Home Treatments for Athlete's Foot
Most cases of athlete's foot can be treated and cured at home. The trick to getting rid of athlete's foot is to have an understanding of fungus and to use a multi-step approach to eliminate it. Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin, also known as tinea pedis, that results in cracked, itchy and scaly skin between toes and on the soles of feet. Anyone can contract athlete's foot, though people who sweat easily and those who go barefoot often are the most susceptible. The fungal infection may be difficult to eliminate, but with a little persistence and the right treatments, you can cure athlete's foot at home and prevent it from reoccurring. If you're serious about finally getting rid of your athlete's foot, follow this powerful anti-fungal regimen of the best home treatments for athlete's foot.
Instructions
1. Start by treating athlete's foot from the inside. Fungus is an opportunistic infection, meaning that it grows best when the body is in a weakened state. To help your body fight off an athlete's foot infection, consume plenty of probiotic containing foods. Probiotics, naturally found in yogurt, are beneficial bacteria that kill fungus and prevent many other opportunistic infections. Eat 2-3 servings of yogurt everyday. If you have trouble getting enough yogurt, you can use probiotic supplements instead. Also, take a multivitamin and extra vitamin C to boost your immune system so you can get over athlete's foot faster.
2. Follow a strict foot hygiene routine to get rid of athlete's foot. Having scrupulous hygiene is an absolute must when it comes to treating athlete's foot. Wash your feet daily with a dandruff shampoo containing selenium sulfide, such as Selsun Blue. About 2-5 times per week soak your feet for 30 minutes in a bath of warm water, 1 tbsp tea tree oil and 3 tsp salt. Towards the end of the athlete's foot soak, use a pumice stone to remove calluses and dead skin that fungus can hide under. Remove scaly patches from in between toes and around toenails with a soft bristle scrub brush. Pat dry with a clean towel and then use a hair dryer on low-medium heat to ensure no moisture is left on your feet. An added bonus is that heat from the dryer kills surface fungus and opens pores which will make athlete's foot treatments more effective.
3. Treat the infection with anti-fungal creams/solutions for athlete's foot. Depending on the type of athlete's foot you suffer from, you can either use anti-fungal creams like Lotrimin Ultra cream or a spray solution like Tinactin anti-fungal spray. If most of the infection is between your toes and you also suffer from sweaty feet and/or foot odor, avoid using cream athlete's foot treatments. Anti-fungal sprays are a better choice because unlike creams, sprays won't add extra moisture and will help keep feet dry. Anti-fungal creams are a better choice if you have dry, cracked and severely callused skin on the soles of your feet (a type of athlete's foot known as moccasin athlete's foot). Whatever treatment you choose, follow the package directions carefully and use for the full treatment time as instructed.
4. Don't forget to treat objects that come in contact with your feet as well. To prevent reoccurring athlete's foot, it's important to treat shoes, socks and even your shower too. Spray your shoes with white vinegar and dry them in the sun. When dry, sprinkle an anti-fungal powder such as Tinactin Super Absorbent Powder in the soles of your shoes to kill any remaining fungus and keep your feet dry.
Always wear clean socks and wash soiled socks in hot water and bleach (for colored socks, use an oxygenated cleaner like OxiClean instead of bleach). Clean and disinfect your shower with a bleach based bathroom cleaner and a good scrub brush. Make a habit of spraying the shower floor with Lysol after every each use to prevent contamination that could make athlete's foot return.
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