Natural Remedies For Athlete's Foot

Cayenne

Posted by Larry (Dumageute, Philippines) on 10/08/2008
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

I had chronic athletes foot, i could never get rid of it. Over the counter creams such as lamisil controlled the problem but did not get rid of it. I then tried not using the creams and only apple cider vinegar instead. The result was disaster, rampant athletes foot. I was almost about to give up but did a final search and found postings on both Salt and Cayanne, so I decided to try an experiment. I made up a mixture of half salt and half cayenne pepper. I then Put a little bit of Lamasil cream on the infected area. Then while my finger still was sticky from the cream i dipped my finger in the salt/cayenne mixture and worked the powder into the infected area. The result was incredible. Noticible improvement after 24 hours. After two weeks, once a day, for the first time in years i am athletes foot free. I have no idea if it was the salt, the cayenne or the combination. I don't know if the Lamisil did anything more than provide a sticky base. But my feeling is don't change success. This combination worked fantastic for me.

Activated Charcoal

Posted by Tonadeg (Arlington, USA ) on 04/27/2023
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

For my Athlete's foot, activated charcoal cured it in three days. Clean the affected toe with rubbing alcohol, let dry, then apply charcoal powder in between the affected toe. Do this twice a day avoiding socks and covered shoes while treatment lasts.

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!

Absorbine

Posted by J (Tampa Bay, Fl) on 09/29/2012
★★★★★

I have traveled for business for about 13 years. Never having had Athelete's Foot I was totally niave and wandered around many a hotel room rug barefoot and used moisturizers on my feet, legs, hands elbow and knees. It's not the bathroom or pool you have to worry about, it's the rugs!! Imagine my surprise when I finally realized that I had/have a raging case of Athelete's Foot and Tinea Corporis which is a fancy name for Athelete's Foot on other parts of your body. On my feet I have what is known as "moccasin style" Athelete's Foot. What that means is that there is a purple blue infection on the bottom and sides of the foot like a moccasin. Hard as heck to cure. Six years later I'm still battling it, fortunately for me I live in a warm climate and can mostly wear open shoes with no socks or stockings, but when at a client site I have to wear closed shoes and socks. On a very recent trip I came home only to find that I had a severe relapse on my feet and red lesions on my ankles and shins. I had worn Dr Scholls Diabetic Socks in my closed toed, but ventilated shoes, thinking they would be good for my feet and let them breathe... Unfortunately I didn't realize they weren't cotton based. DO NOT USE THEM if you have Athelete's Foot or Ringworm. Look for socks that are 90 per cent cotton or more. I developed a severe case of Ringworm/Athelete's Foot which I had nearly overcome. On top of that I also had toenail fungus which I'd never had before. It got so bad that in a matter of days I lost most of one toenail. Desperately, I searched and found this site. I went out and bought several bottles of Absorbine, jr and instead of Vicks Vapor Rub I bought Tiger Balm Ointment Ultra which is much stronger, but also more expensive. It works, but also irritated the skin so a mild secondary bacteria infection set in. I used that for three weeks and also did salt water and lemon juice or ACV foot soaks as often as I could. I finally got the infection to a point where I felt I could go back to my nail shop without infecting the entire community I live in. My nail shop is run by a lovely, caring, giving Viet Nahmese couple who would do anything to promote good, healthy feet. I trust them implicitly. They clean and sterilize all their metallic tools and UV them as well. I still suspect the toenail fungus came from my theraputic pedicures which were healing my skin, but it occured to me that the emery boards, buffer pads and some solutions used for French Pedicures, my favorite, were shared with other clients.... Thus the toenail fungus. It's appearance with the recurrance of Athelete's Foot was pure coincidence. Long ago they taught and convinced me of the value of rubbing fresh lemon or lime wedges on toes and other areas of the foot. It's always worked before now. Salt foot soaks with either lemon juice or ACV have also worked up until now. They were shocked to see what happened to my feet, toenails, ankles and shins in just one week of closed shoes and socks. I stayed away from the shop for two weeks after so it was a total of three weeks. One week later now four weeks, after visiting them here's what has made DRAMATIC improvement, meaning almost no red or pink lesions and the toenails beginning to heal.

