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It is no secret that here we are dealing only with natural remedies. Every mother should have a few tricks up her sleeve to eliminate minor ailments at home without resorting to harmful chemicals. Here are five natural remedies for an annoying problem that afflicts many of us from time to time … unpleasant, peeling of the athlete’s legs!
The athlete’s foot is the condition of the skin that is most often associated with smelly, sweaty feet and locker rooms in the gym. However, this does not only affect athletes. From your husband to your children – yes, you – the athlete’s foot can hit anyone.
It may come as a surprise to learn that an athlete’s foot is not just something that teens catch. In fact, the main cause of an athlete’s feet is more than contaminated showers or towels.
The microbiome of the body can actually have a lot to do with susceptibility to any infection, including the athlete’s feet. Let’s first look at what really causes an athlete’s legs.
What leads to the athlete’s feet
- Contact with infected people or objects, such as towels, shower or swimming pool
- Wearing tight, damp shoes
- General body microbiome imbalance
- Poor immune system function
So while exposing the fungus responsible for the athlete’s feet (the so-called mud) promotes the spread of infection, your personal health can have a lot to do with the way your body handles exposure. When we have an overgrowth of harmful bacteria and fungi, we are more susceptible to any infections.
We have more bacterial cells than human, and really it’s all about the bacterial balance. I talk a lot about gut health and the importance of maintaining the skin microbiome. The idea is that when your internal ecosystem is balanced, the microbiome of your entire body will be balanced, including bacteria on and under the surface of your skin.
The athlete’s foot can actually mimic bad eczema or dermatitis, so it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. Symptoms include:
- Thick, red, scaly or cracked skin
- Itchy rash
- Symptoms are concentrated between the toes, where the fungus is more likely to grow
- Blisters
- Discolored toenails
The best medicine is often to avoid the problem in the first place. Here are some ways to reduce your athlete’s foot chances:
- Wear leg covers in wet public places where possible.
- Dry your feet well when getting out of the water, whether at home or in public places.
- Wash the towels if you suspect an infection or if they have been used in a public place.
- Take care of your microbiome by eating healthy, adding probiotics and avoiding good bacteria-killing products such as antibacterial soaps. (Read how to take care of your gut and overall health here.)
Unfortunately, when you get this horrible fungal infection of your feet, there are some great natural remedies that can help control it:
1. Internal probiotic
Bowel health affects so many aspects of overall health! Increase probiotics, avoid sugar and overly starchy foods, and focus on nutritious foods such as bone broth and sauerkraut.
Those who often struggle with infections, whether they have an athlete’s foot or a common cold, may have a major intestinal problem. Our immune system is responsible for fighting infections, and while colds or flu sometimes give them the training they need to stay strong, fungal infections are more of a symptom of an imbalance. When our intestines are unbalanced, our immune system weakens and we become susceptible to infections.
Candida is a type of fungal yeast and is often the basis of many health conditions such as eczema, arthritis and allergies. Although it is a natural strain that is found in everyone’s gut, problems arise when it grows due to a lack of beneficial bacteria. Doing a diet like the GAPS diet can help eliminate harmful fungi and restore the gut to balance.
Similarly, mud the fungus (the fungus responsible for the athlete’s foot) is normal on the skin. However, if our skin bacteria are out of balance, our skin is more susceptible to infections.
Not only is balancing the intestinal bacteria necessary, but balancing the bacteria (microbiome) on the skin can also be helpful. (To learn more about nourishing the skin microbiome, see this podcast.)
2. Topical probiotic medicine
While oral probiotics are good for your gut and overall health, in the event of an acute athlete’s foot infection, you may find the topical application of probiotics helpful.
Let’s take the same idea as this recipe for my probiotic face mask and make it the basis for a natural remedy for the athlete’s feet.
