Natural Athletes Foot Treatment

Athletes foot does not show favoritism. It has no problem afflicting the guy that sits and watch television all day to the athletic guy that plays sports all day long. Athletes foot is also known as tinea pedis and it is a fungal infection, which causes inflammation, blisters, itching, burning, and scaling of the feet and toes. The fungus that causes athletes foot loves to hangout in moist and warm environments, which includes your gym shoes and the locker room. This is the same fungus that’s responsible for jock itch and ringworm.

Athletes foot is highly contagious and could be passed on from person to person via showers, towels, and floors. However, most of the cases of athletes foot tend to come from sweaty socks and shoes. In addition, if you’re someone that has taken antibiotics for more than two weeks, you’re more likely to get athletes foot because the antibiotics tend to kill the good bacteria that helps fight the fungus and keep it from getting the upper hand.

Natural athletes foot treatment

The use of garlic is a great natural athletes foot treatment because it helps to eliminate the fungus as well as fight the infection. For the best results, take five hundred milligram tablets 3 times daily. You can also place little cloves of garlic in your shoes for a few days to eradicate the fungus.

Tea tree oil is a great antifungal and it works well against athletes foot. If you have a bad case of the fungus and it is widespread, just soak your foot in a nice warm relaxing foot bath that consists of 1 quart warm water and ten to fifteen drops of tea tree oil. When you’re finished, do not forget to dry your foot properly, especially between the toes. You can then proceed to apply the undiluted tea tree oil directly to the area that’s affected and leave on the skin.

You can also use golden seal because of its antifungal properties. It gets its antifungal properties from two alkaloids. Soak your foot three times a day in a mixture that’s made with golden seal. Mix a ½ ounce of powdered golden seal with one pint of boiling hot water. Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes. After fifteen minutes, strain it and add it to a basin of lukewarm water. Soak your feet and then dry it properly.

You can help your body maintain the good bacteria that helps fight the fungus by taking acidophilus. Take one of the following forms 3 times a day: one tablespoon liquid extract; 1 or 2 capsules, tablets, or softgels; or 2 tablespoons powder in cool liquid. You can also eat yogurt that contains live cultures. You can find it in your local grocery store.

Boost your immune system by taking zinc, which helps to fight the fungus. Take fifty milligrams a day.

If you’re predisposed to getting athletes foot, try your best to keep your feet as dry and clean as you possibly can. Make sure that you wear white cotton socks, which allows your feet to breathe. In addition, once you take your socks off, wash them in bleach to kill any remnants of the fungus that may be left behind. People with sweaty feet should change their socks several times throughout the day, and should wear open toe sandals or shoes, which allows air to reach the feet. Whenever you’re in the locker room, wear waterproof sandals or slippers, which would help you to avoid contact with the fungus.

You can kill the fungus that causes athletes foot by utilizing home remedies and over-the-counter creams such as Lamisil, Lotrimin, and Tinactin. However, if the fungal infection is accompanied by a bacterial infection, you may have to go see a doctor. Therefore, if the problem does not clear up or gets worse after a month, call your physician.

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