Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that usually thrives in warm, damp places. The fungus, Tinea pedis, grows between the toes, on top of the feet, on toenails and between the fingers. White patches, scaly patches, and redness are all indicative of the fungus. Symptoms of athlete’s foot may include itching, burning, stinging and inflammation.
Athletes foot fungus frequents public showers and locker rooms, indoor swimming pools and health clubs, and it is very contagious. Contact with shoes or socks containing the fungus, wet floors, or exercise equipment (remember it can live between fingers too) can spread it.
Tips for Preventing Athlete’s Foot
You can deter athlete’s foot fungus from taking hold by wearing flip-flops around public pools or showers and ensuring that your feet, including between your toes, are thoroughly dried after bathing or swimming.
You should keep your toenails the shortest length that is comfortable for you, since the fungus can live under toenails. Toenails that are left long might retain moisture and provide a haven for the fungus. You shouldn’t leave sweaty socks or shoes on any longer than you have to.
If your feet tend to sweat a lot during the day, or if you are particularly active, take a fresh pair of organic cotton socks with you and change them partway through the day (cotton is more absorbent than synthetic materials and better for your feet), and don’t wear the same shoes the following day – give them time to completely dry and air out. If you can sleep barefoot with your feet out of the covers this will also help to keep them dry and make them less hospitable to the fungus.
10 Natural Remedies for Athlete’s Foot
While prevention is always the best medicine, it’s certainly not a fail-safe. In case you DO find yourself with itchy feet, here are some natural remedies that can help with Athlete’s Foot.
- Add 40 Drops of Organic Tea Tree Oil to a foot bath and soak your feet for 10 minutes. After soaking and thoroughly drying the feet, massage a few drops of the oil directly into the affected area. Tea tree oil has antiseptic and anti-fungal properties that will help destroy the fungus in heavily infested areas and deter it from spreading to unaffected areas.
- Soak your feet in 2 tablespoons of Himalayan Crystal salt and ½ cup Organic Apple Cider Vinegar solution mixed with some warm water. This creates a very acidic environment in which the fungus cannot live. You can also spray your feet or wipe them down with a cloth soaked in this solution after you shower, just make sure you get them completely dry afterwards. You can also wipe down the insides of shoes and sandals to help prevent the fungus from clinging there.
- Make your feet stinkier by placing slices of fresh garlic, or some crushed garlic, between your toes and leaving them there for the day. You can also add the garlic to foods you eat or take a garlic supplement with the same effect, it just may take a little bit longer.
- Using ozonated olive oil can also help with Athlete’s Foot. Use the paste to swab your clean, dry feet each morning and night. This should clear up the fungus within about two to four days and can be used as a preventative measure against future outbreaks. I recommend the olive oil paste such as 02-ZAP.
- Sprinkle your toes with a little bit of organic corn starch or baking soda before putting on your socks in the morning. The corn starch/baking soda will help soak up moisture, but it wont stop the itch. Baking soda in the shoes also helps to absorb some of that not-so-pleasant sweaty foot smell.
- Make a tea of 4 ounces of oregano leaves and just enough water to cover your feet. Soak your feet 2-3 times daily in this mixture. I’ve read that you can re-use this tea for a week, but I strongly recommend making it fresh each day so that you know you are starting out with fungus-free tea.
- Sesame and Raw virgin coconut oil have anti-fungal properties and can be applied directly to the feet. Swab it liberally on clean dry feet with a cotton ball twice daily.
- Colloidal Silver is another common remedy for athlete’s foot. Spray or apply to your feet and let it fully dry. Alternatively, you can spray and leave the silver on your feet overnight.
- Organic Neem oil, sometimes used as a pesticide, is another all natural oil that has antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. Apply to clean dry feet with a cotton ball before going about your business.
- You can also use Organic Ginger, just an ounce of fresh chopped ginger added to a cup of boiling water and simmered for 20 minutes. Once cooled, apply twice daily to clean feet. Ginger is a strong anti-fungal, and your feet will have a pleasantly spicy smell.
Do you have any remedies for Athlete’s foot? Please leave a comment below, I’d love to hear it.
