes and leave it for 5-10 minutes. After, clean with a towel and make sure there are no residues left. You can try this home remedy in the morning or at night.
5. Baking Soda
Baking soda has antifungal properties which may help against athlete’s foot. Using sodium bicarbonate also removes excess moisture to inhibit the growth of the fungus, while also removing foot odor. Put half a cup of baking soda in a large bucket of warm water, and soak your feet for 15-20 minutes. Do this twice a day, and make sure to dry your feet thoroughly after the soak. Don’t rinse your feet to ensure the effectiveness of baking soda for athlete’s foot.
6. Mix Himalayan Crystal Salt and Apple Cider Vinegar
Mixing these two ingredients creates an acidic substance inhospitable to fungi. Just combine two tablespoons of Himalayan crystal salt and half a cup of organic apple cider vinegar in a bucket of water. Soak the infected feet in the mixture for 10 minutes and wipe them thoroughly once finished. The acidic mixture can also be a disinfectant; you can wipe the insides of footwear with it.
7. Oregano Oil
Oregano oil has strong antifungal and antibacterial properties said to kill fungus upon contact. It is also used in mouthwash to immediately kill germs that cause bad breath. To use this is a home remedy, simply mix a few drops of oregano oil with a carrier oil of your choice. Apply the mixture 3-4 times a day on the affected area.
Other Things to Remember
Below are some easy-to-follow preventive measures to avoid contracting athlete’s foot:
- Keep feet dry
- Avoid sharing towels
- Avoid sharing footwear
- Keep bathroom surfaces clean
- Put on a clean pair of socks every day
- Keep your feet clean by washing with soap and water every day
- Wear waterproof sandals while walking around the locker room
- Put antifungal powder on the feet before putting socks on every day
These tips will work in two ways. It will stop you from infecting others, and you’ll be able to prevent being infected as well.
Check out this video from HW Beauty to learn more about natural remedies for athlete’s foot:
Athlete’s foot may start as a small inconvenience characterized by an itchy and stinging scaly rash. If left untreated, complications may arise. It’s highly contagious and may spread to other parts of the body that are harder to treat. If you can’t find an athlete’s foot home remedy in this list that works for you, the Wonder Balm may just be the solution you need. It’s made from natural ingredients that stop the itching, calms down the irritation, and prevents the spread of athlete’s foot.
What natural remedies do you use to treat athlete’s foot? Tell us in the comments section below!
Up Next: Best Athlete’s Foot Cream