1. Continue the Salt and Lemon or Lime or ACV foot soaks as often as you can. I can do it once or twice a day on weekends but during the week it's hard to do it even once a day. Soak for at least 15 minutes. Remove feet from the soak, but DO NOT DRY WITH TOWEL, let your feet air dry so the salt solution stays on your feet. This works really well if you do it just before bedtime.

2. My friends at the nail shop gave me, as a gift, they were NOT practicing medicine... A tiny tube of oinment I do not believe can be purchased in the US. It contains Clotrimazole, an antifungal, Betamethasone, not sure what that does, and Gentamicin, a powerful antibiotic. They suggested I put it on the very red angry lesions. I did and I could see results in hours. If you are in a country other than the US you may be able to purchase this ointment. You may be able to purchase this online from Viet Nahm, I'm not sure. If you can not, like me, I was able to successfully get the same results by purchasing Clotrimazole 2 per cent in the feminine section of the drug store, for vaginal infections. Gentleman, if this emabarrases you, get a sister, Mother or girlfriend to purchase it for you. In the longrun it's cheaper and stronger than what you can purchase in the Foot Care section of the drugstore. For the antibiotic portion of the creme I use the generic drugstore brand of Silver Colloiden ointment. It works! I put the Clotrimozole ointment all over my feet, ankles and shins. It absorbs easily with no smell. I only put the silver colloiden ointment on red, not pink spots. Do this twice a day, morning before socks and at night before bed NO SOCKS.

3. My drugstore chain just recently, in the last few weeks began carrying a product called _______. I believe it's a product out of the UK. It's active ingredient is Tolfunate 1 per cent. Even though it's not sold for toenail fungus, just the skin under and around the fungus, it seems to be helping. I also use it if I see any tiny pale pink spot anywhere on my body. It works. My mistake in the past was not addressing these tiny pale pink spots as soon as I saw them. The ringworm on my feet started out as pale pink spots from mosquito bites. Stupidly I igonored them. When I had to wear closed shoes and socks and they rubbed the spots... bingo, Ringworm....

4. I can't say enough how rubbing toes, toenails and feet with a wedge of lemon or lime has done over the years. That advice too, from my friends at the nail shop. (Obviously, it works on hands too! )

5. It occured to me that maybe I should look at myself internally as well. After some research online... Yes, everyone and their uncle talks about Probiotics.... But I also found out about Pau D' Arco. Sounded good, I always tend toward natural over chemical. Turns out I may not be able to take it internally but it works on other skin lesions like old age spots if rubbed on externally with a Qtip..... Many of mine are breaking up and going away... makes me wonder are they fungal based as well?

6. I seem to be sensitive to Probiotics too. If the tablet is too strong I get the runs. Have discovered if it is in tablet form I can cut the pill in half and be fine. Yoguhrt is still the best!! I think it is a good idea to treat the inside as well as out, as long as the Foot or Body Fungus seems to last.

Just a few comments to everything I've read here. Thanks all of you for sharing, it's really, really helped. For those of you who started a new treatment and felt it was "spreading", it probably wasn't spreading. The medicine just brought out infection that was probably already there so you could see it.

And PLEASE for those of you who have tried "scrubbing until it bleeds" PLEASE STOP THAT! That's how you will develop a secondary bacterial infection on top of the fungal infection you are trying to overcome. Skin is the largest body organ we have and it's fascinating in what it can do. Don't make what you have worse! Scarring will be almost nonexistant if you treat the fungus with what kills it and don't injure the skin in the process.

Killing fungas is a slow process, much slower than a bacterial infection, be patient, but most of all be persistant. You can may be skip a day or two if you are just plain too tired to complete the routine. I know, I have been many a night. But just because it looks "better" don't stop the routine. Fungus takes time to grow in your skin and even more time to kill it in your skin. Even after your skin looks healed, keep up with the treatments for at the very least four weeks and after that do some kind of preventive treatment so you never get a fungal infection again.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by L (Whitefish, Mt) on 06/08/2011
★★★★★

Apple Cider Vinegar for Athlete's Foot.

