27 Home Remedies For Athlete’s Foot Around & Between Toes

Updated: 11/19/2019

What Is Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot^[1], which is also called “Moccasin foot” or “Tinea pedis,” is a skin problem in which there is an infection around and between the toes. As a result, patches of skin are cracked, bottoms of the feet are dry and thick, and toenails are discolored.

What Are Common Causes Of Athlete’s Foot?

Athlete’s foot is mainly caused by fungus. Imagine that when you wear a pair of shoes, your toes are pressed tightly, creating a moist environment between your toes, which is a favorable condition for bacteria and fungi to develop, leading to athlete’s foot accordingly. In other words, athlete’s foot often occurs among people who wear tight shoes for a long time, usually take a bath at public baths, or go barefoot regularly.

Here are some of the main reasons explaining why you get athlete’s foot:

• Contact with people who are infected or infected things, namely using towels or swimming pool with infected
• Get on too tight pairs of shoes.
• Have imbalance of microbiome in the body.
• Have a weak immune system.
• Go barefoot on surfaces having germs.
• Have some allergies making the skin dry, including eczema and dermatitis.
• Have some kinds of diseases, namely diabetes.

What Are The Symptoms Of Athlete’s Foot?

In general, a person having athlete’s foot will experience some of the symptoms below.

• The skin is red, cracked, and thick.
• The skin has itchy rashes.
• The toes become itchy and red.
• The toenails are discolored.
• The skin on the feet is whitened.

However, if you are suffering from athlete’s foot, you can choose to alleviate it with natural remedies. Let’s check out the best home remedies for athlete’s foot in today’s article!

Top 27 Effective Home Remedies For Athlete’s Foot Around & Between Toes

1. Garlic

Thanks to the ajoene compound which works effectively to combat fungi and bacteria^[2], garlic is considered the best home remedy for athlete’s foot. Thanks to the powerful antimicrobial and antifungal properties, garlic may help to fight against several species of bacterial infections^[3], especially fungus causing athlete’s foot.

Method 1:

• Take a clove of garlic and crush it.
• Put the crushed garlic in a cup and pour into it some drops of olive oil.
• Mix them well to form a paste.
• Apply the paste to the affected area.
• Leave it on for 30 minutes.
• Use clean water and antifungal soap to wash off the paste.
• Use a clean towel or cloth to pat dry your skin.
• Apply this way once every day for a few weeks.

Method 2:

• Prepare a clove of garlic and divide it into half using a knife.
• Put the halves between the athlete’s foot.
• Leave them for half an hour.
• Do this method every day.

Method 3:

• Take 2 tablespoons of garlic powder and put it in a cup.
• Add some coconut oil to the cup and mix them well.
• Apply the mixture to the infected skin
• Do this remedy once every day.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar is commonly used for treating several infected diseases. Owning to antimicrobial properties^[4], vinegar is a wonderful ingredient to eliminate fungi as well as reduce the alkaline level of the skin. It also helps to prevent the spread of skin fungus. Furthermore, it may keep the wound dry, facilitating the recovery process.

Method 1:

• Mix vinegar with warm water in the ratio of 1:3.
• Soak your feet into the mixture for 15 minutes.
• Use a clean towel to dry the feet.
• Apply this remedy once every day until symptoms disappear.

Method 2:

• Pour a cup of vinegar into a container and add to it a cup of water.
• Stir them well.
• Then, clean your feet and the affected area with an antiseptic soap.
• Dip a cotton ball into the mixture and then cover it on the affected skin.
• Leave it on for about 20 minutes.
• Use a clean wet towel to remove the mixture.
• Dry your skin using another clean towel.
• Apply this remedy twice every day for a few weeks.

Method 3:

• Take ½ cup of apple cider vinegar (unfiltered and organic vinegar) and pour it into a basin.
• Add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to the basin.
• Also, pour warm water into the basin.
• Then, put your feet in the basin for about 15 minutes and then dry them using a clean towel.
• Apply this remedy once every day.

Method 4: Apple Cider Vinegar And Himalayan Crystal Salt

This combination may be considered as one of the best home remedies for athlete’s foot. It is because apple cider vinegar may make the environment in the feet acidic, which limits the growth of the fungus; whereas Himalayan crystal salt helps to combat fungi thanks to its antifungal power.

