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Home Remedies for athletes Foot

Posted on October 8, 2007 - Filed Under Skin Diseases

Introduction
One of the most common parasitic fungal infections encountered by humans is Athlete’s foot. Medically known as Tinea pedis, it is a skin disorder affecting various parts of the foot. Infected people become carriers and are more vulnerable to recurrences and complexities. Hence it is useful to know the home remedies for athlete’s foot, causes and symptoms to stay healthy.

Types of Athlete’s foot
Depending on the severity of the infection and the fungi associated with it, Athlete’s foot is classified into three main categories:

• Chronic inter digital
• Chronic scaly
• Acute vesicular

Causes of Athletes Foot
Certain fungi, known as dermatophytes, are known to be the primary causes of athletes foot. These dermatophytes thrive on the dead tissues of our hair, nails, scalps, and other outer layers of the skin. Following are the most common causes of athletes foot:

• Warm and soggy surroundings, for instance public showers, health clubs, and indoor swimming pools are favorite breeding grounds for such fungus. As a result these are the places where the risk of contamination is high.
• Sharing shoes with an infected person can infect you.
• Minor skin or nail injuries can also lead to contamination.
• Sharing towels, socks, stockings, and similar other things can get you infected.
• You can also contract the disease from your pet animals that carry the germs on their fur.

Symptoms of Athletes Foot
Skin rashes in the foot typically characterize athlete’s foot. It generally crops up in between toes, however the pattern of the infection varies with different types of athletes foot. The general symptoms of athletes foot are itching, cracking, burning, or stinging between the toes. The skin becomes scaly and sores come up on the soles of the feet. In some cases blisters, pus and lesions with a foul smell appear. If left untreated it can extend to the soles of the feet.

Home Remedies for Athletes Foot
Medicines are available for the treatment of athlete’s foot. However there are several helpful home remedies for athletes foot, which you can try to get rid of this infection. For critical cases, you can consult a doctor. Following are some of the tried and tested home remedies people have found effective:

• Make a solution of one part of vinegar and four parts of lukewarm water. Soak the infected foot in that solution for half an hour twice daily.
• You can use a mixture of Boric acid, Epsom salt and vinegar and apply it on the soars of your feet.
• Soak your feet in a solution of household bleach (sodium hydrochloride) for 10minutes. This is reported to be one of the most effective home remedies for athletes foot.
• Wear washed and dried socks and shoes everyday.
• Apply tea tree oil as it acts as an anti-fungal agent.
• A solution of onion extract and water also helps in relieving from the infection.
• Avoid tight fitting shoes.
• Wear cotton socks.
• Use personal sandals while in public showers or locker rooms.

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