The 11 Best Natural Remedies for Athlete s Foot

Five home remedies for athlete’s foot

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Athlete’s foot is a common skin problem on the feet caused by a fungus. Though it is rarely serious, its symptoms can be bothersome.

Home remedies can be quite effective in treating many cases of athlete’s foot. Some of these remedies may be readily available at home, while others are available in health food stores.

Find out which home remedies may be worth a try, and when it may be time to call the doctor.

Many natural or home remedies can be helpful in killing the fungus that causes athlete’s foot.

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1. Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Tea tree oil comes from the leaves of the tea tree, commonly found in Australia. It is known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

One study found that solutions containing 25 percent and 50 percent tea tree oil worked significantly better than a placebo in relieving athlete’s foot between the toes.

The tea tree oil also cured the infection in 64 percent of the people who used it, while just 31 percent of those who used a placebo were cured.

Another study found that tea tree oil was more effective at killing fungi than several other antifungal agents that were tested.

People should take care when using tea tree oil because it can be irritating to the skin. Some people may need to stop using the oil because of rashes and irritation.

To use tea tree oil, people should place a few drops into a carrier oil, such as coconut or olive oil, and rub it on their feet. Alternatively, tea tree oil creams and salves may be available at health food stores.

People should not use undiluted tea tree oil on their skin.

2. Garlic

Garlic has a long history of medicinal use, and several studies have found garlic to be effective against some fungi and bacteria.

A review in the Avicenna Journal of Medicine states that garlic can kill a variety of germs. Some evidence for garlic includes:

• A study in the Journal of Applied Microbiology , which states that fresh garlic extract can kill or stop the growth of Candida, a common fungus that infects humans.
• A report in the Ulster Medical Journal, which found that garlic has effective antifungal properties.
• A study in Mycoses , which 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.

A garlic foot soak using fresh garlic cloves is one way for people to try this remedy at home.

Crush three to four garlic cloves and stir them into a basin of warm water. Soak feet for 30 minutes, twice a day for up to a week.

The powerful compounds in garlic can leave a lasting garlic smell on the skin, however.

3. Hydrogen peroxide with iodine

Peroxide and iodine are commonly used to disinfect cuts and wounds and to kill germs on the skin.

A recent study found that peroxide combined with iodine killed 16 different fungi. The two used together were more effective than using them separately.

To try this remedy, mix iodine solution and hydrogen peroxide in a bucket or large bowl. Iodine solution is available at most drugstores in the wound care section. Dip the feet directly in the solution or use a cotton pad to apply it to the affected areas.

Do not use iodine on the skin without diluting it because it can damage the skin if used by itself.

Peroxide may sting if the skin is broken or irritated, and it can bleach hair and fabrics. Iodine may also cause stains.

Applying this mixture in a bathtub or shower may prevent unwanted stains, bleaching, and spills.

4. Hair dryer and talcum powder

If fungi do not have an ideal environment to live in, they cannot continue to grow and thrive. Getting rid of moisture from the feet, especially between the toes, can help keep the fungus from spreading and getting worse.

People can remove moisture from their feet by thoroughly drying them with a hair dryer after bathing, making sure that no moisture remains but being careful not to burn the skin. People with loss of sensation or feeling in the feet should not use this method.

When the feet are dry, follow up by sprinkling them with talcum powder to help absorb sweat. Many foot powders contain talc and help keep the feet dry.

In addition to these steps, wearing socks that absorbs moisture away from the skin can help keep the feet dry. The following types of socks can help keep feet dry throughout the day:

• wool
• bamboo
• synthetic wicking fabric, often called tech socks

Changing socks at least once a day when feet feel sweaty or damp is also helpful. Or, in warmer weather, wear open shoes or sandals to increase airflow to the feet.

5. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

Baking soda is an item most people have readily available. It may also be an effective way to cure athlete’s foot.

A study in Mycopathologia found that sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, does have antifungal abilities when used on the skin.

To make a foot soak, mix about a half cup of baking soda in a large bucket or basin of warm water. Soak feet for 15 to 20 minutes, twice a day. When done, dry the feet thoroughly but do not rinse.

If home remedies do not work or the problem has been going on for more than 2 weeks, a doctor or podiatrist may need to help.

A doctor may prescribe antifungal creams or medicines if the infection does not respond to at-home treatments.

It is important for people to treat a persistent case of athlete’s foot because the fungus can spread to the nails, other body parts, and other people.

Share on Pinterest Athlete’s foot may spread in pool areas and locker rooms.

