Natural Remedies For Athlete's Foot

Light

Posted by Anonymous (Toronto, Ontario) on 12/29/2017
★★★★★

Light for Athlete's Foot

I feel like I tried everything but this irritating infection just wouldn't leave. Not for over 20 years. OTC treatments, ACV, and garlic would alleviate it temporarily but it would always return. Same with high strength isopropyl alcohol. Then I discovered that exposing the infected area to light had an impact. It would penetrate the layers of skin to get at the cause of the problem. This lessened the discomfort but again, it was a temporary fix. Until I thought that if I were to have longer term exposure to light - at least an hour at a time - it might kill off enough of the infection to make a significant dent, and with repeated 'treatments' the fungus couldn't survive, as it needs darkness to thrive. So that's what I've been doing and I think I'm finally kicking this. I do apply tea tree oil and castor oil first, then just turn on a desk lamp and position it so that the light shines on the area. Relax, maybe throw on a good tv show and/or movie. Afterwards, put on a fresh pair of socks. Repeat as necessary - daily is probably ideal. Fingers crossed that this is the solution that works - it's been the most effective for me so far and I've only done it 3-5 times. Be careful about placement of the light - don't burn yourself (or anything else)! Good luck out there.

Panoxyl 5 Cream

Posted by Joe (Nairobi) on 12/19/2017
★★★★★

Re: Treating Athlete's Foot

I remember I once used Panoxyl 5 cream when way back in the 90s. I haven't gotten it nowadays. Worked perfect. Caution! It will bleach your bed linen so sleep with socks.. share of it works for you.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Sue (Europe) on 11/03/2017

I have had this condition all my life and have been struggling with it on and off. Went back to the doc because - yes - I suspect I have dyshidrotic excema as well! All the stuff you use to dry out or attack the 'fungus' is only going to agravate it even more. Got a referral to a dermatologist now, but I can't get an appointment until 3 or 4 weeks from now. Will definitely discuss this option with him.

To make things even more confusing, you can get dyshidrotic excema as an allergic reaction to a fungal infection. Anyway, keep this option in mind everybody. It's very common for people with hay fever, allergies and asthma (as myself).

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 10/02/2017

Dear Becky,

I don't recall what I used many years ago; now I make my own. However, when I need to buy a tincture, I like Herbpharm.

~Mama to Many~

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Becky (Ca) on 10/01/2017 31 posts

to Momma to many,

Can you be specific on a Calendula tincture? Perhaps from Amazon?

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Charity (Faithville, Usa) on 08/29/2017

I am very familiar with yeast issues . what does your diet look like and have you also tried some supplements lately, what might they be ....? maybe garlic

Some foods flush it out of the body onto the skin and that is quite painful. When mine gets bad I go to walmart and buy vaginal yeast cream (miconazole)and coat my foot/hand before bed and put on a sock/cotton glove.

You may need some milk thistle to give your liver a break and some Molybedum to stop detox misery symptoms.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 08/29/2017

Dear Michaela,

Sorry to hear this is causing you so much misery!

Here are some things to try:

Turmeric internally to reduce itch and inflammation
Borage oil internally to reduce inflammation
Calendula tincture for topical use. Add 1 dropperful of calendula tincture to 1 ounce of water and rub into hands and feet twice a day. This knocked out a chronic fungal issue I had over 20 years ago after a year of different remedies.
Keep sugar and processed foods to a minimum.
Add coconut oil to your diet and apply to hands and feet if they are dry feeling. (After using calendula )

I hope you feel better soon.

~Mama to Many~

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Micheala (West Yorkshire) on 08/29/2017
★☆☆☆☆

Been using Apple Cider Vinegar for 2 weeks for Athlete's Foot. Nothing working. Having it on my hands and feet is getting too much for me. I feel like I want to claw them both off. Had every otc plus doctors strong steroid creams. Please someone give me an end to this. Had it for 2 years and I can't cope much more.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jeanna (Birmingham) on 07/13/2017

Try Lamasil. It worked for me better than lotrimin.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Connie (California) on 07/05/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My athlete's foot was eczema!

I suffered for 2 years with chronic "athlete's foot" using Rx antifungals prescribed by my doc when all natural remedies failed. Last 2 months were so painful, just standing or walking made my feet crack and bleed. I was confined to recliner, walking on toes only to use bathroom and get food from kitchen. I cried in pain and frustration, thinking this was my world now - a recliner.

Finally got referral to a PA in dermatology. She took SKIN SCRAPING to lab. Test results 10 days later: NO FUNGUS! I have dyshidrotic ezcema!

The cure? Aloe Vera juice applied to feet, followed by Eucerin cream. Basically, giving feet TLC by moisturizing with hyperallergenic creams. Vasoline would probably work, too. Two weeks later, I returned to DANCING! Sort of, lol, but I am ambulatory again! Another week or so and I should be completely healed!

