The summer days are dwindling and school is starting up again, which means the start of fall sports! One thing you don’t want your family sharing in the locker room is itchy feet from athlete’s foot. Sometimes even all the protection in the world can’t keep this fungus away. When foot fungus strikes, be prepared to fight it immediately with treatments that can be whipped up from things you already have at home.
Athlete’s foot is a fungus that affects your skin. Fungus dwells in dark, warm, and wet atmospheres, making a gym locker room the perfect place. Since it’s also highly contagious, the danger of your young athlete catching it fairly good. You can try and prevent athlete’s foot by wearing shower shoes and keeping your feet clean and dry at all times. However, sometimes this isn’t enough. If you find yourself or a loved one with a fungal infection, start treatment as soon as possible before it spreads.
At home treatment for a skin fungal infection may be effective if started quickly. Baking soda can help relieve the itchiness or burning sensation you might fee. You can also make various types of foot soaks, for example salt and water, mustard powder and water, or a tea bath. Home remedies mainly treat symptoms, but tea tree oil mixed with olive oil has some antiseptic qualities that may help fight the infection. Lavender oil and calendula ointment may also have some beneficial effects. Some recommend plain yogurt, which has friendly microorganisms, but it has not been proven to kill off athlete’s foot fungus. It may help soothe itchy feet, however.
You can try these home remedies, but if you don’t see quick improvement, you will most likely need something stronger to get rid of the fungus. For more information on getting rid of athlete’s foot, call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to book your appointment with us today in one of our three Massachusetts offices. We can help you get your feet back to being fungus-free in a snap.