5 Killer Ways To Treat Athlete’s Foot
If you’ve got an itch on your foot that you can’t help
scratching, then you might have a dreaded case of athlete’s
foot. But there’s no need to worry because here are five ways
that you can treat yourself–no doctor and no prescriptions
needed.
Head over to the store
Your best cure for athlete’s foot might be available at your
local grocery mart or drug store. Look for creams and ointments
that contain clotrimazole or miconazole as their active
ingredient. These are topical creams that can be directly
applied to the feet.
All you need to do is reapply the cream after you shower to
clean, dry feet and then cover with a pair of cotton socks. The
cream should be reapplied two to three times a day after that
for about two to three weeks.
Going the natural route
Another great way to treat athlete’s foot is similar to the
store method, but with a more natural oil. Tea tree oil is known
for its antifungal properties and works to destroy the fungus on
the feet.
You’ll need to start with clean and dry feet and then apply the
oil to the affected areas. You can do this several times a day
for as long as it takes to cure the symptoms.
And it makes your feet smell great.
Cures from the kitchen
When you want to get rid of your athlete’s foot, you may just
have to open up a few cupboards. Both baking soda and vinegar
have been shown to help with treating this fungal
condition–though not at the same time.
For the baking soda, you can soak the feet in a mixture of the
powder and warm water. And if you have apple cider vinegar
around, use that instead of the baking soda.
Getting your feet clean of fungus
Some will tell you that soaking your feet in bleach is also a
good alternative for treating athlete’s foot. However, this has
to be done carefully or you might injure your feet. You should
only use two tablespoons of regular laundry bleach in a gallon
of warm water.
Soak your feet for ten minutes and you can see results within a
week’s time.
Scaring away the itchiness and redness
And while garlic is great for vampires, it’s even better for
athlete’s foot. This is because the antibiotic ingredients in
the garlic help to cure the infection. Just rub a clove of
garlic (one that’s been cut in half) over the affected area a
few times per day.
But with all of these ways of treating athlete’s foot, the best
advice is to avoid getting it in the first place. Make sure that
your feet are kept dry and avoid walking on your bare feet in
conditions that are likely to harbor the fungus–public showers
and shoe stores where you try on the shoes without a barrier.
And of course, good hygiene will always keep your feet clean and
happy, and hopefully free from itching.
May 27th, 2008