Athlete’s foot spreads when a person comes into contact with certain fungi. It can spread from person to person and thrives in damp, warm areas.

Common places for athlete’s foot fungus to live are pool areas, public bathrooms, and locker rooms.

The fungi that cause athlete’s foot commonly attack feet because:

• shoes and socks create a warm, moist environment that fungi need to thrive
• feet are exposed to fungus and germs on the ground when walking around, especially if walking barefoot
• the area between the toes tends to be especially damp and warm

The term “athlete’s foot” comes from the belief that many athletic locker rooms and athletic equipment are hot, moist environments where the fungi can spread.

Anyone can get athlete’s foot, however, regardless of their activity level.

There are ways to protect the feet from fungi and avoid getting athlete’s foot. It is also good to practice these tips to avoid getting a repeat infection or spreading it to others.

To keep feet fungus-free, people should follow these guidelines:

• Keep nails clipped short. Nails can more readily pick up bacteria and fungi if they are long.
• Never walk barefoot in public places. Wear sandals or waterproof shoes in public pools, showers, locker rooms, bathrooms, and other areas that get wet.
• Wash feet at least once a day and dry thoroughly.
• If a family member has athlete’s foot, disinfect the bathtub or shower after each use until it is gone.
• Do not share towels, shoes, socks, or other items that touch the feet.
• Alternate shoes daily to give each pair time to dry completely.
• Wear lightweight shoes and change socks frequently to keep feet dry. Avoid warm, heavy footwear if possible.

Those with certain health conditions, such as diabetes, should skip the home remedies and call a doctor right away if they notice problems with their feet. Even minor cracks and wounds on the feet can quickly become infected in some people with diabetes.

Athlete’s foot can certainly put a damper on plans to go barefoot at the beach. Fortunately, this common problem can usually be cured without complications.

If home remedies do not work, drugstore antifungal creams may be an option.

If the problem spreads, get worse, or does not respond to these home remedies, people should seek the advice of a doctor or podiatrist. Prescription products are usually very effective when used as prescribed.

If you want to buy any of the home remedies listed in this article, then they are available online.

• Shop for tea tree oil
• Shop for hydrogen peroxide
• Shop for iodine solution
• Shop for talcum powder
• Shop for baking soda

Last medically reviewed on January 2, 2020

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
• Complementary Medicine / Alternative Medicine

The 11 Best Natural Remedies for Athlete’s Foot

Nothing will cure athlete’s foot in a day, but some foot soaks can help clear up the condition fairly quickly.

Image Credit: Helin Loik-Tomson/iStock/GettyImages

At first, it probably seemed like NBD: itchy feet, a little peeling skin between your toes. But before you know it you have full-blown athlete’s foot.

“Athlete’s foot, technically called tinea pedis, is a contagious skin infection caused by a fungus,” says podiatrist Mark Mendeszoon, DPM, director of the Advanced Foot and Ankle Fellowship with University Hospitals Richmond Medical Center, clinical professor at Ohio University Heritage Medical School, professor at Kent State University School of Podiatric Medicine and spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association.

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Athlete’s foot affects between 15 and 30 percent of the population, according to a September 2015 study in ​BMJ Clinical Evidence​.

You might have gotten it by walking barefoot in a shared shower or on a pool deck, getting a pedicure with tools that weren’t properly sanitized or using the same towel or bed as someone who’s infected.

Treating athlete’s foot can feel like an uphill climb, but these natural remedies are a step in the right direction. Try them and get ready to put your best foot forward!

1. Sprinkle on Some Powder

A dry environment is kryptonite to athlete’s foot. “Fungi thrive in dark, moist places, so in order to fight it, you have to absorb moisture,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

Powder also reduces friction between the toes and against your shoes, which can aggravate the condition.

How to Use It

Sprinkle powder into your shoes and all over your feet, paying special attention to the skin in between the toes. “That is often where it starts,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

Good to know: It doesn’t matter what kind of powder you dust on — baby powder, talcum powder or a medicated variety like Lotrimin Antifungal Powder ($20.32, Amazon). You can even raid your pantry for powdery ingredients like cornstarch or flour.

2. Spray on Antiperspirant

Keeping your digits dry is key to fighting foot fungus.
Image Credit: Future Artist/iStock/GettyImages

If your feet get sweaty, hear this: The same stuff you spritz under your arms can be used on your tootsies.

