Causes, Symptoms And Home Remedies For Athlete Foot

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Athlete's foot is a contagious skin disease that affects the area between the toe fingers. It is mainly a fungal infection caused by the parasitic fungus dermatophytes. Medically known as tines pedis, the fungi live off dead skin cells and thrive in moist, warm places, such as gyms, locker rooms, showers and swimming pools. The symptoms of athletes' foot are burning sensation between toes, itching, redness, scaling and blistering. The infection is transmittable and can be caused by sharing the footwear of an infected person. Athlete's foot, however, is treatable and can be cured naturally as well. Read onto know the home remedies for athletes foot.

Causes Of Athlete's Foot

Keeping toe fingers wet or dirty for a long time
Wearing unclean synthetic socks
Wearing plastic shoes
Bruising or cracks on foot
Spending long hours in bathroom, shower, swimming pool or changing room
Excessively sweaty feet
Coming in contact with an infected person

Symptoms of Athlete's Foot
Typical symptoms include scaling and peeling in the toe webs (the area between the toes) generally without ...
... any accompanying pain, odor, or itching. The infection may also involve the soles of the feet where athlete's foot may present as redness, blistering, and scaling along the sides and soles of the feet, taking on what is termed a moccasin pattern.

Over time, this condition can lead to a secondary bacterial infection. It's possible for the fungus to set off a reaction that results in tissue breakdown soggy skin and eroded areas between the toes. In advanced cases, the toe webs become whitened, softened, and soggy; they may itch severely, and there may be a foul odor. As the condition worsens, painful cracking in the toe webs and some oozing may develop.

Athletes foot can sometimes be associated with onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails. However, the usual case of athlete's foot is a more superficial infection than the more stubborn and deep seated nail infection.

Sometimes after an episode of athlete's foot, if particles enter the bloodstream, there may be an allergic reaction causing blisters on the fingers, toes or hands.

If you have diabetes or an illness that makes it harder for your body to fight off infections, athlete's foot can become a very serious infection in itself or facilitate secondary infections with other serious organisms. You should see a doctor immediately if your feet develop severe redness or swelling, areas of pus, and/or severe pain.

Home Remedy For Athlete's Foot

For athletes' foot, a simple home remedy would be a solution of one part vinegar and four parts warm water. Soak the feet in this solution for half an hour, twice in a day.
Baking soda paste would also be helpful in curing this infection. Take a 1 tbsp baking soda and add some water, to form a paste. Apply the paste on the affected area. Once dry, rinse off and let your feet dry.

Find powerful herbal remedies Athlete Feet Home Remedies

Add 40 drops of tea tree oil to a liter of water. Immerse your feet in this solution for about ten minutes. After this, dry your feet with a towel. Use a dryer to make sure that there is no moisture left in between the toes. After that, apply a few drops of tea tree oil in the infected region.
Mix one part of pure apple cider vinegar with one part of warm water and soak the feet, in the solution, for about 20 minutes. Cleanse the feet both before and after immersing, using a gentle soap. After the treatment, ensure that the feet are completely dry. Follow this remedy two times a day, for 1-2 weeks, depending on the severity of the situation.
Using boric acid, Epsom salt and vinegar would be an effective way of getting rid of the fungus. Take a large bowl and partially fill it with hot water. Add 1 cup vinegar, 1/4 cup Epsom salt and 3 tbsp boric acid. Make sure that boric acid has been whisked well. Soak your feet in the water for about 15 minutes and dry thoroughly.
Apply cornstarch on your feet, including the area between the toes as well, before putting on socks and shoes. This will keep the feet dry and help in curing athlete's foot.

Also read about Foot Massage
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