Natural Remedies For Athlete's Foot

Oregano Oil

Posted by Cheryl (Manteca, California-USA) on 02/22/2009
★★★★★

Hi-Please do yourself a big favor if you are bothered by what the dr calls-athlete's foot type rash. For over a year I tried every cream, spray, powder on the market-doctor after dermatologist with biopsy gave me everything-presription including 2 mos of Lamisil pills and cream. The dermatologist got mad when Lamisil didn't work after her biopsy. Well, I prayed so hard and then found Oil of Oregano-wow! 3 days cured-its been months and its still gone. I diluted with olive oil under my tongue and later used the gel capsules to fill and take orally. I diluted this very strong oil with olive oil on the rash itself-stops that horrible itch,too. I later learned Extra Virgin Coconut oil is anti-fungal and mixed the oregano oil with this and used this on the skin. I need to know more-Iam very grateful to Earth Clinic-I learned about the evcc-extra virgin coconut oil from this site. Also, I really never knew what the rash was from-I think it was a Candida fungus type rash -it seemed way worse when I ate sugar. So, I also had to clean up my diet dramatically and I still stay away from processed white flour and sugar etc. But, try Oil of Oregano-anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti parasitic/worms. Great for wiping Candida out. Blessings and good health to you all. I would say-research all you can about all of these oils: Thuja, Thieves oil etc as to there healing qualities.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Lesley (Hervey Bay, Australia) on 01/21/2009
★★★★★

I have used ACV to successfully treat Athlete's Foot. Just soak cotton balls in the vinegar and apply often to the affected toes. Do this twice a day for 2 to 3 days and the problem will vanish. Try to keep your toes dry as reinfection is common with this ailment. I have also used ACV for itchiness in my ears. Just pour it in as best as you can and massage to let the vinegar get right down into the ear. This fully healed my ear itchiness that I had suffered for years.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Keith Warren (Totnes, England) on 01/06/2009
★★★★★

I have suffered from the above off and on for many years and get really bad attacks of athletes foot. I have tried many remedies, non of which have proved very satisfactory until I tried Cider Vinegar and Vapour Rub. What can I say? Within a week its like having a new pair of feet, I simply cannot thank the people who posted these remedies enough, they have been the proverbial life saver as I am in the building trade and have to wear safety boots and my feet were so very painful. Thank you one and all for your suggestions.

Oregano Oil

Posted by Jonna (NYC, NY, USA) on 07/27/2008
★★★★★

1:30am, Saturday Night: I read AC from West Midlands, England's post about using Garlic for Athlete's foot a few days ago and was eager to try it. I have had athlete's foot on and off for years. I also have deeply etched cracked heals which I understand is possibly a fungal infection. And then recently the skin around my right big toe started to peel and looks nasty as can be. I tried the best OTC for Athlete's Foot, but with limited success. Takes 5 days to go away and then comes back a couple weeks later.

We had just run out of garlic, so I opted instead for another powerful anti-fungal, Wild Oil of Oregano. I use OO for coughs and sinus infections and had about 15 capsules left. Before going to sleep, I punctured a capsule of oil and rubbed it over both of my feet, especially concentrating it on my big toe, in between my toes where the athelete's foot itched and the cracks on my heals. I put socks on so the oil wouldn't get all over the sheets. It doesn't smell bad at all -- much better than garlic for sure!

Just like AC reported, there was dramatic improvement by the morning! The infection around my big toe was 50% better... The blisters in between my toes had disappeared. The cracks in my heals have started to seal and are unbelievably soft... (I had been rubbing shea butter on the cracks every night, which helped, but not to this extent).

I did the Oregano oil 3 morning and night for 2 days, took a day off. The infection around my big toe is all but gone. No more peeling skin. The cracks on my heels continue to slowly improve. Tonight I switched to Grapefruit Seed Extract and my feet, normally cold, warmed up right away. This may be a great remedy for those suffering from cold hands and feet. My feet are still tinglingly warm 2 hours after applying the GSE.

I have the feeling that the GSE will work just as well as the Oregano Oil. I also am trying the GSE on my perioral dermatitis and will report back any improvements. I can tell you that the itchy postules around my nose have disappeared. I had to wash off the GSE after about 20 minutes because it started to burn.

Garlic

Posted by AC (West Midlands, England) on 07/21/2008
★★★★★

I read a post on EC that said:
[YEA] Anonymous writes: "I had athletes foot badly between two of my toes. I taped a cut piece of garlic onto the wound in the morning and looked at it the afternoon, and the skin was totally healed and looked like new. I couldn't believe it!"

It took me a long time to follow this advice, but when I did, I took it a few steps further.

