Preventing and Treating Athletes Foot

Athletes Foot is caused by a nasty organism that lives under the skin and breeds best under warm moist conditions. There are several ways to prevent Athletes Foot and there are several ways to treat it, whether you use a prescription, over-the-counter medication, or home remedies. First let's take a look at what one can do to prevent Athletes Foot.

Firs you need to determine if it is Athletes Foot at all. The rash could be something else entirely. If it is on a child's foot then it is most likely something else, This is because it is very rare for a child to get athletes foot if they are under the age of puberty. If it is on an adults foot but on the toe instead then it could very well likely be a form of dermatitis. If you find some kind of rash on your toe it might be caused by the shoe material which in turn causes a form of dermatitis. If your foot is red, swollen, sore, blistered, and oozing then that could also be a form of dermatitis and if that is the case then you need to see your doctor immediately.

If you are already suffering from Athletes Foot you are going to want to not only get it treated but also do whatever you can to prevent it from coming back. Read on to find out ways to prevent Athletes Foot and use home remedies to treat it.

Baby Your Foot

If you are at the early stage of Athletes Foot where the skin cracks and blisters, and you have a burning sensation on your foot, baby that foot as much as you can. Stay home from work, put your feet up, keep the foot uncovered and keep it rested. If you want to keep it from getting any worse then you must do what you can to stay off your feet for the day. Stay home from work, don't do any household chores and just rest your foot.

Soothe Those Sores

If you go to your local drugstore you can purchase a packet of Domeboro powder and/or Burow's Solution. Dissolve one packet of Domeboro powder or two tablespoons of Burow's Solution in a pint of cold water and apply it to your foot. You can soak a cotton ball in either solution and apply it to the foot a couple of times a day.

Soak in Salt Water

You can also soak your foot in a mixture of salt water and warm water. You will need to use two tablespoons of salt water for every pint of warm water you use. Soak your foot in the salt water mixture for 5 to 10 minutes every day until the infection clears up. The salt water solution gets rid of the fungus and also softens the skin.

Using Baking Soda

Taking a tablespoon of baking soda and mixing it with water will make a paste. Then you will want to rub this mixture on your infected foot and especially between the toes. After using the baking soda and water paste you will need to rinse and dry your foot thoroughly and finish the treatment by running on some cornstarch or powder.

Remove the Dead Skin

When the athletes foot is gone you will definitely want to remove any dead skin to prevent athletes foot from returning. If you do not remove the dead skin the athletes foot will definitely come back because the dead skin is what houses the fungus. At bath time, scrub your foot with a scrub brush until all of the dead skin is gone. Also make sure you get the whole foot, including in between the toes. If you scrub your foot in the bathtub, make sure you shower afterward to rinse all of the dead skin away. Removing the dead skin is very important to prevent athletes foot from reoccurring.

Pay Special Attention to Your Toenails

Your toenails are a favorite breeding spot for athletes foot. You will want to scrape underneath the toenail to keep fungus away. Do not use a metal file because this could scratch the toenails and provide even more places for the fungus to grow and breed in. Instead use a toothpick or wooden match and scrape underneath every second or third day.

Choose Proper Footwear

Since Athletes Foot breeds wherever there is excess moisture, you will want to wear the right kind of shoes. Choose well ventilated and airy shoes like sandals. Choosing a pair of shoes with the right kind of material is a good idea also. Cotton and leather are the best kind while wool and even rubber shoes are not because these can cause your feet to sweat and create an environment for the fungus to breed and spread.

You will also want to change your shoes everyday. Do not wear the same pair even two days in a row. This is especially important if your feet sweat a lot because it will take up to 24 hours for your shoes to dry out all the way so if you have a problem with sweaty feet, change them everyday. You might also want to start dusting your shoes with antifungal powder or spray. Another way to keep athletes foot away is to wipe your shoes out with a damp cloth that has a disinfectant on it like Lysol. The Lysol will kill any fungal bacteria and prevent more from returning. DO this every time you take your shoes off.

Don't forget to air your shoes out. Even if you wear sandals it is still a good idea to lay your shoes out in the sun to air out between wearings. This will reduce even the slightest possibility of reinfection.

Another thing you might want to seriously consider doing if your feet sweat a lot is to change your socks two or three times a day. You also want to wear the proper socks and cotton socks are the best kind. While washing your socks, rinse them out thoroughly because the detergent residue can aggravate any skin problem. Also make sure to wash your socks in very hot water to prevent the athletes foot from returning.

Supplements for Athletes Foot

Since athletes foot is a fungus infection it would be a good idea to boost the immune system with supplements. The best supplements to use to fight and prevent athletes foot are Acidophilus, Beta Carotene, Garlic, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Zinc. The recommended dosages can be found at the website at the bottom of this article.

These are all great ways to not only prevent athletes foot but to treat athletes foot while in the early stages, therefore reducing the risk of it getting worse. Stay tuned for my next article on home remedies you can use to treat the foot infection.

The Doctors Book of Home Remedies