Home remedies for athlete's foot

Athlete’s foot or Tinea pedis, is a condition which quite unlike its name does not exclusively affect athletes. It is basically a fungal infection on feet, just below the epidermal layer of the skin and has moisture and humidity to blame for it. The soft and moist skin between toes is an ideal breeding place for fungal infections, which may later spread to the rest of the foot.

A fungal infection on the foot can be caused due to various factors. Excessively sweaty feet; moist, humid and warm environmental conditions; infections from public places, pools and showers and even infections from pets can be the various conditions in which fungal infections get transmitted.

You should realise that you have Tinea pedis, if the skin between the toes is moist and has a whitish surface, which appears quite soggy. The skin too shall keep peeling off and becomes blistery in appearance. The new skin which keeps coming has a red inflamed look due to the infection. If the fungus infects the toenails, they become thick and brittle. Many a times a foul smell also emanates from the feet due to this problem. If not taken care of in time the infection can affect the hands and fingernails as well.

Fungal infections usually occur in places which provide the fungus with an optimum PH to breed. By changing the PH levels of the skin, these infections can be dealt with. Here are some effective herbal remedies for curing athlete’s foot –

•    Apple Cider vinegar – this is the perfect way to change the PH of the infected area. An external application on the area proves very effective.
•    Black walnut tea/tincture – incase the feet develop septic or the blisters become watery, this remedy helps a lot.
•    Calendula cream – this local application helps in faster healing of the infected skin.
•    Fish liver oil – this oil is rich in Vit-A and D and helps to cure fungal infections.
•    Goldenseal – this herb contains anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial properties and thus, its tincture is used on the skin to cure infections such as athlete’s foot.
•    Wet clay – for very severe infections an overnight pack of wet clay is a must. Wet clay is the best remedy for infections. Apply it, cover with a plastic bag and let it remain on the foot overnight. Wash it the next morning; repeat it every night for atleast 5-6 days.
•    Essential oils – a therapeutic treatment with essential oils proves to be very helpful if the infection has spread to the toenails. This is because toenails infections are very difficult to cure as the medicines do not reach the nail bed where the infection resides. However, the essential oils penetrate in to the cell membranes very well and cure the problem faster.
•    Olive leaf extract – a very powerful anti-fungal product, it helps to heal such infections.
•    Tea tree oil – it again is an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial herbal product and can be used externally to cure the problem.
•    Thyme oil – its anti-fungal properties help to deal with a large number of fungal infections.
It is important to know that if you develop fungal infections once, there is a possibility that they may re-appear. It is therefore necessary to follow the following things religiously –
•    Keep your feet dry. Wipe them well, especially between the fingers, after a bath and before you put on the socks.
•    You may also use some anti-fungal powders, go in for some herbal variety and apply it twice a day.
•    Change your socks twice daily.
•    Ensure that your feet get some air. So wear some open sandals or slippers for an hour or two.
•    Choose appropriate footwear according to the weather.
•    Choose a tea tree oil or thyme oil based toner or the oil itself to apply on the feet regularly.

A little bit of extra care for your feet shall go a long way in keeping infections and skin ailments away and keep the feet happy.