Athletes Foot Home Remedy
Athlete’s foot, also known medically as tinea pedis, is a disease of the foot caused by fungal infection. The fungus attacks the areas of the foot that are moist, especially the area between the toenails. The skin infection is characterized by an itching and burning sensation, along with cracked and flaky skin. You will also notice that your skin around the infected area will be dry and rough. Athlete’s foot, as the name suggests is a disease that is more prevalent among sportsperson. Athletes (or any sportsperson) have to wear their shoes for a long time while their physical exercise makes them sweat a lot. It is easy to get a fungal infection in such cases, because the fungi thrive in moist and warm areas. Wearing shoes and socks for long hours, therefore, greatly increases the chances of fungal infection. Athlete’s foot is a contagious disease that can spread through bodily contact or by coming in contact with objects used by an infected person. Therefore, as a preventive measure, it is better to avoid sharing clothes, shoes, sandals, and socks.
There are several home remedies available for athlete’s foot infections. A common home remedy is to apply freshly crushed onion paste on the infected area. Fresh paste of garlic is also known to be helpful. Garlic and onion are considered natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial solutions.
Rubbing the infected area with vinegar, tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol can also be extremely beneficial for fighting off fungal infection. Soak a cotton ball in one of these solutions and rub it over the infected skin. Boric powder and baking soda can also be rubbed on the infected skin as a remedy. Dipping your feet in warm water mixed with Epsom salt should also be beneficial to get rid of the fungal infection.
Besides the home remedies, you should always follow some preventive measures. Always try to keep your feet dry, particularly the area between the toes. After bath you should be careful not to wear shoes immediately; dry up the feet first so that the moisture does not get trapped. To dry up your feet better and quicker, you can use a blow dryer. Wear cotton socks so that the sweat is absorbed better. Avoid synthetic or nylon materials because they trap moisture. Always keep multiple pair of socks and wear clean socks only. Keep alternate pairs of shoes to wear so that you allow the shoes to dry up properly before their next use.
