Five Home Remedies For Athlete's Foot

by Sarah Diaz June 13, 2019

Athlete's foot is a common skin problem on the feet caused by a fungus. Though it is rarely serious, its symptoms can be bothersome.

Home remedies can be quite effective in treating many cases of athlete's foot. Some of these remedies may be readily available at home, while others are available in health food stores.

Find out which home remedies may be worth a try, and when it may be time to call the doctor.

Home remedies

Many natural or home remedies can be helpful in killing the fungus that causes athlete's foot.

1. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Studies suggest that tea tree oil may help to kill fungi.

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree, commonly found in Australia. It is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

One study found that solutions containing 25 percent and 50 percent tea tree oil worked significantly better than a placebo in relieving athlete's foot between the toes.

The tea tree oil also cured the infection in 64 percent of the people who used it, while just 31 percent of those who used a placebo were cured.

Another study found that tea tree oil was more effective at killing fungi than several other antifungal agents that were tested.

People should take care when using tea tree oil because it can be irritating to the skin. Some people may need to stop using the oil because of rashes and irritation.

To use tea tree oil, people should place a few drops into a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, and rub it on their feet. Alternatively, tea tree oil creams and salves may be available at health food stores.

People should not use undiluted tea tree oil on their skin.

2. Garlic

Garlic has a long history of medicinal use, and several studies have found garlic to be effective against some fungi and bacteria.

A review in the Avicenna Journal of Medicine states that garlic can kill a variety of germs. Some evidence for garlic includes:

A study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology, which states that fresh garlic extract can kill or stop the growth of Candida, a common fungus that infects humans.
A report in the Ulster Medical Journal,which found that garlic has effective antifungal properties.
A study in Mycoses, which looked at a compound found in garlic known as ajoene. The compound cured athlete's foot in every person who used it. Ajoene was made into a 0.4 percent cream and applied directly to the area.

A garlic foot soak using fresh garlic cloves is one way for people to try this remedy at home.

Crush three to four garlic cloves and stir them into a basin of warm water. Soak feet for 30 minutes, twice a day for up to a week.

The powerful compounds in garlic can leave a lasting garlic smell on the skin, however.

3. Hydrogen peroxide with iodine

Peroxide and iodine are commonly used to disinfect cuts and wounds and to kill germs on the skin.

A recent study found that peroxide combined with iodine killed 16 different fungi. The two used together were more effective than using them separately.

To try this remedy, mix iodine solution and hydrogen peroxide in a bucket or large bowl. Iodine solution is available at most drugstores in the wound care section. Dip the feet directly in the solution or use a cotton pad to apply it to the affected areas.

Do not use iodine on the skin without diluting it because it can damage the skin if used by itself.

Peroxide may sting if the skin is broken or irritated, and it can bleach hair and fabrics. Iodine may also cause stains.

Applying this mixture in a bathtub or shower may prevent unwanted stains, bleaching, and spills.

4. Hair dryer and talcum powder

If fungi do not have an ideal environment to live in, they cannot continue to grow and thrive. Getting rid of moisture from the feet, especially between the toes, can help keep the fungus from spreading and getting worse.

People can remove moisture from their feet by thoroughly drying them with a hair dryer after bathing, making sure that no moisture remains but being careful not to burn the skin. People with loss of sensation or feeling in the feet should not use this method.

When the feet are dry, follow up by sprinkling them with talcum powder to help absorb sweat. Many foot powders contain talc and help keep the feet dry.

In addition to these steps, wearing socks that absorbs moisture away from the skin can help keep the feet dry. The following types of socks can help keep feet dry throughout the day:

wool
bamboo
synthetic wicking fabric, often called tech socks

Changing socks at least once a day when feet feel sweaty or damp is also helpful. Or, in warmer weather, wear open shoes or sandals to increase airflow to the feet.

5. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda may have antifungal properties and could be used in a foot soak.

Baking soda is an item most people have readily available. It may also be an effective way to cure athlete's foot.

A study in Mycopathologia found that sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, does have antifungal abilities when used on the skin.

To make a foot soak, mix about a half cup of baking soda in a large bucket or basin of warm water. Soak feet for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day. When done, dry the feet thoroughly but do not rinse.

Treatment

If home remedies do not work or the problem has been going on for more than 2 weeks, a doctor or podiatrist may need to help.

A doctor may prescribe antifungal creams or medicines if the infection does not respond to at-home treatments.

