Foot or toenail fungus, also known as Athlete’s foot, is a common fungal condition that often starts with a rash on the foot and spreads out to the nail. It looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail bed. This often gives you discomfort and feel embarrassed about the appearance of the nails. If left untreated, this fungus grows badly, spreads over to the toes, and hardens the nails. It is best to treat it the earliest, as the later stages would require over-the-counter treatments. In this article, we will discuss the best ways to treat athlete’s foot. These are Podiatrist recommended ways for quick relief from foot fungus.
1. Antifungal Treatments
Use antifungal gels with ingredients like clotrimazole or terbinafine. Apply these antifungal ointments, creams, or sprays directly on the affected nail and surrounding area. They make a protective layer and prevents the fungus to spread over. The ingredients penetrate deeply in the nail bed and are very effective for mild to moderate foot fungus.
2. Keep Feet Clean and Dry
Fungi thrives in moist environment, so make sure to keep your feet dry. Frequently wash your feet, at least twice a day. Gently dry them, especially between the toes. Even after bathing, thoroughly dry your feet.
3. Breathable Footwear
use light, and breathable footwear of materials like canvas of leather. Avoid wearing plastic shoes that can trap moisture. Choose light-weight footwear, avoid footwear made of synthetic materials like vinyl or rubber. Try wearing sandals or open shoes to allow your feet air out.
4. Soak Feet in Vinegar Water
Foot bath in equal parts of water and vinegar for around 15-20 minutes helps reduce the fungal growth. Soak your feet daily in vinegar water to combat fungal growth.
5. Avoid Walking Barefoot
Keep your feet or socks on, especially in public places like pools or gyms. Fungi can actively spread in moist areas like around the pool, so avoid walking bare food in such areas.
6. Regularly Change Socks
Prefer wearing moisture-wicking socks, and change them regularly, especially if the get damp. Choose cotton or wool blends that help keep feet dry.
7. Maintain Healthy Hygiene
Keep your feet clean, wash them regularly, dry and moisturize them to prevent fungi to reach your skin. Trim and clean your toenails to reduce risk of infection.
8. Use Antifungal Powder
Spray antifungal powder in your shoes, before wearing them. this keeps them dry, and helps reduce fungal growth.
9. NutraBoost Nail Fungus Treatment Gel
The best and most affordable in-home fungal treatment that uses ‘Active Fungal Defense Technology’. A cutting-edge method that uses a strong blend of natural ingredients to target and combat fungal spores, thereby promoting healthy nail growth. After application, the gel immediately penetrates in the nail bed, and starts the natural healing process.
10. Keep alternate pair of shoes
Use different type of shoes for each day, to allow your shoes dry out after each use. Try keeping an alternate pair for a long day to change and relax your feet in an open, dry or breathable footwear.
11. Avoid sharing shoes
Sharing footwear spreads fungal infection. Avoid wearing or trying shoes from public places or sharing among friends to refrain from spreading the infection.
12. Don’t scratch the rash
scratching may worsen your rash and make it even spread over to other body parts. Try soothing your itchy feet by soaking them in cool water instead of scratching them.
13. Use Nail Patches
An adhesive treatment for food fungus, where the patch is applied directly on the infected nail. These patches slowly release active ingredients over-time, ensuring a continuous treatment. A convenient option for those who prefer a ‘set-and-forget’ treatment, as you can keep the patch on for many days. Try using Kerasal Nighttime Renewal Nail Patches, that are easy to use and provide effective cure.
14. Try Liquid Solutions
Topical solutions are easy to apply and good for quick drying. They often have a brush or dropper for application, and are designed to penetrate the nail, and reach the fungus beneath it. This provides effective treatment for persistent cases. Try using Toelieva Antifungal Liquid Solution that has the key ingredient ‘undecylenic acid’, which kills toenail fungus.
15. Use Essential Oils
Try using some natural alternatives like tea tree, oregano, and eucalyptus oil. You can directly apply them to the infected nail or dilute in a carrier oil before applying them. Essential oils are a great choice for natural treatment of foot fungus. However, they may take longer time than other quick relief solutions.
16. Oral Medications
Try going for oral medicines and treatment if the fungus spreads over to multiple nails and needs a stronger treatment.
17. Natural or Homeopathic Treatment
Natural food substances also have antifungal properties. Garlic helps relieve pain. Homeopathic treatments work best when the infection starts. Use natural remedies to avoid spreading of the fungus, and a good initial treatment.
18. Use Baking Soda
Researchers state that baking soda prevents fungal growth in 80 percent of the specimens tested. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and apply it directly to the affected nail. Let it sit for at least 10-15 minutes before removing.
19. Use of Vicks VapoRub
A small study states that this mentholated ointment also provides an effective cure for toenail fungus.
20. Surgical Treatment
In case if quick remedies don’t work, you may opt for surgical treatments as per your doctor’s recommendation. Toenail fungus laser treatment can temporarily improve the nail but has a lesser chance of cure as compared to oral medication. In severe cases, the infected nail is surgically removed to treat the nail bed.
To conclude, one can get a quick relief from foot fungus by keeping a good and healthy hygiene, wearing light, and open-air footwear, clean and good material socks, using effective ointments, nail patches, and liquid oils. Try using these natural and home bound remedies to reduce the fungus spread, and quick and effective cure of the foot fungus.
