Athlete's Foot - Causes And Home Remedies

By Author: Dr Easton Patrick
Total Articles: 531
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Athlete's foot, medically termed as tinea pedis, is an itchy skin infection caused by the fungus Trichophyton that thrives on warm and moist zones of skin. The infection first affects the skin between toes and then may spread to soles of feet and toenails. The fungus infects the outer skin layer and spreads through direct contact with infected person. The sites which commonly bear this fungus are floors of gyms, locker's room, nail salons or swimming pools etc. The infection may spread by simply walking bare foot on the contaminated surface or sharing footwear of the person with Athlete's foot.

The symptoms of Athlete's foot include itching, burning, dryness, redness of skin, blistering, cracking or peeling of skin and even bleeding. For some, the affected skin looks white and feels moist on surface. Aging, diseases like diabetes, impaired immune functioning are factors accelerating the rate of contracting athlete's foot. Improper hygiene also leads to thriving of Athlete's foot fungus. The fungus can affect one foot or both feet and contrary to its name, Athlete's foot is not restricted to sports persons alone.

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... Remedies for Athlete's Foot

1. Soaking feet in a solution of one part vinegar and four parts warm water twice daily cures Athlete's foot.

2. Make a paste by adding one tablespoon baking soda to water and apply the paste on the affected region. Wait till the coating dries and then rinse off and pat the skin dry. This is an effective home remedy to treat this foot problem.

3. Immersing feet in a tub containing a mixture of one part of pure apple cider vinegar and one part of warm water for 20 minutes twice a day and then thoroughly drying up the skin, heals this problem.

4. Pour 40 drops of tea tree oil in a tub of 1 liter water and soak your feet in it. Ensure the thorough drying up of skin after the treatment. Application of few drops of tea tree oil directly on the infected region also has a healing effect.

5. In to a tub of warm water, add 1 cup vinegar, one-fourth cup Epsom salt and 3 tablespoon boric acid. Soak your feet in the solution for 15 minutes and then pat dry. This gives relief from the fungus.

6. Soak feet in a tub of warm water, scrape off the dry scales and dry the skin thoroughly. Then coat the infected region with a thin layer of oregano oil. This is beneficial in treating this problem.

7. Application of cornstarch on feet before wearing socks and shoes keeps feet dry and checks the thriving of Athlete's foot fungus.

8. Placing fresh garlic slices in shoes and keeping it through out the day, prevents this fungal infection.

9. Rub rubbing alcohol after mixing 6 aspirins in to it to get rid of this foot problem.

10. Olive leaf extracts have strong anti-bacterial power and can cure this problem effectively.

11. Drinking pau d'arco tea helps to get rid of this foot problem.

Read more Home Remedies for Athlete Foot. Also know useful Home Remedies for Cellulite. Read effective Home Remedies for High Cholesterol.