It is important for people to treat a persistent case of athlete's foot because the fungus can spread to the nails, other body parts, and other people.

Causes

Athlete's foot may spread in pool areas and locker rooms.

Athlete's foot spreads when a person comes into contact with certain fungi. It can spread from person to person and thrives in damp, warm areas.

Common places for athlete's foot fungus to live are pool areas, public bathrooms, and locker rooms.

The fungi that cause athlete's foot commonly attack feet because:

shoes and socks create a warm, moist environment that fungi need to thrive
feet are exposed to fungus and germs on the ground when walking around, especially if walking barefoot
the area between the toes tends to be especially damp and warm

The term "athlete's foot" comes from the belief that many athletic locker rooms and athletic equipment are hot, moist environments where the fungi can spread.

Anyone can get athlete's foot, however, regardless of their activity level.

Prevention

There are ways to protect the feet from fungi and avoid getting athlete's foot. It is also good to practice these tips to avoid getting a repeat infection or spreading it to others.

To keep feet fungus-free, people should follow these guidelines:

Keep nails clipped short. Nails can more readily pick up bacteria and fungi if they are long.
Never walk barefoot in public places. Wear sandals or waterproof shoes in public pools, showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, and other areas that get wet.
Wash feet at least once a day and dry thoroughly.
If a family member has athlete's foot, disinfect the bathtub or shower after each use until it is gone.
Do not share towels, shoes, socks, or other items that touch the feet.
Alternate shoes daily to give each pair time to dry completely.
Wear lightweight shoes and change socks frequently to keep feet dry. Avoid warm, heavy footwear if possible.

Outlook

Those with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, should skip the home remedies and call a doctor right away if they notice problems with their feet. Even minor cracks and wounds on the feet can quickly become infected in some people with diabetes.

Athlete's foot can certainly put a damper on plans to go barefoot at the beach. Fortunately, this common problem can usually be cured without complications.

If home remedies do not work, drugstore antifungal creams may be an option.

If the problem spreads, get worse, or does not respond to these home remedies, people should seek the advice of a doctor or podiatrist. Prescription products are usually very effective when used as prescribed.

References:

Athlete's foot. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.apma.org/Learn/FootHealth.cfm?ItemNumber=978

Bayan, L., Koulivand, P. H., & Gorji, A. (2014). Garlic: A review of potential therapeutic effects. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 4(1), 1–14. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103721/

Hygiene-related diseases. (2017, February 6). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/disease/athletes_foot.html

Ledezma, E., De Sousa, L., Jorquera, A., Sanchez, J., Lander, A., Rodriguez, E., … Apitz-Castro, R. (1996, September). Efficacy of ajoene, an organosulphur derived from garlic, in the short-term therapy of tinea pedis [Abstract]. Mycoses, 39(9-10), 393–395. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0507.1996.tb00160.x/full

Lemar, K. M., Turner, M. P., & Lloyd, D. (2002, August 12). Garlic (Allium sativum) as an anti-Candida agent: A comparison of the efficacy of fresh garlic and freeze-dried extracts [Abstract]. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 93(3), 398-405. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01707.x/abstract

Letscher-Bru, V., Obszynski, C. M., Samsoen, M., Sabou, M., Waller, J., & Candolfi, E. (2012, September 19). Antifungal activity of sodium bicarbonate against fungal agents causing superficial infections [Abstract]. Mycopathologia, 175(1-2), 153-158. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11046-012-9583-2

Rogawansamy, S., Gaskin, S., Taylor, M., & Pisaniello, D. (2015, June 2). An evaluation of antifungal agents for the treatment of fungal contamination in indoor air environments. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6319–6332. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4483703/

Satchell, A. C., Saurajen, A., Bell, C., & Barnetson, R. StC. (2002, July 19). Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: A randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study [Abstract]. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 43(3), 175–178. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1440-0960.2002.00590.x/full

Tea tree oil. (2016, December 1). Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/health/tea/treeoil.htm

Woods-Panzaro, S., Nelson, D., McCollum, G., Ballard, L. M., Millar, C., Maeda, Y., … Moore, J. E. (2009, January). Ulster Medical Journal, 78(1), 13-15. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2629014/

Zubko, E. I., & Zubko, M. K. (2013, July 15). Co-operative inhibitory effects of hydrogen peroxide and iodine against bacterial and yeast species. BMC Research Notes, 6, 272. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3716994/