Here's what worked for me: The Best Athletes Foot Remedy
First this note/disclaimer: “The information found here has not been approved by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.” I'm only sharing our own story, your situation may be VERY different, and I'm not a medical professional or anywhere close. Use this information only to do more research on your own!
I really think God gives me these various ailments just so I can help you guys. Read more about all my “issues” and doctor run-ins here — it's weird, because once I have it, figure out the remedy, and then get rid of it, none of those have come back again, thankfully.
I've never had athletes foot before!
Even though I walk and walk/run sometimes, I wouldn't say I'm an athlete by any stretch, and to be clear, “athletes foot” isn't really an accurate name for this fungal infection anyway. It just shows up when you're in contact with this type of fungus, the same as ringworm, and thrives in moist environments. (Although I never could figure out where I would've been exposed to it.) Thankfully mine wasn't terrible, just some redness and peeling skin on my toes and on the top of one foot, but it was enough that I wasn't comfortable going to go get a pedicure, and it was spring so I knew I needed to get on this because I wanted one before it was time for flip-flops!
Just like with the whole lice drama, I came SO close to using the chemical over-the-counter anti-fungal creams, because a friend said, “Well, you could keep doing your thing and it will take a while, or the spray I used took it away in a couple of days…” It was SO tempting, but I stuck with it, and it still only took a few days!
Here's what I did, and now believe it's the best athletes foot remedy because it's all natural, with no chemical toxins:
- I soaked my whole foot in ACV for 3 days in a row (this one is the best apple cider vinegar because it's raw and full of enzymes). Yes, it stunk. Oh well, the kids interrupted me in my office a lot less that way. 🙂 I just put a little bucket under my desk and got some work done while soaking.
- I took more probiotics — I take one or two every day anyway, but I increased it for a week or so. Click here for the only probiotics I take.
- Before bed every night I rubbed coconut oil on the spot, since it's a natural anti-fungal. Click here for the coconut oil I love.
- When putting on the coconut oil, I also rubbed in a couple drops of tea tree oil, which is also good for fungal infections. This is my favorite tea tree oil, and it's not expensive either!
- I stopped wearing my slippers all day until it healed up, just to make sure the area wasn't warm and moist at all.
- I rubbed in some tallow cream to get rid of the dry peeling spots that lingered once I knew the fungus was gone. Tallow is very soothing and has nutrients that are good for skin. You could use this tallow body balm, or just get a little from the tub of tallow you use for healthy frying and rub that in.
Once I started treating it aggressively as described above, it took about 7-10 days to completely go away. After only a day or two it got more red and stopped itching, and slowly was better each day after that. This was a year ago (I'm just now getting the post up), and it hasn't come back since!
If you've used this simple “best athletes food remedy” too, please share your story below, or let us know how you got rid of your athletes foot?
More posts you may have missed:
- ACV strikes again! Learning how to get rid of athletes foot with apple cider vinegar isn't an isolated thing, that stuff is awesome. Read how I got rid of ringworm naturally, the role it played in getting rid of head lice, how to use ACV as a facial toner, and there's so much more. Have you seen my new FREE printable, 25 ways to use apple cider vinegar to boost your health?
- Click here to see all my natural remedy posts. Find out How we got Kent off Blood Pressure Meds, what I've learned about Dental Health that you won't hear in the mainstream, and How to Get Rid of a UTI Fast Without Drugs (plus: when I was thankful for pharmaceuticals).
- It's not too late to help: You Thought Flint was Bad, are there SNAKES in Your Water?
- DIY Natural Products you might want to try to save money: Body butter, facial toner or facial cleansing grains, how to replace ALL your laundry products with natural stuff, DIY deodorant powder, and more!
photo credit and another
Sarah says
Hi Pam
While pregnant/nursing, making sure to only put it on your toenails and not the skin, you can use a 50% dilution of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) and palmarosa (Cymbopogon martini var. motia) essential oils with olive oil. If you are not pregnant or nursing you can use the above blend and a 50% dilution of lemongrass (Cymbogon citratus or Cymbopogon citratus ct. rhidonol (gentlest on the skin). You would alternate the two blends every other week, again the lemongrass is only for non pregnant non nursing.
Another option I have read about is from the Bulk Herb Store:
https://nogreaterjoy.org/articles/fatty-liver-and-ugly-toes/
Please check the various herbs because I remember the article but not if they are safe for pregnancy and or nursing.