1. I took garlic cloves and cut them into smaller pieces lengthwise.
2. I stuck each of the smaller pieces between my toes: the ones that had fungus and even the ones that didn't.
3. I put plastic/non-PVC wrap over the top part of my feet.
4. Put on a pair of thin socks and then another pair of thick socks.
5. Went to sleep.
6. Woke up, took garlic out and washed feet.
7. Fungus between feet was reduced dramatically.

In addition to the fungus problem between my toes, I apparently had some sort of fungus problem with my small toe. My small toenail was hard and black. The blackness reduced significantly, maybe by 40 or 50% overnight.

I smelled the garlic very strongly as I was sleeping but my husband (who hates garlic and won't even touch me if I eat it) says he didn't smell it at all.

I hope this helps someone! Coconut oil has also helped.

Cayenne

Posted by Vince (Philadelphia, PA) on 09/21/2006
★★★★★

I had Athlete's Foot between 2 toes that sit against each other. I had it off and on for years. It was hard to dry them after a shower, and when in a rush, I don't think I did it that well, and then sitting against each other, I would probably really have to, and sweating probably cause it also. I only applied cayenne in salt water one time, and it has been gone for years. Usually it has to stay in place for a while on skin surfaces, so I soak the gauze on a bandaid, but since my toes touch, I didn't have to.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Laura (Orlando, FL) on 08/24/2006
★★★★★

I am 3 months pregnant and had athlete's foot near the beginning of my pregnancy. I wanted to avoid over-the-counter chemicals to treat it if possible, so I tried using ACV, and it seemed to work miraculously. However, as soon as I stopped soaking in ACV, the fungus came back with a vengeance! Next, I tried soaking my feet in a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. I soaked them once for about 30 minutes. Then I just applied straight hydrogen peroxide to the affected area every night and every time after I showered. Within a few days the fungus cleared up. I used a pumus stone to exfoliate the dead skin. It has been about three weeks since it cleared up, and my feet look better than ever!!! Note: The hydrogen peroxide did fade the suntan on the top of my feet when I soaked them, and it dried out the skin on the bottom of my feet. I applied some unrefined organic coconut oil to my feet and the dry skin went away! Pretty amazing!

Coconut Oil

Posted by Dianne (Mansfield, MA) on 07/02/2006
★★★★★

within 2 days of using my athlete's foot has totally cleared. My husband has also had the same results.

Absorbine Jr.

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 07/26/2026
★★★★★

ABSORBINE JR. for ATHLETE'S FOOT

At the turn of the 1900, athlete's foot was becoming an epidemic. Manufacturers of popular remedies gave ringworm of the foot the name ‘athlete's foot' and this was adopted by the public, but in medicine the infection was known as tinea pedis. It was seen as new disease, or in modern parlance an emerging infection, having been first described by Arthur Whitfield, a dermatologist at King's College Hospital, London in 1908. Nonetheless, it was in the United States, British Isles and England that tinea pedis became an epidemic, seemingly spread by modern lifestyles and hygiene practices, and encouraged by modern socks and shoes, which made infection liable to chronicity by keeping the feet moist and warm. It is perhaps surprising, given the unhygienic conditions of previous centuries and the ubiquity of ringworm of the scalp, that the feet of Europeans and Americans had been seemingly free of ringworm infection until the mid-twentieth century. Nonetheless, there was a clear understanding in the inter-war years that tinea pedis was new disease and one linked to modernity. One consequence of the growth of medical attention to tinea pedis was the stimulus it gave to the specialism of medical mycology, with investment in diagnostic services, research on the conditions in which mycoses spread and their treatment. In turn, this led to the creation of a cadre of medical mycologists, who identified more fungal infections in specific social groups and the general population.

Doctors prescribed a variety of remedies for tinea pedis (athlete's foot), but because of mixed results, their advice was mainly that prevention was better than cure. Thus, anyone visiting a swimming baths and showering in public facilities was told to disinfect their feet where possible, to avoid walking on floors in bare feet, to dry their feet and toes after bathing, never to share towels or clothing, and to wash socks at high temperatures. The main remedies were topical antifungal creams. The standbys were Whitfield's ointment (the active ingredients were 5% salicylic acid and 3% benzoic acid in petroleum jelly) and Castellani's carbol-fuchsin paint. However, the variable presentation of the condition and its tendency to chronicity encouraged innovations, both in combinations of remedies and new chemicals. There were many complaints of overtreatment.

Proprietary medical companies, which already had a significance market with topical antiseptic remedies, seized on the new epidemic, producing new products and re-branding older ones as having anti-fungal as well as anti-bacterial properties. The most prominently advertised remedy in newspapers and magazines was a derivative of a veterinary liniment – ‘Absorbine Jr.', marketed by W. F. Young, Inc. Infact, if you are as old is I am. Absorbine Jr. use to come in a slim glass bottle and the label stated it was good for athlete's foot. In 1955, Absorbine Jr. was tested against athlete's foot fungus and FOUND TO KILL 100% OF ALL FUNGI IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES.

