Natural Remedies to Treat Athlete's Foot Effectively

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Micheala (West Yorkshire) on 08/29/2017
★☆☆☆☆

Been using Apple Cider Vinegar for 2 weeks for Athlete's Foot. Nothing working. Having it on my hands and feet is getting too much for me. I feel like I want to claw them both off. Had every otc plus doctors strong steroid creams. Please someone give me an end to this. Had it for 2 years and I can't cope much more.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Jeanna (Birmingham) on 07/13/2017

Try Lamasil. It worked for me better than lotrimin.

Aloe Vera

Posted by Connie (California) on 07/05/2017
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

My athlete's foot was eczema!

I suffered for 2 years with chronic "athlete's foot" using Rx antifungals prescribed by my doc when all natural remedies failed. Last 2 months were so painful, just standing or walking made my feet crack and bleed. I was confined to recliner, walking on toes only to use bathroom and get food from kitchen. I cried in pain and frustration, thinking this was my world now - a recliner.

Finally got referral to a PA in dermatology. She took SKIN SCRAPING to lab. Test results 10 days later: NO FUNGUS! I have dyshidrotic ezcema!

The cure? Aloe Vera juice applied to feet, followed by Eucerin cream. Basically, giving feet TLC by moisturizing with hyperallergenic creams. Vasoline would probably work, too. Two weeks later, I returned to DANCING! Sort of, lol, but I am ambulatory again! Another week or so and I should be completely healed!

People with chronic skin conditions, INSIST on lab testing a skin scraping to rule out fungus! Two stinking years of my life spent on every remedy and treatment for nothing. Grrr.

I hope this helps somebody!

Fresh Lime Juice

Posted by Serena G. (Tucson, Az) on 05/09/2017
★★★★★

We had a case of athlete's foot. From my personal experience tea tree was only keeping it from getting worse and coconut oil did not stop it getting worse (spread from one or two toes to all of them, peeling skin but not painful). However I saw on this site about apple cider vinegar. Since we just bought a huge box of limes and couldn't eat them all up I thought I'd try it. I rubbed a 1/2 fresh sliced lime on the toes, top and bottom, squeezing the juice all over it (yummy smelling toes! ) and air drying. After about a week it was completely cleared up. This proved to be a very effective cure for us this time. I will remember it. I imagine lemon would work the same. Thanks for your great site!

Colloidal Silver

Posted by Gayle (North Dakota) on 04/04/2017 3 posts
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Colloidal Silver. If you make your own colloidal silver it is very effective for getting rid of foot fungi. I make 50 to 60 ppm. Put it in a shallow glass pan and soak my feet for 15 to 20 min. I save the silver solution and use it a second time then discard. You will need to make many quarts to get the fungi under control. If you do not make your own silver then this would be very cost prohibitive. Look into purchasing your own silver generator. I cured my nasty problem in about a week doing this. You can also spray the silver on your clean dry socks and allow to dry before putting them away, you have just made silver socks. You can spray the silver on your your tub and other areas where the fungi may thrive. Spray your shoes and allow to dry to kill off the fungi and other nasty bacteria. Ingest the 5 to 10ppm colloidal silver to combat it internally as well.

Fresh Aloe Vera

Posted by Laurac (Us) on 03/21/2017
★★★★★

Fresh aloe vera for athletes foot.

I scratched my feet so horrible. I wounded them so bad. I wounded the palm of my feet so I could not walk. My feet were so raw exposed and burning. I bought a fresh aloe vera from my grocery store and cut the leaf then smeared it on my wounds. Instant stop to the burn and pain, and the goo forms a protective healing layer. Aloe vera has many properties. It's under rated for athletes foot. Unlike ACV and cayenne it heals without burning like hell! Thanks God for your marvelous plants.

Steam Your Floors

Posted by Rosie (United States) on 02/08/2017
★★★★☆

Athlete's fungus lives on surfaces virtually forever, so walking around barefoot in the house means you're spreading it on the floor surfaces in your home, resulting in you reinfecting yourself, & anyone else who is walking around barefoot in your house.

When you come home from work, wearing sandals is a much better option, or if it's colder a clean pair of sox & slippers.

Most fungi, including AF fungus, can be killed with 140* hot water, so if you've been running around barefoot in your home all your floors are infected, & you need to get a floor steamer (steam is created at 212*) & run it over every square inch of your floors to kill the AF fungus, so you're not reinfecting yourself, or anyone else.

Just wish it was this easy to kill the AF fungus on my feet.