Mix together:
- 1 TBSP pure organic yoghurt (preferably whole milk)
- 1 capsule of saccharomyces boulardii (useful yeast that has been shown to fight pathogenic fungal species)
Use a cotton ball to spread the mixture on the infected areas and leave for about half an hour. Increase or double the amounts if necessary.
3. Apple cider vinegar remover
Mom’s sour, sharp, crunchy favorite, which helps with everything from heartburn to dandruff, can also be one of the athlete’s best natural remedies for a light foot.
Apple cider vinegar (ACV for those familiar with this crushed, fermented apple product) has been used since the time of Hippocrates, when it was valued for its healing properties. It is known to be especially useful against yeasts and fungi, and many people take it internally to keep Candida in balance.
To use ACV to treat an athlete’s foot, make sure you have a good, high-quality, unpasteurized version (those that still contain “mother” are better and you can even make your own!). Of course, you can also buy in stores or online through Amazon. I also love and use this brand.
Mix in a foot bath container together:
- 2 glasses of water
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
Soak your feet for about half an hour. You can also apply plain ACV directly to the cotton ball infection. Apple cider vinegar is likely to sting, so keep in mind and dilute more if necessary.
4. Means for the treatment of essential oils
There are several essential oils that can be used to fight fungal infections, and skin conditions are one of my favorite uses of essential oils.
Anti-fungal essential oils include:
- Tea tree
- lavender
- oregano
- thyme
- geranium
- cloves
There are several ways you can use essential oils as a natural remedy for an athlete’s feet.
How to make your own ointment:
Use this simple homemade healing ointment recipe to create your own antifungal ointment by adding essential fungal oils.
Important note: Apply clean or diluted. Whether you use essential oils directly on the skin or dilute them, it is a personal and sometimes hotly debated choice. As essential oils are highly concentrated, it is usually not recommended to use them directly on the skin.
However, some essential oils can be applied cleanly or directly to the skin, including lavender. The biggest concern in this case is applying the oil on broken skin, which would be painful and could cause additional irritation. You can always consult a certified aromatherapist if you are interested in using undiluted essential oils.
Otherwise, a good rule of thumb is 3-5 drops of essential oils per teaspoon of oil. Coconut oil is an excellent choice because it is also antifungal. Just combine one of the above anti-fungal essential oils with a little coconut oil and apply on the infected areas.
Make an anti-fungal spray:
Combine anti-fungal essential oils with witch hazel to create a cleansing, healing astringent. Combine optional oils in a spray bottle with witch hazel, keeping in mind the dilution ratios, spray on clean, dry feet and then allow to dry. You can also kill two birds with one stone and add some ACV to the spray.
Try neem oil
A study from 2011 found that the oil from it is effective in destroying various forms of candida, fungus and mold, all of which are possible root causes of the athlete’s feet. However, this study was done in Petri dishes, not on animals or humans. Since I already use oil from it as an essential oil, it is convenient to add a little to this medicine.
5. Means for protection of shoes and towels
It turns out that sticking the sneakers in the freezer for about 24 hours can kill the fungus and prevent its further development. You can also use a spray with an anti-fungal essential oil, such as the one suggested above, to spray your sneakers and kill the fungus.
In addition to disinfecting shoes, it is also a good idea to throw away or disinfect all socks worn during infection, plus used disinfectant wipes.
To disinfect the towels, wash in the hottest setting of the washing machine. Add antifungal essential oils, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide to kill germs. In cases of persistent or recurrent infections of the athlete’s feet, consider disposing of items that may have been in contact with the fungus.
Most minor infections can be treated at home without the use of harmful or toxic over-the-counter or prescription drugs. The athlete’s foot is no exception and with these natural foot remedies, you will be fungus-free in no time!
This article was medically reviewed by Cynthia Turlow, NP, CEO and founder of the Daily Wellness Project, a practicing nurse, international lecturer and world-renowned expert in intermittent fasting and healthy eating. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk to your doctor.
Have you tried any of these natural athlete’s foot remedies? What worked?
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