HISTORY.

In 1892, Wilbur F. Young and Mary Young went to work on a liniment made of essential oils and herbs, Absorbine Veterinary Liniment proved highly effective at bringing relief to weary or lame work horses as a humane, natural herbal remedy to relieve overworked and lame horses. The liniment was soon widely used in farms nationwide for natural and quick animal pain relief. But farmers soon discovered that it relieved their own muscle and joint pain.

It's anti-septic properties were applied to horse and animals to helps prevent hoof and sole/foot fungal infections.

Hoof Disinfectant: The formula penetrates into the porous hoof sole and frog to disinfect. Apply once a week or more to help prevent bacterial and fungal infections. Use daily to treat hoof conditions such as abscesses, cracks, delamination, Thrush (Candida/Yeast) and White Line Disease (Fungal and bacterial invasion colonize and digest the inner hoof wall layers). This means it would be good for human feet and toe nail fungus as well.

Skin Infections: Absorbine Jr. kills germs on contact and stops the itch in seconds. Use to clean and treat bacterial and fungal skin infections like;

Rain Rot (Rain rot in horses is caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis, which activates when prolonged moisture and high humidity break down the skin's protective barrier),

Scratches,

Summer Itch (caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva of biting insects, primarily Culicoides midges. Other biting flies like black flies, stable flies, and mosquitoes can also trigger this seasonal skin reaction),

Tail Itch (A horse itching and rubbing its tail is usually caused by pinworms, sweet itch (insect allergies), or a dirty sheath or udder),

Apply to infected area three or more times a week.

SOURCE REF:

Fungal Disease in Britain and the United States 1850–2000: Mycoses and Modernity

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK169220/

Vintage Absorbine Jr. Bottles source: https://countrysideantiques.com/listing/1347642623/vintage-1939-absorbine-jr-box-bottle

Vintage 1955 Absorbine Jr. Athlete's foot cream advertisement source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/236720524152319821/

Absorbine Jr.

Posted by Rob (Kentucky) on 07/28/2026

Direction on use (Taken for a 1940's Vintage ABSORBINE JR. Bottle with Paper Label With Box): Athlete's Foot, simple ringworm of the toes and feet – When cracks appear between the toes, drench them with Absorbine Jr. Apply it full strength freely morning and night. For supplementary treatment, place cotton, saturated with 1 part Absorbine Jr. and 2 parts water, between the toes or over affected part and lightly bandage.

Image Source: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/5lQAAOSw--Bhic2T/s-l1600.jpg

Miconazole

Posted by Sarah (Oregon) on 06/26/2026 1 posts
★★★★★

Miconazole Nitrate 2% is finally clearing my 20-year athlete's foot

5 stars so far.

I've had athlete's foot on and off for the last 20 years. I figured this out on my own because I've tried literally everything: tea tree oil, vinegar soaks, other OTC creams, prescription stuff, changing socks constantly, the whole list. Nothing fully knocked it out and it always came back.

This is my first time using Miconazole. 2 weeks ago I started using Miconazole Nitrate 2% cream. It's OTC and I just grabbed the generic kind from the pharmacy. I apply it twice a day after a shower, making sure my feet are completely dry first. I get between every toe and let it dry before putting socks on.

What I've noticed in 2 weeks:

My feet are soft and not cracked, painful, or bleeding for the first time in years.

1. Week 1: Itching and burning calmed down a lot.

2. Week 2: The peeling is almost gone. Way less redness. No itching most days now.

My skin isn't 100% normal yet, but this is the best it's felt in 20 years.

I'm also rotating shoes, using antifungal powder in them, and being obsessive about drying between my toes after showers.

If you've been battling this for years like me, miconazole 2% is worth trying.

I'll update this post after I finish the treatment. Hope this helps someone who's as frustrated as I was.

Chilblains Diagnosis

Posted by Clayton (Tulsa, OK) on 02/01/2024
★★★★★

Recently I discovered that what I thought was athlete's foot was actually chilblains. Chilblains occur when your feet (or sometimes hands) are very cold and are warmed up very rapidly, which can burst capillaries under the skin and result in redness, swelling, and lots of itchiness. For me, the tops of my toes were most affected (not so much in between, or anywhere else on the foot).

For the past week I'd been soaking my feet in various different things, and spraying a variety of herbal antidotes, to no avail: the itchiness and redness hardly went down at all, and I was getting worried I had some bad infection.