Baking Soda

Posted by Macswelly (California) on 01/26/2017 3 posts
★★★★★

Re: Apple Cider Vinegar Soak Not Helping Athlete's Foot Pain

Soak your feet for an hour in about a cup of baking soda only. Also in between soakings you need something to help kill the fungus as well. I would recommend making a dry mixture (basically a foot powder) of one part baking soda and three parts corn starch. Mix these two dry items in a mixing bowl and thoroughly combine. Afterwards find yourself a shaker container and pour the dry mixture into the shaker container. Apply this foot powder morning and night, wearing socks to help keep the mixture on while you sleep.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Frustrated One (Indianapolis, In) on 01/26/2017
★☆☆☆☆

Hi,

I've treated my athletes foot for roughly four weeks. It's been awful! I started out using Lotrimin and two weeks later advanced to Lotrimin Ultra. My symptoms are itching, burning needle sensations. Visually my feet have dryness on both heels, and a little redness accompanied by splotchy skin. I started using ACV roughly four days ago, I'm still experiencing symptoms. I'm trying to do everything I can, I tend to be OCD. I soak for almost an hour once a day. Please help, I've never experienced anything like this.

Thanks,

Frustrated One

Borax

Posted by Vj (Manchester, Uk) on 01/10/2017

Hi Mama,

Thanks you for your post above, that is very interesting. I have a case of athletes foot now which has lingered for 2 months despite me using the usual topical creams (daktarin, lamisil, caneston). So now I am looking for alternatives. I have just ordered the Borax. I plan to put some in shoes/socks, but also to take tiny amounts with water like you suggest. Do you have any specific tips on this? For example how many weeks did you do this for with your husband? And is it safe?

Thanks in advance

VJ.

Garlic

Posted by Teresa (Chula Vista, Ca ) on 12/02/2016
★★★★★

I been fighting nail fungus try many drugs store remedies and Doctor's prescribed. Nothing has worked I ever got the pills but after reading the side effects they are still unopened. My nail fungus as spread to all my nail on one foot and to two on the other. And now I have a serious case of AF too. I have been using the vinegar soak follow by a baking soda soak then, air dry then spray of Colloifal Silver sir dry again. Then fungus killing essential oils. But instead of fresh garlic I opted for garlic powder as a foot powder. It has worked for my AF and it looks like its working on my Nail fungus too. Finally think I will kill it. I will now try what you said drinking the fresh garlic and ACV with cellery. Can you please post your recipe. Thanks.

Borax

Posted by Giana (Youngsville, Ny) on 10/10/2016
★★★★★

Soak the athlete's foot in a mixture of 1/4 c. Borax and warm water! This will cure it! You can also rub vinegar (reg. white) on the feet, but the borax works wonders!

Absorbine

Posted by Sharon (Perth) on 08/14/2016

This is an internal problem that is being fed by sugar foot baths creams etc will improve it only in the short term you need oral herbal medication will a detox to flush it out of your system. Fungus spores are everywhere but only affect people who aren't in peak condition.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Chris (Dighton Ma) on 07/22/2016
★★★★★

The vinegar any type will kill the fungus. I use it in a spray bottle. 2-3 days and it is gone. I continue for a week. Sprayed the inside of my shoes too.

I have used garlic oil too, it also works.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by William (Fl) on 07/02/2016

Look at eczema of the feet. A dermatologist told me i'ts what I have. Leather soles seem to be the only thing that helps. Otherwise they will prescribe steroids but this only cures the symptoms, because its a chronic skin disorder. Hope you find a cure.

Urine

Posted by Vsherry9 (Detroit, Mi) on 07/01/2016
★★★★★

I used my own urine to stop athlete's foot fungus, I also had a variety of fungus on the bottom & sides of my feet. I used my own urine in a bucket while sitting on the toilet every morning for about 5 days. I started using the urine in the morning, then at night used vapor rub at night with socks, then next day I used the urine in the morning, and the vapor rub at night without the socks (I have a hard time wearing socks at night). Each time I took a shower in the morning after soaking with urine, I would dry off & rub Peroxide all over my feet with a cotton ball until they dried naturally. I did this for a week & all gone. I've had this problem since 1998 & I am a real person from the Detroit area. Don't let anyone tell you this doesn't work, especially a doctor - because it does & I am proof. I've tried everything imaginable & was never able to get rid of it, until just recently. Doctors will tell you there is not enough Urea in the pee to cure it, but that is just down right false. What is it going to hurt to just try it & see for yourself. Good luck!!!