My husband had suffered for years (he's 48) with horrible, deep cracks in his heels, as well as between his toes. He had to be on his feet all day, so it was very hard on him. We have only been married for 6 months, and I was shocked when I first saw his feet. Anyway, I convinced him to try soaking in ACV, used undiluted. The first time it stung, but he did it anyway as he was desperate for relief. By the third day, all cracks between his toes gone, and he was pain free. After one week, he said his feet felt slippery in his socks, they were so smooth. He said he can't remember when his feet have felt so good. Now, he also gets terrible cracks in his fingers from working outside - he goes through boxes of bandaids. He hasn't wanted to try the ACV yet, as it will hurt at least the first time. If I can get him to do it, I will post the results!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Beverley (Leeds, Yorkshire) on 04/26/2009
★★★★★

Thanks for the reply, Shaun, but I won't be needing to try the ammonia after all - because I have changed my mind about apple cider vinegar - it really does work and I'm so happy! I'm guessing, but I the reason it didn't cure the moccasin athlete's foot I suffer with sooner, is because I wasn't soaking my feet in a strong enough solution. In the past, I had mixed a foot soak of about half ACV and half water, and although it dried my skin out, it didn't have much effect on the fungus. Recently, I thought I'd have one last try and I started soaking my feet once a day in neat apple cider viniger - no water at all. It stung a lot, probably because the athlete's foot had really damaged my skin in places, but I stuck with it, and wow - the skin has started to repair itself and the athlete's foot has nearly disappeared. I am amazed! And so so so pleased! I've stuggled for years with this and I can't believe I'll be able to wear sandals this summer without feeling embarrassed about my feet.

EC: Hi, Beverley. Thanks for the update! We're removing the NAY rating from your first post and adding YEA here.

Borax

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 07/28/2022
★★★★★

They were simply remedies for sweaty feet furnished by soldiers and Allies. An Irishman said that his remedy was the best. Bathe the feet in a dish pan with one teaspoonful of borax added. Soak for 20 minutes. Then dry them and add rub spirits of camphor.

From the book, The Officer's Responsibility for His Men Published 1898 page 34.

Absorbine

Posted by Jaydee (Adelaide, South Australia ) on 03/29/2013

Your regimen is intense!

Way to go for stinky toes and yukky peeling toenails, and what I used to call Elephant heels.... and itchy as! Man there is no pain like an infected foot from gak that comes from ATHLETES FOOT.

Owchy!

But by chance I began using virgin pressed coconut oil, (it melts at room temperature) as I am allergic to cortisoids and the tinea stuff failed to work.

But this coconut worked a treat on my feet. After 35 years of this irritation on my feet, it is gone and the nails are growing back.

Splendid stuff I say, do try it!

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Manangel (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 04/26/2012
★★★★★

I've used full strength, undiluted ACV on my chronic athletes foot. After trying every over the counter pharmacuetical antifungal cream, I finally did some research and decided to try the ACV. I applied it just with my finger twice a day for one week. I noticed a significant difference after only one day. By the 3rd day my long standing chronic athletes foot was almost completely gone. I was shocked at how quickly it worked. I continued applying for one week and I haven't had a reoccurance in over a year.

Alcohol

Posted by Southernarc (Durham, Nc, Usa) on 03/10/2012
★★★★★

I've had success with the 70% Isopropyl Alcohol as alcohol is alcohol and at this concentration it works just fine on athlete's foot. The trick is to soak a cotton ball with the alcohol and to thoroughly rub it on the affected area for about a minute. After the application you may still feel a little itchy, but I've noticed that after just two treatments like this, within a day, all of the itching and redness from the athlete's foot is gone. This is a cheap and effective treatment rather than buying expensive antifungal foot powders and sprays.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Sharky (Pacoima, California) on 11/21/2011
★★★★★

I too have had this Problem for about 2 months.

