How to Use Foot Baths for Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s foot is the most common form of fungal infection that causes redness and itchiness on the skin between the toes. The rule of thumb is to keep your feet clean, although it is not always possible to prevent an occurrence of fungal infection such as athlete’s foot. In that case, you should employ foot bath procedure with certain variations to treat an athlete’s foot.

Method 1
Method 1 of 7:

Hydrogen Peroxide

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    Kill the bacteria with hydrogen peroxide. The idea is to kill bacteria and fungus lying on your feet, and using hydrogen peroxide is ideal for killing harmful bacteria and fungus.[1]
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    2
    Take 1 gallon (3.8 L) of lukewarm water and add just 2 to 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in it.
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    Dry your feet well. Remember to dry your feet with the help of clean towel or air dry it.[4]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 7:

Tea Tree Oil

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    Give yourself a tea tree oil foot bath. Tea tree oil is essential antiseptic oil that helps immensely in cleaning fungus from the infected area. Many dermatologists reckon adding 30 to 40 drops of tea tree oil into the foot bath warm water.
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    2
    Soak your feet in the water for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily. This will show remarkable results.
    • Tea tree oil has natural properties that will literally destroy fungus on your feet.[5]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 7:

Mustard Oil or Mustard Powder

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    Prepare a mustard oil or powder foot bath. Either you can add few drops of mustard oil in the foot bath water or you can sprinkle some mustard powder in the water. By doing either of it, you are using mustard to kill the fungus.[6]
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    Soak your feet in the same water for at least 20 minutes daily.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 7:

Salt Water

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    Prepare a salt water foot bath. For a nice warm foot bath, add 2 to 3 tbsp of salt to 300 to 500ml bucket of warm water.[7]
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    Soak your feet in for up to 5 to 10 minutes. Follow this habit at regular intervals till you don’t see the much anticipated results.
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    Combine with essential oils for best results.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 7:

Tea of Oregano Leaves

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    Prepare an oregano leaves foot bath. Some athlete foot sufferers have made a tea of 3 to 4 ounces of oregano leaves and added it to warm water.[8]
    • Some people also reuse the same used oregano leaves for a week, but some prefer using free oregano leaves-tea each time.
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    2
    Soak your feet into the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes each time.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 7:

Povidone-Iodine

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    1
    Prepare a povidone-iodine foot bath. Povidone-iodine is an antiseptic solution used for killing bacteria. Soaking your feet in this mixture of warm water and povidone-iodine will help you get rid of harmful bacteria and fungi.
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    2
    Take one liter of warm water and add 2 capfuls of Povidone-iodine into it.
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    Make sure you soak your feet in the mixture for total 40 minutes a day (one time = 20 minutes).
    • Of course, do not forget to dry your feet completely.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 7:

Squeeze Lemon

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    Prepare a lemon foot bath. Your feet perhaps may be producing an unpleasant smell of a particular kind due to athlete’s foot. To avoid your feet stink just add ½ cup of lemon juice in a bucket of water.
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    Soak your feet in the mixture for 10 minutes daily to mitigate bad odor of your feet.
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Expert Q&A

  • Question
    How long does it take for athlete's foot to clear up?
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Dr. Navid Malakouti is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and medical dermatology. He treats patients of all ages for conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancer, botox, fillers, lasers, and chemical peel. Dr. Malakouti is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the Skin of Color Society. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from The University of California, San Diego and an MD from The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed his Dermatology residency in Washington D.C. at Howard University, VA Medical Center, Children's National Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health.
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Expert Answer
    If you soak both feet for 10 minutes twice a week, the situation should be resolved in a couple of weeks.
  • Question
    What is the best homemade foot soak?
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Dr. Navid Malakouti is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and medical dermatology. He treats patients of all ages for conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancer, botox, fillers, lasers, and chemical peel. Dr. Malakouti is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the Skin of Color Society. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from The University of California, San Diego and an MD from The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed his Dermatology residency in Washington D.C. at Howard University, VA Medical Center, Children's National Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health.
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
    Board Certified Dermatologist
    Expert Answer
    Fill a basin with about 1 gallon of lukewarm water (deep enough to submerge each foot to the ankles) and mix with 1 cup of plain white distilled vinegar.
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Warnings

  • If you continue to see the infection for a prolonged period, make sure you consult a doctor immediately
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
  • If you are diabetic, you should see your physician for treatment.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽


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References

  1. ↑ https://www.thehealthy.com/foot-care/home-remedies-athletes-foot/
  2. ↑ Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 19 July 2021.
  3. ↑ Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 19 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD. Board Certified Dermatologist. Expert Interview. 19 July 2021.
  5. ↑ https://www.thehealthy.com/foot-care/home-remedies-athletes-foot/
  6. ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/mustard.html
  7. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17287720/
  8. ↑ https://www.drugs.com/npp/oregano.html

About This Article

Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
Co-authored by:
Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD
Board Certified Dermatologist
This article was co-authored by Navid Malakouti, MD, FAAD. Dr. Navid Malakouti is a Board Certified Dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery, and medical dermatology. He treats patients of all ages for conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, skin cancer, botox, fillers, lasers, and chemical peel. Dr. Malakouti is a Diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology, Fellow of American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and a member of the Skin of Color Society. He holds a BS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from The University of California, San Diego and an MD from The Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He completed his Dermatology residency in Washington D.C. at Howard University, VA Medical Center, Children's National Hospital, and the National Institutes of Health. This article has been viewed 46,212 times.
4 votes - 75%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: August 17, 2022
Views: 46,212
Categories: Foot Problems | Essential Oils

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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