Every mom should have a few tricks up her sleeve to remedy minor ailments at home without resorting to harmful chemicals. Here are five natural remedies for the annoying problem that ailed many of us from time to time, the athlete’s foot.
Athlete’s foot is a condition of the skin most often associated with sweaty feet, stinks and gym locker rooms. But, it doesn’t only affect athletes.
How Does Athlete’s Foot Occur?
It may be surprising to know that the athlete’s foot is not just something that teenagers get. In fact, there is more to the root of athlete’s foot than towels or infected showers.
Body microbiome can have a lot to do with sensitivity to infection, including the athlete’s foot. Let’s first see what really causes the athlete’s foot.
What Cause the Athlete’s Foot
- Contact with infected persons or objects such as towels, shower on the floor or on the pool
- Wearing tight and wet shoes
- Imbalance of the microbioma body
- Poor immune system function
While everyone knows that exposure to the fungus responsible for athlete’s foot promotes the spread of the infection, your own health may have a lot to do with how your body handles exposure. When we have a proliferation of harmful bacteria and fungi, we are more susceptible to infections of all kinds.
We have more bacterial cells compared to human cells, and it really is all about bacterial balance. We talk a lot about gut health and the importance of supporting the skin microbiome. The idea is that when the inner ecosystem is balanced, all its microbioma body be balanced, including bacteria and more under the surface of the skin.
Athlete’s Foot Symptoms
The athlete’s foot can mimic dermatitis or eczema, so it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. The symptoms include:
- Blisters
- Thick, scaly, red or cracked skin
- Rash with itchiness
- Discolored toenails
- The symptoms are concentrated between the toes, where most likely fungus grow
Some Prevention for Athlete’s Foot
The best remedy is often to avoid the problem first. Here are several ways to lessen the chances of athletes foot:
- If possible, use foot coverings in wet public places.
- Dry your feet well out of the water, whether at home or in public places.
- Wash towels if the infection is suspected or if they have been used in a public place.
- Watch out for your microbiome by eating a healthy diet, supplementing probiotics, and avoiding products that kill good bacteria like antibacterial soaps.
5 Natural Remedy for Athlete’s Foot
In the unfortunate case of getting this dreaded fungal infection on foot, there are some great natural remedies that can help get it under control:
1. Internal Probiotic Solution
Intestinal health affects many aspects of overall health! The rise in the potency of probiotics, avoid sugar and excessively starchy foods, and focus on nutritious foods like sauerkraut and broth.
Often, those who fight infections, either the athlete’s foot or the common cold, may have an underlying bowel problem. Our immune system is responsible for fighting infections, and while the occasional flu or cold gives them the workout they need to stay strong, fungal infections are more of a symptom of imbalance. When our bowels are unbalanced, our immune systems weaken and become susceptible to infection.
Candida is a fungal yeast type and is often the cause of many health problems like arthritis, eczema, and allergies. Although it is a natural strain found in the bowels of all, problems arise when it becomes excessive due to the absence of beneficial bacteria. Dieting like the GAPS diet can help eliminate harmful fungi and put the bowel in balance.
Similarly, the tinea fungus which is responsible for the athlete’s foot is normal to have on the skin. However, our skin is more susceptible to infections if our skin bacteria is out of balance.
Not only is it necessary to balance the skin of intestinal bacteria, but can also be beneficial for balancing the bacteria on the skin.
2. Topical Probiotic Remedy
Although oral probiotics are beneficial for the intestine and overall health, in the case of an acute athlete’s foot infection, it is possible that topical application of probiotics is useful.
Take the same idea as this recipe for probiotic mask and become the basis of a natural cure for the athlete’s foot.
Mix altogether:
- 1 tablespoon organic yogurt (preferred full fat)
- 1 capsule of Saccharomyces boulardii (a yeast shown beneficial to attack pathogenic fungi)
(Increase or double the amounts if necessary.)
Use a cotton ball to spread the mixture over the infected areas and let stand for half an hour.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Solution
The sour, tangy crunchy mama favorite that aids with every single thing from heartburn to dandruff can also be one of the best natural remedies for mild athlete’s foot.
Apple cider vinegar has been used since the time of Hippocrates when it was appreciated for its medicinal properties. It is known to be particularly beneficial against yeasts and fungi, and a lot of people take it internally to keep balance the candida.
To use ACV to remedy athlete’s foot, make sure you have a good, high quality, unpasteurized version.
In a foot bath container, mix:
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
Soak your feet for about half an hour. ACV can also be applied directly to infection with a cotton ball. The apple cider vinegar is likely to sting, so you need to know and dilute more if necessary.
4. Essential Oil Solutions
There are some essential oils that can be used to fight fungal infections.
Anti-fungal essential oils include:
- oregano
- lavender
- tea tree
- thyme
- clove
- geranium
There are some ways essential oils can be used as natural remedies for athlete’s foot.
How To Make Your Own Ointment:
Use this simple recipe for homemade balm to create your own anti-fungal ointment by adding anti-fungal essential oils:
- 1/4 cup of beeswax pastilles
- 2 cups olive oil or almond oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
- 40 drops of tea tree essential oil
- 12 drops of essential oil of oregano and clove
To do:
- Heat the oil in a double boiler until the beeswax melted and mixed.
- Add the essential oils and stir.
- Pour into small cans or glass jars and apply in infected areas as often.
Apply neat or diluted.
Essential oils are highly concentrated, usually it does not suggest using directly on the skin.
However, some essential oils like lavender can be either to apply neat or directly to the skin. The main concern in this case is the application of oil on scuffed skin, it would be painful and cause additional irritation. You can always consult a certified aromatherapist if you are interested in using essential oils undiluted.
A good rule of thumb is 3-5 drops of essential oil per teaspoon of oil. Coconut oil is an excellent choice as it is also anti-fungal. Simply combine one of the above anti-fungal essential oils with a little coconut oil and applied to infected areas.
How to make an anti-fungal spray?
Mix anti-fungal essential oils with witch hazel to create a cleansing and healing astringent. Mix the oils of choice in a spray bottle with witch hazel, taking into account the dilution ratios, spritz on clean and dry feet and then allow to dry. You could also add a little ACV to the spray for athlete’s foot remedy as well.
5. Footwear and Towel Remedies
Sticking your shoes in the freezer for about 24 hours can kill the fungus and prevent it from growing. Also, you can use an anti-fungal essential oil spray as suggested above to spritz your shoes and kill the fungus.
In addition to disinfection shoes, it is also a good idea to pull or disinfect any infected sock used while disinfecting also used towels.
Wash on the hottest setting on the washing machine to disinfect towels. Add vinegar, anti-fungal essential oils or hydrogen peroxide to kill germs. In cases of persistent or recurrent infections of athlete’s foot, consider throwing objects that may have come into contact with the fungus.
How can you remedy athlete’s foot naturally?
Most minor infections can be corrected at home without the help of harmful or toxic drugs or medicines. The athlete’s foot is no exception, and with these athlete’s foot natural remedies, you’ll be free of fungus in no time!
With these natural remedies, you can treat athlete’s foot whenever infections occur. Try it now!