Castor Oil and Liquid Paraffin

Posted by Mandandi (Gaborone) on 05/09/2016
★★★★★

After cleaning systemic candida, I found that I had recurring athlete's foot- due to not cleaning my shoes and socks enough with other remedies.

I then used mix of castor oil (which was excellent on its own but requires deep massaging in), and liquid paraffin. The mixture works faster and is more efficiently, killing new infections before they even show up. I only see dry skin before I see the inflammation.

Borax

Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 02/18/2016
★★★★★

My husband has had athlete's foot for at least 3 decades. He had it when I met him, I think it would be classified as the "moccasin type." If it was really bothering him he would use an OTC cream. At some point I learned about soaking the feet in vinegar (1/2 distilled white vinegar and 1/2 water.) I would buy that by the gallon. When his feet bothered him he would soak them morning and night for 30 minutes. But relief was only temporary.

About a year ago I started giving him borax in his water for another health issue. The recommended 1/4 teaspoon of borax in a liter of water was too much for him, even though he is a big guy. It caused digestive distress. So, I put small amounts of borax in his water jars that he took to work each day. (I didn't measure, it was probably 1/16 of a teaspoon spread over about 6 cups of water.) I probably did this for an average of 4 days a week.

Last night I realized the skin on his feet is soft and smooth. He hasn't done anything for athlete's foot in months. I realized it must be that the borax slowly healed him from the inside out.

While sometimes there are quick solutions to problems that have gone on a long time, often "slow and steady wins the race" with problems that have been going on for years (or decades, in the case of my husband.)

~Mama to Many~

Coconut Oil

Posted by Anne (London) on 02/10/2016
★★★★★

I agree! I used to develop athletes foot after a pedicure, it was terrible. But when I started moisturising my feet with coconut oil, it would disappear in days. Now, every time I have a pedicure, I immediately use coconut oil - twice a day. After a week, I only have to apply once a week for maintenance. It's been years now without an outbreak.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Michell (Oregon) on 12/31/2015

ACV is without a doubt the only way to deal with the foot fungus. At first if it burns deal with it just think the next day you will be a new person, don't forget to trash the shoe pads away and take newspaper spray some disinfectant on the paper and stuff the shoes with the paper every day and rotate your shoes! Believe me, this takes care of your feet and your hands and you'll be a happy camper!

Borax

Posted by David (Springfield, Missouri) on 11/08/2015
★★★★★

Editor's Choice

Borax powder for Athlete's Foot cure

I have not read this one on the site, so thought I would share.

I sprinkle a liberal amount of borax powder, like the 20 Mule Team brand, over inside-out socks, then flip again to get them right side out. I wear them during the workday and after 2-3 days, all crusty feet are gone and I am left with, by comparison, baby-smooth skin on my feet. Amazing cure and much simpler than soaking your feet in ACV, etc.

Typically, I follow up with this every 3-4 months, or when I start noticing any rough skin between my toes, and a few days of this will stop it.

Be advised, if you have severe athlete's foot, you may lose a significant amount of dead/diseased skin on your feet the first day, which can be alarming. I recommended this treatment to a family member who had a very bad case and he was a bit disturbed by the amount of skin coming off his feet the first day. He decided to do borax soaks in a foot bath instead, so the reaction would be slower and less alarming, which it was. It was a complete cure for him in about a week, and he does the 3-4 month powder in the socks follow up as needed.

Other thoughts: Something about the heat, pressure, and moisture on your feet of a normal day's work seems to make this work better, as I have tried follow-up treatments on the weekend with just socks and does not seem as effective.

Also, more powder seems to work better than less, which can feel a bit odd as it seems you are walking with fine sand in your socks, but the sensation is unnoticeable to me in a few hours. I would estimate the quantity per sock at about 1-2 tablespoons. I have tried follow-ups with just a small sprinkling and that does not seem to work as quickly as the 1-2 tablespoon amounts.

Alcohol

Posted by Brent (Oregon) on 11/06/2015
★★★★★

I apologize for being long winded. But figured this information could prove useful to someone out there.

(TLDR version: I have moccasin type athletes foot.
Wipe with alcohol, cover area in iodine. Dremel off dead skin (Yes I said dremel) This should not hurt. (Don't peel, it will tear.) Soak freshly exposed layer in ACV daily for 30 mins. After soak use essential oils. If the area starts to get hard again. Repeat.)

