Four ways to get rid of foot fungus at home

Oh my! The foot fungus again! This was the second time in the month that I had suffered from this and I had to do something about it. Looking back, I had walked into a public bathroom without my slippers and probably caught the fungus then.

From the irritation between my toes to the soreness at times when walking, it was getting out of hand. Before trying to go to the nearby chemist for some creams however, I thought that giving home remedies a shot was a better alternative.

Here are some that I considered that can work magic on your toes if you have fungus

Bicarbonate of soda

This readily available item in many kitchens can be a life saver in dealing with athlete’s foot. It wasn't until recently that scientists actually hacked that there are fungi-killing properties in Bicarbonate of soda. It can therefore help relieve foot fungus when you do a soak in it.

To soak your foot, mix about a half cup of Bicarbonate of soda in a large basin of warm water. As it fizzles, soak your feet in. Let them stay there for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day. When done, dry the feet thoroughly.

For better results, do not rinse. Your feet will begin showing an improvement from the third day of use.

Hydrogen peroxide and iodine

Do you remember this mixture from the chemistry experiments back in school? Well, this is how it can be effective in real life applications. You can readily find hydrogen peroxide and iodine from your local chemist.

To try this remedy, first get to the shower as it may spill some stains on any surface and the shower place is easier to clean. Mix iodine solution and hydrogen peroxide in a large bowl. Dip the feet directly in the solution. Alternatively, you can use a cotton pad to apply it to the affected areas then easily discard the pad.

As a precaution, if you happen to have only one of the above items, do not use iodine on the skin without diluting it because it can damage the skin if used by itself.

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil has been a healer of many ailments for centuries. Following the footsteps of the ancestors, you can use this oil to cope easily with the foot fungus. All you need to do is ensure that you do not use it by itself in full concentration as it will irritate your skin. Once you identify one that has between 20-50% concentration, place a few drops into a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, and rub it on your feet. In case you can't find the oil itself, look for tea tree oil creams and salves which are also available in drug stores.

Garlic

One of the reasons why you can never miss stocks of garlic cloves in my kitchen is because it's a gem. Having started my foot fungus treatment with this (and getting healed) I can swear by it. A study in Mycoses, looked at a compound found in garlic known as ajoene. The compound cured athlete’s foot in every person who used it. Ajoene was made into a 0.4 percent cream and applied directly to the area.

From this study, you can pick up the curing potency that garlic offers you. A garlic foot soak is easy to make by crushing three to four garlic cloves and stirring them into a basin of warm water. Soak your feet for 30 minutes, twice a day. When you do this for up to a week, viola! All the nagging foot fungus is gone.

Once you try these home remedies, you can comfortably put your dancing shoes on. If symptoms keep persisting for as long as a month, visiting a doctor is the best way forward.