Deeper online searching revealed I had chilblains, from coming in from walking in the snow, and resting my feet near a space heater right after taking my boots off.

For better or worse, chilblains seems to improve on its own over time without treatment (unlike a fungal infection). Soaking in a diluted hydrogen peroxide or vinegar solution did help temporarily relieve itching.

I also read somewhere a man treated his chilblains with decent success applying minced onion mixed with salt. I've yet to try it.

I just wanted to let you know, if you are primarily experiencing redness and itchiness on top of your toes, and your toes have recently been very cold, you might check to see if instead of athletes foot you're experiencing chilblains.

Patchouli Oil

Posted by TR (California) on 01/30/2024
★★★★★

patchouli oil for foot fungus

Its amazing how fast it worked. Had fungus for over 15 years and used vinegar for years to no avail I applied the oil twice a day and within 2 weeks fungus was gone

Borax

Posted by Shs (NY) on 07/20/2024
★★★★★

This was a life saver. I'm not through the end yet but this borax and hydrogen peroxide solution changed everything. It honestly has stopped at least the unbelievable itching that the Lotramine ultra could only stave away for a little.

I combined it with salicylic acid washes before and turbinafine after . I've seen some relief

I thought I had gotten rid of it once, as everyone says don't stop short even when u can't feel it continue treating it.

I tried vinegar soaks, borax soaks, bleach, anti-fungal soaps and it kept coming back. Thai really assisted the most

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~

Greek Yogurt

Posted by Misszmsz (Las Vegas, Nevada) on 06/13/2015
★★★★★

After 6 months of fighting athlete's foot over the soles of both my feet, I tried plain Greek Yogurt. Rubbed a couple tablespoons on affected area and covered with plastic bags. Immediately feet stopped itching. Now just have to deal with dry skin and cracked fissures.

Alum

Posted by Thomas (Salem, Oregon) on 12/18/2014
★★★★★

Alum works to treat athlete's foot. Use cooking alum. My Vietnamese wife prepared this treatment for me. Warm up a pot of hot water and dissolve the alum in it. She might have added salt also. Soak the feet in it for an hour. However, I have found apple cider vinegar to be just as effective. Soak the feet in 100% ACV for an hour. Repeat daily for a week or so. Improvement will come after the first or second soak. Keep the feet dry and allow the feet to breathe. Avoid synthetic fabrics. Use only 100% cotton socks and 100% cotton bed linens.

Phythium Oligandrum

Posted by I Need Help_SC (USA - South Carolina) on 01/05/2022
★★★★★

On the owndoc.com website, they have a PDF about the Phythium oligandrum parasitic fungus, and they describe how to use to treat fungal infections of the skin. I found one part really useful to consider, so I'm highlighting it here:

Soak a paper towel in the solution, spread it out over the infected area, then use plastic wrap to thoroughly wrap it around your body. This keeps the liquid-soaked paper towel wet and in place. They say to go to bed with this.

I find this mode of delivery of the solution to the infection helpful to consider for other treatments beyond phythium oligandrum - could use paper towel and plastic wrap with Raw ACV, borax solution, on and on the possible liquid treatments that the paper towel + plastic wrap could be used for!

Fresh Aloe Vera

Posted by Lady Mars (Lithia, Fl) on 03/08/2014
★★★★★

Had a persistent fungus infection (athlete's foot) which I get rarely, but have always treated successfully. This time, standard OTC and home remedies weren't working very well. Would calm the drive-me-out-of-my-little-mind itching for a while, but not really getting rid of the fungus. I grow aloe to treat fire ant bites (rub leaf goo on bite and prevents blistering and cools stinging. Works on mosquitoes also.)

Aloe worked better on athlete's foot than anything I ever tried before, including prescription stuff or 'female' creams. Did it once yesterday morning, goo dried or soaked into skin, not sure which. This morning swelling all gone and redness almost gone. Had NO itch for 24 hours since using once. Did once more today and I think that will take care of it.

No clue if aloe gel or cream would work as well, but my best guess would be probably not. Don't see how any gel could have more of the good aloe stuff than the plant. Aloe is so useful, I'd recommend that anyone with a sunny windowsill grow a couple plants. They will not tolerate a hard freeze, but will be happy outside in any temp. above freezing. Easy to divide, get more, give some away. They're a tough plant, but grow faster with decent soil and enough water.

The aloe drinks they sell everywhere now are also really good for upset stomach. My husband has severe gouty athritis among other problems and takes too many meds. For him, he thinks the aloe drinks help reduce the pain a little in his joints. I sometimes make him an aloe smoothie with a couple leaves and whatever I have on hand.

Aloe vera is one of my favorite natural remedies, powerful, safe and cheap. What's not to like?