“Antiperspirant contains the active ingredient aluminum hydroxide, which blocks your sweat ducts and prevents perspiration,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “Anything you can do to minimize the amount of moisture on your feet will improve athlete’s foot condition.”

How to Use It

Spray antiperspirant onto the bottom of your feet daily after showering. Be sure to use antiperspirant (which prevents moisture) rather than deodorant (which simply covers up odor).

3. Use Antibacterial Soap and Spray

Kick the organic, botanical soaps to the curb for now. With athlete’s foot, you’ve got to bring out the big guns. We’re talking a bar of Dial, people ($5.29 per 8-pack, Amazon).

If left unchecked, athlete’s foot can lead to a bacterial infection, Dr. Mendeszoon says. Trust us, you do ​not​ want that to happen.

How to Use It

Wash your feet at least once a day with antibacterial soap. “While washing, scrub your feet with a washcloth or brush to open up the sweat ducts and minimize the proliferation of fungus on the skin,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

After cleansing, thoroughly dry between your toes (the ground zero of athlete’s foot). Before slipping on your shoes, spray the interior with a disinfectant like Lysol ($10.90 per two-pack, Walmart) — just make sure to let it dry completely before putting the shoes on (you can spray them the night before, for example). “Using Lysol spray daily will minimize the proliferation of fungi, bacteria and viruses,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

4. Wear Breathable Socks and Shoes

When you’re fighting athlete’s foot, choose shoes with lots of breathable mesh fabric.
Image Credit: monkeybusinessimages/iStock/GettyImages

Thick cotton socks and leather or waterproof shoes trap heat and sweat, creating a perfect breeding ground for the spread of fungi. So be strategic when you select your footwear.

How to Use Them

Opt for polymer athletic socks that either wick away wetness or allow it to evaporate, and pair them with kicks that have good airflow (mesh is your friend!). “While we’re at it, never wear closed-toed shoes without socks,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

5. Practice Good Foot Hygiene

Athlete’s foot fungus is stubborn AF, so you need to be on the attack. This means being diligent about what Dr. Mendeszoon calls good foot hygiene — even once you think the infection has cleared.

How to Do It

Here’s how to get on your A-game and stay one step ahead of this gnarly fungus. “When you get home from work, take off your shoes and socks, wash your feet thoroughly and change into a dry pair,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “Before bed, powder your feet and spray your shoes with disinfectant.”

6. Try Vinegar

The acid in apple cider vinegar can help “kill” athlete’s foot.
Image Credit: Madeleine Steinbach / 500px/500Px Plus/GettyImages

Keep this weapon in your athlete’s foot arsenal. “Vinegar is an astringent, so it dries out your feet,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “It also contains acetic acid, which is an antimicrobial agent that can penetrate the skin pores and start attacking the fungus.”

A 2017 study in ​Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal​ suggests that a fungus responsible for athlete’s foot is sensitive to acetic acid.

How to Use It

Try this foot soak recipe from the Cleveland Clinic:

1. In a large bowl or plastic tub, combine two parts warm water with one part white or apple cider vinegar. (Red wine or balsamic vinegar will stain your feet). The solution should be deep enough to cover your feet.
2. Dip your hooves in for 15 to 20 minutes once a day.

7. Soak in Epsom Salt

It’s not just sore muscles that benefit from a briny soak. “Epsom salt creates a hypotonic solution that can draw fluids out of your skin,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “It can diminish inflammation and make your skin drier.”

The upshot? Your feet will be less hospitable to fungus.

How to Use It

1. Fill a bowl or basin with several inches of warm water.
2. Add a half cup of Epsom salt.
3. Soak your feet for 20 minutes once a day.

8. Apply Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is one of the best home remedies for itchy feet.
Image Credit: kazmulka/iStock/GettyImages

Feet are itching like crazy? An oatmeal soak might be just what the doctor ordered. “It is very important to avoid scratching itchy feet, because the fungus can get into your fingernails and spread more aggressively — not only on the feet, but other body parts too,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “An oatmeal bath can soothe itchiness.”

Indeed, a small January 2015 study in ​Journal of Drugs in Dermatology​ found that colloidal oatmeal cream significantly improved itch intensity in people assigned female at birth with dry skin.

How to Use It

1. Dissolve a half cup of colloidal oatmeal into a basin of warm water. Dr. Mendeszoon recommends Aveeno Soothing Oatmeal Bath Treatment ($6.97, Amazon).
2. Soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes once a day.
3. You can also apply a colloidal oatmeal lotion, such as Aveeno Eczema Therapy Daily Moisturizing Cream ($16.49, Amazon).