Well, truth be told science IS nature. How did ACV cure your athlete's foot? Scientific processes. Science is the outcome of nature, which man tries to understand an then harnesses. It's a beautiful and inescapable fact of reality. So I have to laugh when people juxtapose 'nature' and 'science' as though they are mutually exclusive. A remedy is a remedy whether you're conscious of its scientific processes or not. While you may not be following a scientific process to PROVE it's effectiveness, science as reality still happens.

Glad to hear it worked for you. I'm in the process of using ACV. I've used every anti-fungal essential oil you can name, creams, powders, iodine tincture, hydrogen peroxide, etc... and it still clings on. It's a LOT better but I have been treating it daily for about 3 or more months now, and it's really only in two spots. A spot on the pad of my foot under my pinky toe and between my pinky toe. I think it may have started on my heel now, so I am going back to apple cider vinegar foot soaks. Which is what I started with as treatment months ago, but now with a twist.

I'm certain it's the moccasin type, that started inter-digitally about 6 months ago. If I had gotten to it when I first saw symptoms I think it would be gone by now.

The most effective thing I've done so far has been to wipe down the area with a cottonball soaked in isopropyl alcohol (do NOT soak your foot in alcohol). I then take tincture of iodine and cover the area. I also make sure to get outside the area where the visible fungus is because it usually exists outside the area as well. This dries it out very quickly and effectively. Then I dremel.

Since it's the moccasin type, the outer layer is already hard to begin with (moccasin-type athletes foot basically makes a shield with your skin) so after a few days of wiping with alcohol and applying iodine twice a day, the outer layer is ready to be dremeled. This should NOT hurt. I use a small electric dremel you plug into the wall with a relatively soft sandpaper like tip. I haven't had this hurt yet. If this hurts your foot, you're either dremeling soft tissue or your skin isn't dried out enough yet... or your dremel is too powerful/tip is too rough. Use common sense. Also, make sure to dremel in a location that's not going to likely spread the fungus to someone else. While the outer layer of skin is dead, and comes off in a fine powder, fungus could still potentially be living so just be cautious. The whole point of this is so that you can actually put your medicine of choice on your moccasin athletes foot and it be more effective... or effective at all. Personally, after the soft tissue is now exposed, I soak in ACV for 30 minutes. THIS WILL HURT. Then use oils.

Also, a word of advice, DO NOT PEEL your dead skin tags. The way that this specific fungus sheds your skin is like a hangnail. You'll get a tag of dead skin, want to pull it, but it will tear down into fresh tissue opening a wound for the fungus to dive right in. I made this mistake and it's lasted a lot longer than it should have, my foot was incredibly sore and treatments were EXCRUCIATING.

Side note: I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would use Hydrogen Peroxide with the type of athletes foot I have. Maybe mine is just really imbedded. The levels of pain I experienced from Hydrogen Peroxide were ridiculous. Literally ridiculous. I skipped all the normal reactions from pain and went straight into laughter. I don't know how you all do it. We're talking nerve pain. Hundreds of thousands of needles jabbing into your foot, pain. I'm a tough guy, and I don't cry, and I toughed out 30 min soaks a day or more for more than a week that didn't get rid of it. So no more. God bless you all who want to go that route.

Currently on my second foot soak with ACV after dremeling. Still stings just as bad as yesterday's soak. Crossing my fingers. I will also be applying essential oils all day. Currently I have Melaleuca, Lavender, Oregeno, Clove, Cassia, Fennel, Cumin, Lemongrass, Frankincense, Arborvitae, Helichrysum, Rosemary, and Bergamot essential oils at my disposal after my foot soaks. All of these apparently have anti-fungal properties which you can read more about at organicfacts.net.

Hot oils that will burn: Cassia, Oregeno, & Clove. Peppermint is so cooling it will feel hot around privates. Do not use any of these for jock itch unless you want to feel miserable. Peppermint being the least miserable.

All others are relatively mild and give a sense of mild cooling and relief, and should be ok to use should you have jock itch around sensitive areas as well. Cumin and Lemongrass are especially smelly. You will smell like lemongrass for about a day (sweet smell) and cumin (spicy smell kind of like BO) for about two days.

Apple Cider Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

Posted by Rhonda (Batesville) on 07/05/2015

Do not re-use. Cheap brands of Apple Cider Vinegar works great. Also, just use Apple Cider Vinegar & skip the peroxide..an earlier post said don't mix Apple Cider Vinegar with peroxide.. Damaging.