“Oral medication is especially useful for infections extending deep under the skin, or involving the nails,” Dr. But your provider might start you on oral antifungals instead, which can more thoroughly treat the infection, says Dr. There are prescription-strength topical treatments, like creams and lotions. You may need prescription treatment options to cure your athlete’s foot. If your athlete’s foot hasn’t gotten better after 3 weeks or it’s getting worse, it’s time to see your healthcare provider. You can also put a foot powder on your bare feet, like baby powder or medicated Gold Bond powder. One way to do this is to wear socks made of materials that wick away moisture and sweat. To keep fungus away, you want to make your feet a less-welcoming home. When your feet are dry, apply your antifungal cream or lotion.įungus loves warm, dark, and moist areas. But make sure to dry your feet completely. Soak the affected foot for 20 minutes, twice a day.ĭon’t rinse your feet afterward (you want to keep the baking soda on the skin). Mix half a cup of baking soda in a bucket or small basin with warm water. Baking sodaīaking soda also has antifungal properties. You can apply Vicks VapoRub to your feet at night after you’ve applied your antifungal cream or lotion. Plus, the menthol can have a cooling effect and soothe your burning feet. Vicks VapoRub has eucalyptus oil and menthol, both of which have antifungal properties. Space it out so you’re using it a few hours before or after your antifungal. So, don’t apply the oil before or after your antifungal cream or lotion. You want to let the oil sit on your skin for as long as possible. You can apply a few drops to the areas with athlete’s foot twice a day. Aim for a concentration of 25% to 50% tea tree oil. You need to dilute it with a carrier oil (like coconut oil). But you don’t want to use pure tea tree oil on your skin. Tea tree oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Just make sure to dry your feet off completely before putting on your OTC antifungal. To use it for your athlete’s foot, pour some hydrogen peroxide over your feet twice a day before applying your antifungal cream or lotion. You can buy a bottle at your local pharmacy. As an added bonus, it’ll kill any bacteria growing in the area, too. Hydrogen peroxide can destroy the fungus causing your infection. Here are some effective and known home remedies you can use in addition to OTC antifungals. But they can reduce symptoms and keep you comfortable as you wait for your medical treatments to kick in. For best results, apply it twice a day in addition to your other treatments. The cream can accelerate the healing process, Dr. Andrew Wong, medical director of Hartford HealthCare Medical Group Fairfield Region in Connecticut. It’s a good option if your athlete’s foot is causing “intense itching and irritation,” says Dr. Even a few lingering fungi can make your athlete’s foot flare back up.Īnother topical treatment is an OTC hydrocortisone cream. This will make sure all the fungus is gone. Keep applying the medication for a month, even if your skin looks better and your symptoms are gone. Other medications are recommended to be applied more frequently.ĭon’t stop once your feet seem better. Some are recommended to be applied once or twice per day. Apply the medication as directed on the container. Don’t forget to dry between your toes.įollow the instructions. Make sure your feet are fully dry before applying the medication. To give topical treatments the best chance at curing your infection, follow these steps:ĭry your feet first. So, you can pick whichever option is readily available at your local pharmacy. There’s no clear data about whether one of these medications works better than another. Some brand names contain more than one of these fungal-fighting medications. Over-the-counter treatments for athlete’s foot include: They’re also available in foams and powders. These medications come in topical creams, lotions, and ointments. There are several antifungals available OTC. Antifungals are like antibiotics, except they kill fungus instead of bacteria. Since athlete’s foot is a fungus, you need to treat it with an antifungal medication.
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