People with chronic skin conditions, INSIST on lab testing a skin scraping to rule out fungus! Two stinking years of my life spent on every remedy and treatment for nothing. Grrr.

I hope this helps somebody!

Fresh Lime Juice

Posted by Serena G. (Tucson, Az) on 05/09/2017
★★★★★

We had a case of athlete's foot. From my personal experience tea tree was only keeping it from getting worse and coconut oil did not stop it getting worse (spread from one or two toes to all of them, peeling skin but not painful). However I saw on this site about apple cider vinegar. Since we just bought a huge box of limes and couldn't eat them all up I thought I'd try it. I rubbed a 1/2 fresh sliced lime on the toes, top and bottom, squeezing the juice all over it (yummy smelling toes! ) and air drying. After about a week it was completely cleared up. This proved to be a very effective cure for us this time. I will remember it. I imagine lemon would work the same. Thanks for your great site!

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Gayle (North Dakota) on 04/04/2017 3 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Colloidal Silver. If you make your own colloidal silver it is very effective for getting rid of foot fungi. I make 50 to 60 ppm. Put it in a shallow glass pan and soak my feet for 15 to 20 min. I save the silver solution and use it a second time then discard. You will need to make many quarts to get the fungi under control. If you do not make your own silver then this would be very cost prohibitive. Look into purchasing your own silver generator. I cured my nasty problem in about a week doing this. You can also spray the silver on your clean dry socks and allow to dry before putting them away, you have just made silver socks. You can spray the silver on your your tub and other areas where the fungi may thrive. Spray your shoes and allow to dry to kill off the fungi and other nasty bacteria. Ingest the 5 to 10ppm colloidal silver to combat it internally as well.

Fresh Aloe Vera

Posted by Laurac (Us) on 03/21/2017
★★★★★

Fresh aloe vera for athletes foot.

I scratched my feet so horrible. I wounded them so bad. I wounded the palm of my feet so I could not walk. My feet were so raw exposed and burning. I bought a fresh aloe vera from my grocery store and cut the leaf then smeared it on my wounds. Instant stop to the burn and pain, and the goo forms a protective healing layer. Aloe vera has many properties. It's under rated for athletes foot. Unlike ACV and cayenne it heals without burning like hell! Thanks God for your marvelous plants.

Steam Your Floors

Posted by Rosie (United States) on 02/08/2017
★★★★☆

Athlete's fungus lives on surfaces virtually forever, so walking around barefoot in the house means you're spreading it on the floor surfaces in your home, resulting in you reinfecting yourself, & anyone else who is walking around barefoot in your house.

When you come home from work, wearing sandals is a much better option, or if it's colder a clean pair of sox & slippers.

Most fungi, including AF fungus, can be killed with 140* hot water, so if you've been running around barefoot in your home all your floors are infected, & you need to get a floor steamer (steam is created at 212*) & run it over every square inch of your floors to kill the AF fungus, so you're not reinfecting yourself, or anyone else.

Just wish it was this easy to kill the AF fungus on my feet.

Baking Soda

Posted by Macswelly (California) on 01/26/2017 3 posts
★★★★★

Re: Apple Cider Vinegar Soak Not Helping Athlete's Foot Pain

Soak your feet for an hour in about a cup of baking soda only. Also in between soakings you need something to help kill the fungus as well. I would recommend making a dry mixture (basically a foot powder) of one part baking soda and three parts corn starch. Mix these two dry items in a mixing bowl and thoroughly combine. Afterwards find yourself a shaker container and pour the dry mixture into the shaker container. Apply this foot powder morning and night, wearing socks to help keep the mixture on while you sleep.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Frustrated One (Indianapolis, In) on 01/26/2017
★☆☆☆☆

Hi,

I've treated my athletes foot for roughly four weeks. It's been awful! I started out using Lotrimin and two weeks later advanced to Lotrimin Ultra. My symptoms are itching, burning needle sensations. Visually my feet have dryness on both heels, and a little redness accompanied by splotchy skin. I started using ACV roughly four days ago, I'm still experiencing symptoms. I'm trying to do everything I can, I tend to be OCD. I soak for almost an hour once a day. Please help, I've never experienced anything like this.

Thanks,

Frustrated One

Borax

Posted by Vj (Manchester, Uk) on 01/10/2017

Hi Mama,

Thanks you for your post above, that is very interesting. I have a case of athletes foot now which has lingered for 2 months despite me using the usual topical creams (daktarin, lamisil, caneston). So now I am looking for alternatives. I have just ordered the Borax. I plan to put some in shoes/socks, but also to take tiny amounts with water like you suggest. Do you have any specific tips on this? For example how many weeks did you do this for with your husband? And is it safe?

Thanks in advance

VJ.