• Take 2 tablespoons of salt and put them in a basin filled with warm water.
• Add to it ½ cup of apple cider vinegar (Raw and organic one).
• Stir the mixture well.
• Then, soak your feet into the basin for about 15 minutes.
• Dry your feet with a clean towel or cloth.
• Do this a few times every day to get improvement.

3. Yogurt

Thanks to the rich content of good bacteria, yogurt is useful at treating infections caused by fungi and bacteria as it helps increase the human’s immunity^[5]. Consuming yogurt every day not only helps your skin be more beautiful but also keeps viruses and fungi causing athlete’s foot at bay.

Method 1:

• Cover the infected skin area with fresh yogurt.
• Leave it dry naturally and wash it off with warm water.
• Then, use a clean towel to dry your skin.
• Apply this method twice a day for a few weeks.

Method 2:

• Consume a cup of plain yogurt every morning and evening.

4. Salt

Next, you can use salt to fight against symptoms of athlete’s foot because it works effectively to eliminate the fungus causing athlete’s foot^[6].

• Take a quart of warm water and pour it into basin.
• Mix the water with 6 teaspoons of salt.
• Then, soak your feet into this water for 10 minutes.
• Dry your feet using a clean cloth.
• Dab baking soda between toes to keep them dry.
• Do this remedy about 5 times every day.

Note: Avoid applying this remedy if you are suffering from open sores.

5. Tea Tree Oil

Having antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties^[7], tea tree oil is also listed as one of the effective home remedies for athlete’s foot. Tea tree oil may help to kill fungus^[8] and inhibit it from spreading to other skin areas.

Method 1:

• Take an amount of 100% pure tea tree oil and put it in a cup.
• Add an equal amount of olive oil to the cup and stir them well.
• Apply the mixture to the athlete’s foot twice per day.
• Continue doing this method for a few weeks.

Method 2:

• Create a mixture of tea tree oil and aloe vera gel with a ratio of 3:1.
• Apply the mixture to the affected area twice every day.
• Continue doing this remedy for 8 weeks.

6. Black Tea

A simple black tea bag is also used to relieve symptoms of athlete’s foot because it consists of the tannic acid^[9], which works as a natural astringent^[10], which may limit the activity of fungus and prevent excess moisture, contributing to speeding up the recovery process.

• Take 5 bags of black tea and put them in a big bowl.
• Add 4 cups of boiling water to the bowl.
• Leave them to steep for about 5 minutes and remove the bags.
• Leave the liquid to cool down.
• Pour the liquid into a basin.
• Soak your feet into the basin for 30 minutes.
• Use a clean towel or cloth to dry the feet.
• Do this remedy twice every day for about 6 weeks.

7. Cinnamon

Having astringent, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties^[11] [12], cinnamon may help to remove bacteria and fungi between toenails; thereby, it helps reduce symptoms of athlete’s foot fast.

• Take about 10 sticks of cinnamon and press them into pieces.
• Add 4 cups of water to the pot and put it over the heat.
• When the water boils, put the pieces in.
• Then, turn down the heat for simmering the cinnamon for some few minutes.
• Remove it from the heat and let it steep for about 50 minutes.
• Pour the mixture in a basin.
• Soak your feet into the basin for at least 30 minutes.
• Then, use a clean towel or cloth to dry the feet.
• Apply the remedy every day before bedtime in at least 2 months.

8. Olive Leaf

Olive leaf is another choice to treat athlete’s foot because it may fight against fungi and microbes thanks to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties^[13] [14].

• Wash some olive leaves carefully and grind them to a paste.
• Soak a cotton ball in the paste and put it to the infected skin.
• Leave it on for 30 minutes.
• Then, wash the paste off with warm water.
• Use a clean towel to pat dry your skin.
• Do this remedy twice per day for 2 weeks.

9. Onions

Onions may be considered as one of the most effective home remedies for athlete’s foot. Thanks to the antibacterial and antibiofilm agents^[15], onion works well to treat fungus and inflammation. Using onions may help you to remove viruses as well as limit the growth of germs on the skin.

• Take 2 onions and grind them to get the juice.
• After washing the affected skin with antifungal soap, apply onion juice.
• Leave it on for 30 minutes.
• Then, rinse the juice off with warm water.
• Use a clean cloth to dry your skin.
• Spread some talcum powder to your skin to keep it dry.
• Do this method twice per day for a month.

10. Baking Soda

Studies pointed out that baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, has strong antifungal properties^[16]; therefore, it works excellently to remove the fungus causing athlete’s foot. Baking soda is also an excellent ingredient to limit excess moisture in your feet and neutralize the level of pH of your skin.

