Home remedies of Athlete’s foot

Even a couch potato can develop athlete’s foot – a maddening, itchy, scaly, odorous rash between the toes. The fungus that causes it thrives when conditions become warm and moist. Hot weather and shoes that don’t allow the feet to breathe are contributing factors.

Remedies:

• Mild cases respond well to simple home remedies. The most important treatment for athlete’s foot is to keep the feet dry, especially between the toes. Be sure to towel dry between your toes and maybe even use a blow-dryer.
• Keep the toes wedged apart with gauze or cotton, and use foot powder to stay dry.
• You can powder your feet with baking soda. First, sprinkle the powder in a plastic or paper bag, then put your foot into the bag and shake well. This distributes the powder where it does the most good and saves a messy cleanup.
• A cornstarch or baking soda paste also helps. Make a paste by mixing cornstarch or baking soda with lukewarm water and spread it between your toes.
• Soaking in saltwater (two teaspoons of salt for every pint of warm water) softens the skin to enable proper penetration of medication, as well as cut down on perspiration and the conditions that encourage fungi growth. Another effective home remedy soak is a white vinegar/water solution (2-4 tablespoons per pint) for 20 minutes, three times daily.
• Jump into a warm shower and use a bristle brush to really scrub your feet. Be sure to scrub well between your toes in order to remove any dead skin where the fungi hide.
• Whenever possible, get your feet into the sunlight and give them a good airing out. Also, change your socks at least three times a day, and make sure they are cotton.
• Wear sandals, open-toed, canvas or woven leather shoes that allow your feet to breathe. Avoid vinyl uppers, gym shoes with rubber soles or footwear that has been treated to keep water out. These kinds of shoes make your feet sweat – the perfect environment for athlete’s foot to flourish.
• Finally, be patient. It may take two weeks to two months for athlete’s foot to clear up.