December 15th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
i have had this for 15 yrs,, have used every thing on my feet .. its been and costly,,, but i have now killed it,, finally Var-sol,, wiped in on maybe 6 times now ,, and its 99 % gone,,
give it a try,, a lot better than 15 yrs on chemical
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December 10th, 2011 at 8:24 am
A word of warning! I’ve suffered with mild AF on and off for years and used various natural oils and treatments; some mentioned above. Unfortunately, the infection spread to my toe nails and then I tried a whole new set of natural remedies to get rid of this.
In the end, after visiting my doctor and having a long course of treatment with Lamisil (which didn’t work) I went to see a specialist and had my foot condition professionally assessed. I’ve now had laser treatment on my nails and I’m rotating various anti-fungal creams to kill off this problem one and for all.
Moral of the story: if the natural remedies don’t work quickly seek professional attention before the condition gets out of control!
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August 16th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
PUT YOUR SHOES IN THE FREEZER. That where the fungus is hiding.
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August 15th, 2011 at 12:05 pm
Had it for years tried everything eventually learned the trick, pee in the shower. Sounds gross but really works. Was gone in a few days and never had it since.
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August 15th, 2011 at 11:29 am
In summer I use crushed & squeezed tomato leaves between toes. Leave all day. Use clean old socks as the juice stains. A two or three day treatment often lasts til the next summer.
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August 15th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Absorbine Jr, burns like hell but does the job.
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August 15th, 2011 at 10:26 am
When I was in the Army many years ago, the preventive measure they taught us in basic was to urinate on your toes before you started a shower. Don’t know if that was the reason I never picked up athletes foot but I’ve always kept up the practice.
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August 15th, 2011 at 9:15 am
I have been using Patchouli essential oil between my toes for several years to treat athlete’s foot. It doesn’t just mask the odor – it must actually kill the fungus. I used to get cracking skin and unbearable itching, as well as odor – especially in the summer, but the Patchouli made all that go away. Plus, it imparts a spicy scent to my shoes. I have also tried sandalwood oil, and it has the same healing effect.
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April 9th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Vinegar sprayed on the feet and rubbed in between the toes clears it in several sessions.
Vicks spread on the crusty/rough nail will clear it up over a longer period of time.
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March 1st, 2011 at 1:24 am
Is there any help to put carbon cushioning in the shoe?
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November 30th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I love organic coconut oil and tried it on my persistent athletes foot. It works better than anything I have ever tried, and it works
fast. Try it on your face too.
Stephen
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September 10th, 2010 at 1:11 pm
These are pretty good remedies. I always soaked my feet in warm epsom salt water, which seemed to help, but I bet adding ACV to the water would’ve worked wonders. Good Tips!
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August 23rd, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Dr. Ed,
I found your post very helpful. Here is a product that I am currently using that combines many of the advantages of the holistic remedies with an FDA proven anti-funal.
http://www.pedimd.com
It seems to be working because the new nail that is growing out is fungus free!
Thanks for the info,
Sam
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December 14th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Use DILUTED 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide [be sure to dilute it!]….It will kill the nail fungus and any athletes foot. Soak your entire body in about 1/2 cup of 35% FG Hydrogen Peroxide in a bathtub of water for about 20 minutes….You will come out with the softest skin, and it will rid you of any parasites, and fungus. I think it would be really good for those suffering with any skin disease.
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October 15th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
I found that soaking my feet for just a few minutes each night in cheap old rubbing alcohol, and drying them well has handled the itching and athlete’s foot. It leaves the feet a bit dry so I use tea tree or oregano oil as well to prevent cracking. The alcohol hasn’t improved the toenail fungus but my feet are no longer red, itchy and burning. Works fast. You can also just apply rubbing alcohol with a cloth or sponge at night or as necessary.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Dear Dr. Group,
I had fungus one of my big toes for a few years. The nail looked awful.
One day I ingested a few drops of wild mountain oregano oil while at the same time rubbing a few drops onto the nail and toe area.
After several days the toe fell off and the fungus went away.
I thought I had lost my nail!
Then I grew a new big toe nail, looking almost as good as the one that had never been attacked by fungus.
Thanks,
John
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dan replied on August 17th, 2011:
your toe fell off???ouch.
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