Athlete’s foot, we think, is a disease prevalent among athletes. But is this true? Definitely not. In-fact, it has nothing to do with athletes. It is a very common skin disease, also known by the name ‘tinea pedis’ or ‘ringworm of the feet’. But the plus point is with home remedies for athletes foot it can be cured.
Athlete’s foot is caused due to fungal infection and is more common among men than women. The reason behind this is that men often wear heavy shoes and air-tight socks, giving room for the fungus to develop. This fungus targets the skin, nails and hair, resulting in redness, flaky and itchy skin. Athlete’s foot can also target the scalp, causing hair loss.
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People with moist, weak or irritated skin are more susceptible to get this disease. Certain medications, birth control pills and drugs can also be a reason to cause Athlete’s foot. This is a contagious disease, however is completely curable. There are many home remedies for athlete’s foot, with the ingredients readily available at our disposal.
Simple home treatments can create a great difference, however stubborn conditions definitely need doctor’s attention. There are many ways to cure foot pain in athletes, but as a ground rule, make sure you always pat dry your legs and keep them away from moisture.
Discussed in this article are a few home remedies for athlete’s foot..
Salt Water
One of the best ways to cure foot pain in athletes is the salt water treatment. Add about 2 teaspoons of salt in 500ml of warm water, soak your legs in it for about 10-15 minutes. Repeat this at regular intervals, until your skin is no longer peeling.
Green Tea
Green Tea contains tannic acid, which is a natural astringent and helps naturally dry sweaty feet. Dip about 5-6 tea bags in boiling water and leave on for few minutes. Now when the water is luke-warm, soak your feet in this tea water for about 30 minutes and then pat your feet completely dry.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great remedy to relieve the itch and burn between your toes and feet. Take about one tablespoon of baking soda, add sufficient water to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on the infected area, rub for some time, rinse off and pat-dry your legs thoroughly. Then dust your feet with some talcum powder or cornstarch to ensure there is completely no moisture.
Aloe-vera
Aloe-vera is a great skin softener and its anti-fungal properties make it an ideal home remedy for athlete’s foot. Mix about one part of aloe-vera gel with three parts of tea-tree oil and rub this mixture on the infected area at-least twice a day. Repeat this for 6-8 weeks to get a complete cure from athlete’s foot.
Mustard Oil
Mustard has awesome anti-fungal properties. Mix a few drops of mustard oil or a little mustard powder in warm water and soak your feet in this bath for about 30 minutes. Mustard will kill all the fungus.
Yogurt
Plain yogurt containing acidophilus bacteria, has proved to be an instant remedy for Athlete’s foot. Just dab the yogurt to the infected area, allow to dry, then rinse off and pat-dry your legs thoroughly.
Other home remedies for athlete’s foot include applying surgical spirit, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder or raw honey to the affected area at-least 3-4 times a day.