Garlic

Posted by Teresa (Chula Vista, Ca ) on 12/02/2016
★★★★★

I been fighting nail fungus try many drugs store remedies and Doctor's prescribed. Nothing has worked I ever got the pills but after reading the side effects they are still unopened. My nail fungus as spread to all my nail on one foot and to two on the other. And now I have a serious case of AF too. I have been using the vinegar soak follow by a baking soda soak then, air dry then spray of Colloifal Silver sir dry again. Then fungus killing essential oils. But instead of fresh garlic I opted for garlic powder as a foot powder. It has worked for my AF and it looks like its working on my Nail fungus too. Finally think I will kill it. I will now try what you said drinking the fresh garlic and ACV with cellery. Can you please post your recipe. Thanks.

Borax

Posted by Giana (Youngsville, Ny) on 10/10/2016
★★★★★

Soak the athlete's foot in a mixture of 1/4 c. Borax and warm water! This will cure it! You can also rub vinegar (reg. white) on the feet, but the borax works wonders!

Absorbine

Posted by Sharon (Perth) on 08/14/2016

This is an internal problem that is being fed by sugar foot baths creams etc will improve it only in the short term you need oral herbal medication will a detox to flush it out of your system. Fungus spores are everywhere but only affect people who aren't in peak condition.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Chris (Dighton Ma) on 07/22/2016
★★★★★

The vinegar any type will kill the fungus. I use it in a spray bottle. 2-3 days and it is gone. I continue for a week. Sprayed the inside of my shoes too.

I have used garlic oil too, it also works.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by William (Fl) on 07/02/2016

Look at eczema of the feet. A dermatologist told me i'ts what I have. Leather soles seem to be the only thing that helps. Otherwise they will prescribe steroids but this only cures the symptoms, because its a chronic skin disorder. Hope you find a cure.

Urine

Posted by Vsherry9 (Detroit, Mi) on 07/01/2016
★★★★★

I used my own urine to stop athlete's foot fungus, I also had a variety of fungus on the bottom & sides of my feet. I used my own urine in a bucket while sitting on the toilet every morning for about 5 days. I started using the urine in the morning, then at night used vapor rub at night with socks, then next day I used the urine in the morning, and the vapor rub at night without the socks (I have a hard time wearing socks at night). Each time I took a shower in the morning after soaking with urine, I would dry off & rub Peroxide all over my feet with a cotton ball until they dried naturally. I did this for a week & all gone. I've had this problem since 1998 & I am a real person from the Detroit area. Don't let anyone tell you this doesn't work, especially a doctor - because it does & I am proof. I've tried everything imaginable & was never able to get rid of it, until just recently. Doctors will tell you there is not enough Urea in the pee to cure it, but that is just down right false. What is it going to hurt to just try it & see for yourself. Good luck!!!

Castor Oil and Liquid Paraffin

Posted by Mandandi (Gaborone) on 05/09/2016
★★★★★

After cleaning systemic candida, I found that I had recurring athlete's foot- due to not cleaning my shoes and socks enough with other remedies.

I then used mix of castor oil (which was excellent on its own but requires deep massaging in), and liquid paraffin. The mixture works faster and is more efficiently, killing new infections before they even show up. I only see dry skin before I see the inflammation.

Borax

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 02/18/2016
★★★★★

My husband has had athlete's foot for at least 3 decades. He had it when I met him, I think it would be classified as the "moccasin type." If it was really bothering him he would use an OTC cream. At some point I learned about soaking the feet in vinegar (1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1/2 water.) I would buy that by the gallon. When his feet bothered him he would soak them morning and night for 30 minutes. But relief was only temporary.

About a year ago I started giving him borax in his water for another health issue. The recommended 1/4 teaspoon of borax in a liter of water was too much for him, even though he is a big guy. It caused digestive distress. So, I put small amounts of borax in his water jars that he took to work each day. (I didn't measure, it was probably 1/16 of a teaspoon spread over about 6 cups of water.) I probably did this for an average of 4 days a week.

Last night I realized the skin on his feet is soft and smooth. He hasn't done anything for athlete's foot in months. I realized it must be that the borax slowly healed him from the inside out.

While sometimes there are quick solutions to problems that have gone on a long time, often "slow and steady wins the race" with problems that have been going on for years (or decades, in the case of my husband.)

~Mama to Many~

Coconut Oil

Posted by Anne (London) on 02/10/2016
★★★★★

I agree! I used to develop athletes foot after a pedicure, it was terrible. But when I started moisturising my feet with coconut oil, it would disappear in days. Now, every time I have a pedicure, I immediately use coconut oil - twice a day. After a week, I only have to apply once a week for maintenance. It's been years now without an outbreak.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Michell (Oregon) on 12/31/2015

ACV is without a doubt the only way to deal with the foot fungus. At first if it burns deal with it just think the next day you will be a new person, don't forget to trash the shoe pads away and take newspaper spray some disinfectant on the paper and stuff the shoes with the paper every day and rotate your shoes! Believe me, this takes care of your feet and your hands and you'll be a happy camper!