Athletes Foot

Athlete’s foot, which is also known in medical terms as tinea pedis, is a fungal infection that affects your feet, especially the area between the toes where moisture is easily trapped. Once the infection happens you will experience an itching and burning sensation on the skin. You will also find that the infected area is covered with dry and flaky skin, which is rough to touch. As the infection advances you may also experience pain, swelling, and inflammation. Sometimes, if the skin is raw and exposed, you may also get a secondary infection in the same area. Athlete’s foot is a disease commonly experienced by people who have wear shoes for long periods in a day. The chances of infection further increase if a person does a lot of physical exercise resulting in a lot of sweating. The warm and moist environment of the shoes gives the fungus an ideal breeding ground. So, it is understandable that athletes (and other sportspersons), obviously, have a significant chance of contracting this type of infection; therefore, the name. However, athlete’s foot can also happen to people from different walks of life – basically, anyone who has to wear shoes for long hours, has a problem of unusually sweaty feet, or is not very careful about the hygiene of their feet. Athletes Foot Remedies Athlete’s foot can be remedied with proper medication and foot care. In severe cases, you may also have to get treatment from a doctor. However, there are several home remedies for athlete’s feet that you can try out. • The first remedy is to apply solutions like tea tree oil, vinegar, diluted hydrogen peroxide, or alcohol on the affected area. Take a cotton ball, soak it in the solution, and gently swab over the infected skin. • Apply crushed onion and/or garlic paste on the infected skin. You can apply them separately or together, as is suitable to you. One of the problems with this method, however, is that it can cause your feet to be very smelly. It is, therefore, important to wash off your feet properly after you apply onion or garlic on your feet. • Use boric powder or baking soda on the infected skin. They will help keep the feet dry by soaking up the extra moisture. • Mix Epsom salt in lukewarm water and soak your feet in it at the end of the day. Besides these, you should also maintain proper hygiene of your feet. Do not wear the same pair of shoes or socks every day; use alternate pairs of shoes and socks. Preferably, use cotton socks and shoes that have ventilation. Be careful and make sure to dry your feet after a bath or wash so that moisture is not trapped in the folds of your skin.