9. Use Hydrogen Peroxide

“Applying hydrogen peroxide to the feet can be beneficial to reduce fungus,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

Proof in point: A July 2013 study in ​BMC Research Notes​ suggests that the antimicrobial properties of hydrogen peroxide inhibit fungal and bacterial growth. The ​Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal​ study also found that H2O2 spells doom for fungus.

How to Use It

1. Pour 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide into a basin of warm water.
2. Pop your feet in for about half an hour each day.

Tip

We know we’ve suggested a bunch of foot soaks, so Dr. Mendeszoon suggests rotating them: Use vinegar one day, Epsom salts the next, followed by oatmeal and finally hydrogen peroxide. If you find that one method works better for you than another, stick with that.

10. Apply Antifungal Cream

Medicated, antifungal creams are the fastest way to get rid of athlete’s foot.
Image Credit: Toa55/iStock/GettyImages

This is the fastest way to kill athlete’s foot. “Typically, an over-the-counter antifungal lotion medication cream combined with proper foot care can reduce and/or eliminate the condition fairly quickly,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

How to Use It

Wash and dry your feet well. Apply antifungal lotion to affected areas — particularly around and between the toes — as directed on the package.

As for which kind of lotion to get, there are a slew of options; look for one containing the active ingredient clotrimazole, ketoconazole or nystatin. In the ​Biomedical and Pharmacology Journal​ study, athlete’s foot fungus was found to be highly sensitive to these. And Dr. Mendeszoon says there’s no need to shell out extra moola for the name brand; the generic antifungal cream is equally effective.

Tip

Some antifungal creams are OK for kids, while others are not. If you’re treating a child’s athlete foot, make sure to read the age indications on the cream’s packaging before applying. And if you’re unsure, check with your pediatrician or a pharmacist.

11. Wear Supportive Shoes

Bun in the oven? Barefoot and pregnant is a recipe for athlete’s feet. “Your feet tend to flatten out during pregnancy, due to weight gain and hormonal changes that loosen your ligaments and cause your arches to collapse,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “As a result, there is more stress on your feet, so they will sweat more.”

Fun fact: The soles of your feet have more sweat ducts per square inch than any other area of the body. The more you perspire, the damper your feet will get, and the more likely fungus is to take up residence.

“By protecting your feet from flattening out, you will hopefully reduce strain and sweating that can lead to athlete’s foot,” Dr. Mendeszoon says.

How to Use Them

Take a pass on the flip flops, ballet flats and gladiator sandals until the baby is born. In the meantime, select a supportive sneaker.

What About Undiluted Tea Tree Oil?

Dr. Mendeszoon isn’t sold. Although older studies have found that applying tea tree oil to the feet can ease the symptoms of athlete’s foot, the research is far from definitive.

What’s more, applying undiluted essential oils directly to the skin can cause irritation.

The Stages of Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot doesn’t appear suddenly. “Rather, it progresses slowly over a period of time,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “You might not even pick up on it at first.”

Here’s how it takes root:

1. At first, you might notice your foot is itchy or see a bit of dry or peeling skin, especially between your toes.
2. Eventually red spots or blisters might appear.
3. If it spreads to your toenails, they will turn thick and cloudy.
4. In cases of chronic athlete’s foot, your skin will turn leathery and begin flaking and scaling.
5. If you scratch the skin too much, it can cause bleeding and further spread the infection.
6. In SOS situations, your feet and toenails might develop a nasty stench and pus-filled sores, which make you vulnerable to a bacterial infection.

As for signs your athlete’s foot is under control and healing? You’ll notice a gradual lessening of whatever symptoms you experienced.

How to Handle Stubborn Cases of Athlete’s Foot

What if athlete’s foot doesn’t respond to treatment? Welcome to the club! It’s often a chronic condition.

“It is a challenge to completely eradicate athlete’s foot, and there’s no guarantee that people can get rid of it forever,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “If the condition is permanent, then managing the symptoms — itching, burning, pain — becomes all the more important.”

The good news is that for most people, it won’t interfere with your daily life (aside from possibly making you second-guess those cute strappy sandals).

“That said, it can be aggressive — particularly in those who are immunocompromised, like if you have diabetes, cancer or a recent surgery,” Dr. Mendeszoon says. “Check with your doctor if you’re concerned — in some severe cases, a prescription oral antifungal medication can be taken for up to six weeks to attack the fungus internally.”