Hope this is helpful,
Sarah
Ashley says
This is going to sound weird, but honestly, just PEE on your foot. It’s an old wives tale remedy that actually works! whenever I feel that sort of itch coming on, I just pee on my foot right when I get in the shower, let it sit for a minute before turning on the water and it works like a charm every time I do it. Literally goes away within a day. Try it! 🙂
Carolyn says
We have done this for warts. It does work and quickly. Does it work for athletes foot and toe nail fungus too? Thanks.
Cheryl Chambers says
What is your definition of a chemical? Everything is made of chemicals….
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
That’s true, Cheryl Chambers. I meant petroleum derived chemicals, or chemicals made by people in a lab, not normally found in nature.
Sally says
I got rid of plantar warts on my feet years ago with vitamin E oil. I think it took about a week (possibly 2). Just dab the oil on the warts and cover with a bandage. I think I put it on twice a day. Hope it works for you!
Susan says
My husband is in construction boots all day, so every once in a while he gets a case of athlete’s foot that also makes his feet smell so bad I want to make him sleep outside. It’s not your typical stinky feet smell; it’s a lot like dying flesh smell. We found that having him soak his feet in ACV, epsom salt, and several drops of tea tree oil works great for him. Then once he dries his feet off, he will slather the irritated spots with tea tree oil and lavender. The next night he will do the same routine, but uses oregano oil instead once his feet dry. Whichever oil he decides to use, we always blend it with a bit of coconut oil.
He has also had great luck eradicating toe nail fungus by putting oregano oil straight on the nail. But you have to be diligent with doing so. He can start to see a difference in 3 or 4 days, but if he makes it a part of his routine for 2 or 3 weeks, then it really seems to do the trick.
Rebecca says
Is there a good method out there to get rid of toenail fungus? Maybe this method would work?
Kelly Moeggenborg says
Rebecca, yes, I’d give it a shot!
Kelly
Marc K. Gravert says
most ailments known to man can be cured with natural cures, even some cancers if not all can be contained and cured with the proper diet and natural cures. The drug companies LOVE it that everyone wants to take a pill for every little thing in your life, how else are they going to make lots of money !
Shelly Palmer says
What about something that causes the toenail to deform? I’m wondering if it’s a type of fungus since my husband contracted this issue while he was in the military?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Don’t know about that one Shelly Palmer — may want to ask your doc or naturopath that one.
Mitzi Dunayski says
Do you have a good remedy for plantar warts on the bottom of heels?
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
Mitzi Dunayski check this out: https://kellythekitchenkop.com/raw-apple-cider-vinegar-for-warts/
Rachel Binder says
Duct tape
Kate Bowen says
Has a lot to do with body systems being outta balance…naturopathic doctors are a great place to start.
Lindsey says
Banana peel
KitchenKop says
Pam, try soaking in ACV, I’ll bet it will work for that, too!
Kelly
Pam says
Any remedies for toe nail fungus? As a child, I had a metal truck thrown at my big toe and it split my big toe nail in a Y shape. I went to the pool and got athletes foot and it turned into toe nail fungus eventually. The only time it ever went away completely was when I was drinking aloe Vera juice. Since then, j have been pregnant or nursing for 10 years so I can’t take aloe Vera juice anymore. Is there another natural solution out there?
Mary Sheiko says
Kelly KitchenKop, I made a spray with unfiltered ACV, tea tree, and peppermint. It works great! I’m much more likely to use it when it’s all mixed up in a handy spray bottle. I buy my bottles from Aura Cacia. Then I have my homemade tallow lotion bars which I use too. Seems to work, along with probiotics and garlic capsules and molybdenum supplements.
Michelle Lilly says
My daughter used to get athletes foot constantly when she was younger. She had not had it for over a year or more and then all the sudden it cropped up again! This go round we have been rubbing diatomaceous earth on her toes and in between every night before bed. It seemed to help, took a while but it’s much better than it was a few weeks ago. It still looks red and is a bit itchy, not red inflamed like before we put the DE on it. I will try some coconut oil with tea tree tonight and see if it improves. I know without a doubt she wont sit still to soak in ACV. Thanks for the tip!
Patricia Wagner says
oregano oil also works just as good.