Method 1:

• Take a tablespoon of baking soda powder and put it in a cup.
• Add some water to the cup and mix them well to form a paste.
• Rub it between your toes.
• Leave the paste on for several minutes.
• Wash it off with warm water and use a clean towel to dry your toes.
• Apply this remedy twice every day in a few weeks.

Method 2:

• Sprinkle baking soda powder to your shoes and socks daily.
• Do this every day to keep your shoes and socks moisture free.

11. Neem Oil

Neem oil and leaves have excellent antifungal property^[17], which significantly contributes to relieving symptoms of athlete’s foot.

• Take a sufficient amount of neem oil and apply it to the infected skin twice a day.
• Gently massage your skin so that the oil can penetrate deeply in the skin.

12. Rubbing Alcohol

You can use rubbing alcohol as one of the natural ways to treat athlete’s foot. This ingredient may help to eliminate fungus on the skin surface^[18]; therefore, it helps you recover quickly from athlete’s foot.

Method 1:

• Apply some rubbing alcohol to the affected area.

Method 2:

• In a basin, mix rubbing alcohol with water in the ratio of 7:3.
• Soak your feet into the mixture for half an hour.

13. Oregano

Thanks to the antifungal and antibacterial properties^[19] [20], oregano is also listed as one of the greatest home remedies for athlete’s foot. According to researchers, the oil of oregano may not only kill bacteria but also cut down the molds and wipe out causes of digestive and immune problems, such as candida overgrowth.

• Wash 4 ounces of fresh oregano leaves carefully and put them in a basin.
• Pour some warm water into the basin.
• Soak your feet into the basin for 15 minutes.
• Do this remedy twice every day.

14. Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide works so effectively to destroy bacteria and fungi causing athlete’s foot and other infected skin issues thanks to the antimicrobial and antiseptic properties^[21].

• Take a pinch of 3% hydrogen peroxide.
• Put it in a basin filled with a gallon of warm water.
• Then stir the mixture well.
• Soak your feet into the basin for half an hour.
• Use a clean towel to pat dry your feet.
• Do this method twice every day.

15. Cornstarch

You can use cornstarch as a natural and powerful way to fight athlete’s foot because it may absorb the moisture, helping to keep your feet and the surrounding environment dry^[22]. It further prevents the growth of bacteria and germs causing skin disorders such as athlete’s foot.

• Prepare ½ cup of cornstarch and place it on a small plate.
• Heat the oven to 325⁰C and place the constarch plate on the oven.
• Heat until the cornstarch becomes brownish.
• Remove the plate.
• Rub the achieved cornstarch on your feet and let it stay for 10 minutes.
• Remove the cornstarch with a clean cloth.
• Then, wash the hands and use a clean towel or cloth to dry your feet.
• Do this method every day.

16. Lemon

Lemon is the next choice for you to cure athlete’s foot. Thanks to the antifungal and antibacterial power^[23] [24], lemons work very well to help you to recover from athlete’s foot. Fresh lemon juice may help to eliminate the fungus causing this skin condition. Additionally, owning the astringent property, lemon is the right ingredients to prevent the infection from spreading to other skin areas. Furthermore, lemon juice may dramatically contribute to reducing the unpleasant odor caused by athlete’s foot.

Method 1:

• Take a lemon and squeeze to get the juice.
• Apply the juice to the affected skin area.
• Let it stay for 10 minutes.
• Do this method once every day.

Method 2:

• Take a lemon and squeeze to get the juice.
• Pour ½ cup of lemon juice into a basin.
• Add some lukewarm water to the basin and stir well.
• Soak your feet into the mixture for about 10 minutes.
• Apply this remedy twice every day.

17. Betadine

Betadine is commonly used to handle infections in wounds^[25]. Besides, it works very effectively to not only prevent skin infection but also kill fungus causing athlete’s foot.

• Prepare a basin and add some warm water.
• Then, pour capfuls of betadine into the basin and stir well
• Soak your feet into the basin for 20 minutes.
• Use a clean towel or cloth to dry the feet afterwards.
• Do this remedy twice every day.

Go to see a doctor for medical advice if you don’t see any improvement after applying these home remedies for athlete’s foot. If you want to share any ideas or have any questions about our article, don’t hesitate to drop your words under this article. We will try to give feedback as soon as possible.

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