What Causes Athlete foot ?

Athlete foot is a skin infection which is caused due to pathogenic fungi. The growth of this disease is entirely dependent on the wetness of the foot and the environment, as the fungus thrives in warm and damp environments such as locker rooms, public showers, health clubs, and even indoor swimming pools. This disease spreads at a faster rate when the foot is wet and also when the environment is moist and warm. The symptoms of athlete’s foot are itching and burning or stinging of the region between the toes or soles of the foot, scales, cuts and cracks, peeling of the skin or formation of blisters between the toes, the drying of the skin on the side foot or the bottom foot.

Herbal remedies for Athlete Foot

One of the most familiar home remedy for athlete foot is by using tea tree oil and it has been proved to be very effective. The oil of tea tree contains several anti-fungal qualities and hence for the best results, tea tree oil should be directly applied to the spot of infection. Usually, a dosage of four to ten drops of tea tree oil is recommended. It is advisable to continue the treatment for two weeks after the curing of the infection so that it does no recur. Tea tree oil can also be used by mixing it with gel of aloe Vera. A mixture of aloe Vera gel of about four ounces with1/2 teaspoon tea tree oil is found to have the best cure. This mixture is taken in a spray bottle and is directly sprayed on the area of infection twice a day. It is best if the foot gets dried completely before socks and shoes are put on. One can purchase oil of tea tree at health food stores and even on the internet. While purchasing a 100% solution of the oil is recommended.

One of the useful home remedies for athlete foot is the extract of grapefruit seed. Applying two or three drops of this extract on the palm and rubbing on the feet twice or thrice a day is also found to have a good effect. It can also be added while washing the socks to eliminate the presence of the fungi.

Home remedies for Athlete Foot

The oil of tea tree has a very good effect when applied in the affected skin as it acts as an antiseptic which relieves the itchiness. Soaking the foot in vinegar kills the fungus as the vinegar acts as an anti fungal environment. A mixture of warm water with baking soda can be applied on the affected skin and between the nails which is rinsed and dried properly. This is one of the good athlete foot cure.

The toenails are the likeliest of all places for the breeding of fungi so it is recommended that you wash your toenails properly. The cleanliness and hygiene of the area between each toenail is very important. One should keep this area as clean as possible and dry it with a hair dryer to avoid the spread of fungi. Sosa is an herb grown in Mexico and is used as a natural remedies for athlete foot. Research is still being carried on this herb to discover and exploit he medicinal properties of this herb. Soaking the foot in apple cider vinegar for a period of 20-30 minutes twice a day has the best effect as it seems to annihilate the root cause fungus. Hydrogen peroxide can be applied using a Q-Tip or even a swab of cotton and allowed to dry.

Prevention

Recurrence of any disease is very disheartening especially after the amount of effort taken to cure it. The following steps can be followed to prevent the recurrence of athlete’s foot. Keeping your feet, especially the region between the toes in a dry state as this prevents the re-growth of fungus. Wear a fresh pair of socks every day. Toe shoes which are tight can also cause recurrence of infection. Going barefoot to places like public showers should be avoided. Using a foot powder has good effects. The socks should be washed in hot water.

It is always best to opt for Prevention is better than cure. Similarly, taking home remedy for athlete foot is better than going for prescribed medicines that involve side effects.