Before I tried the A.C.V my foot was scaly and the fisrt layer of skin was completely off from the toes to the middle of the bottom foot it also got really swelled up I could not walk very painful. I was trying all the O.T.C medicine but it did not work my foot was completly soaked with wetness and a gooey type wetness I gauzed up my feet but it still leaked through I was wearing sandals because my foot inside a show would get too wet and skin would just keep falling off my foot it was red and swollen I seen this article about A.C.V so I went to the store and purchased a gallon for 5 bucks at Ralphs I inserted the foot in complete A.C.V just to get the entire foot submerged mind it is going to be painful to do this but you have to once the burning and stinging stops soak in a 50/50 water and A.C.V and soak for 30 min you can put the remainder of what A.C.V is in the foot tub just add water it will continue to burn my foot was like it was on fire it did not stop burning for 30 min so in reality a foot dunk in complete A.C V then a 50/50 soak which can be a total of 45 min do it at night and wrap your foot in a dry towel overnight, soak again the next morning before you shower then I used Vaseline and Aquafor you can get these at Target it keeps your feet lubricated and from drying which can be painful to walk.

I did this for 5 days and my foot came back to normal all the skin fell off that was dried and cracked and the skin came back fine a new skin layer was completly there in about a week but keep on using it till you have no more athletes foot- it's the best thing I am glad I read this website its wonderful to walk in shoes again but be careful- it can come back as it did to me on one toe but A.C.V nipped that it the but real quick so I hope this helps anyone out there suffering from this ailment A.C.V is the truth

Thank you, Sharky

Borax

Posted by Gord (Markham, Ontario, Canada) on 04/15/2011
★★★★★

buy a box of borax powder. (available in your local grocer detergent aisle). Pour it in a bowl large enough for your foot. Wash and thoroughly dry your foot and bury your foot in the borax.... While you watch tv etc... For at least an hour a day, replacing the borax daily. Wash a dry your feet after soak, you can also sprinkle some borax in your socks, slipper etc... To help absorb sweat... Did wonders for me when a specialist and his "magic steroid cremes" did nothing.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Eric (Ann Arbor, United States) on 12/19/2010
★★★★★

I am a PhD student at the University of Michigan earning my degree in a very empirical field. I tried almost 2 dozen expensive and doctor prescribed products for my case of athletes foot - which I've had for about 7 years - and nothing worked.

I finally tried something more "natural" and I must say that ACV has been an absolute (dare I say) miracle! I soaked my feet in a small tub that was 50% ACV 50% water every morning and night (20 mins each session and longer if possible). My athletes foot is completely gone after staying with this regime for 2 weeks. I had lost hope because it wasn't working the first week, but sticking with it payed handsome dividends. I'm going to look up some other things on this website now and must say that I'm slowly becoming a believer in both science and these more "natural" remedies. Thank you all previous posters!

Boric Acid

Posted by Dallas (Hayesville, NC) on 04/05/2008
★★★★★

I had athletes foot for several years that I could not get rid of from any of the high priced medications. I had heard from someone tha Boric Acid powder in your socks and in your shoes would cure it. Sure enough, after about a week the fungus was completely gone.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Joe (Somerville, NJ) on 02/04/2007
★★★★★

I've used hydrogen peroxide, 3% pharmacy grade cut 50% with water, to rinse my mouth before brushing, which has been a great help with eliminating bad breath and plaque. But here's a remedy that no one may have thought - a treatment for "tinea cruris" commonly known as jock itch. I had an issue with this for several months and during this period, several times a week, I used Curex and other over-the-counter options to eliminate it, spending $20.00 to $30.00 to no avail. I knew hydrogen peroxide was effective in killing bacteria, so, as a last resort, I cut the pharmacy 3% grade 50%, just like the mouth wash, and used it-in 2 days!!! the itch and soreness was gone! No joke. Total cost 20 cents!

Ginger

Posted by Lois (Burnley, England) on 04/25/2025
★★★★☆

I cured my athletes foot with some ginger boiled in distilled water and kept in the fridge. I bathed my feet in it 3 times per day and it went completely. That was 7 years ago and it has never returned. I seem to recall getting the recipe from a website with old folk remedies.

Garlic

Posted by Idot 13 (Ireland) on 02/12/2022
★★★★★

For athlete's foot, a cure is raw garlic. gently slice and rub it into the feet and it should go very guickly.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Anthony (Ireland) on 09/17/2021
★★★★★

Oil of Oregano for Athlete's Foot Rash

Totally cured. I applied oil of oregano to both feet, toes, twice a day for 10 days. I tried a lot of things on here and nothing seemed to work. I bought the oil online pre-mixed. The itching used to drive me crazy.thats been 2 years now never came back. Thank god and earthclinic.