Home Remedies For Athlete's Foot

Athlete’s foot is a common fungal infection. It causes itching and burning sensations of the affected area. The fungal infection occurs in between the toes and can cause inflammation and peeling skin. There are some home remedies that have been used to treat athlete’s foot.

To cool the infected skin, some people use a foot wash that includes soothing herbs. Thoroughly blend fresh basil and salt with a cup of water. Heat the water to a boil. Allow the water to cool, then use as a foot soak. After soaking and drying the feet, you may want to try one of the following home remedies that attack the fungus.

Grapefruit seed extract or tea tree oil can be applied to the feet a few times a day to treat the infection. For grapefruit seed oil, rinse your hands and apply a few drops with to the infected skin with your wet hands. Tea tree oil can be applied with dry hands. Continue to use tea tree oil for several days after the infection has seemed to clear.

Several people use Listerine to treat athlete’s foot. Simply use the original formula Listerine as a foot soak. Another foot soak treatment uses cornmeal or cinnamon. For the cornmeal treatment, place some cornmeal, preferably the kind used to kill fungus on plants, in a basin and cover with water. Allow the cornmeal mixture to set for about an hour before adding warm water and soaking the feet. For the cinnamon remedy, add broken cinnamon sticks to boiling water. Simmer for five minutes and allow the water to cool before using it as a foot soak.

Garlic is touted as a crucial element in many home remedies. Some people crush garlic cloves and apply the garlic directly to the infected skin. Some people add crushed garlic cloves to warm water and use it as a foot soak. One home remedy for athlete’s foot includes adding the several teaspoons of the dried herb, licorice, to the warm, garlic-infused water before soaking the feet.

If the athlete’s foot does not clear with the use of a home remedy or an over-the-counter treatment, a doctor should be consulted.