Soaking your feet and toes in a bath containing Epsom salts can help dry out fungal infections by killing fungal spores. Add 1–2 cups of Epsom salt to a footbath of warm water and soak for 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can add 2 tablespoons of Epsom salt to 2 cups of water and soak a cotton ball in it.
Epsom salt foot baths can be helpful for soothing athlete's foot, as well as aid in healing toenail fungus. While Epsom salt does not treat a fungal infection, it can help keep the feet clean and dry, which is essential for recovery. 5 As such, it is a good preventive therapy, as well.
A warm salt water bath will help relieve itching caused by a fungal infection.
A baking soda bath may relieve symptoms and help a person recover faster. One study found that baking soda helped kill Candida cells, the fungal cells responsible for yeast infections.
Another effective way to get rid of foot fungus is to use an antifungal foot soak. This can be done by adding a few drops of tea tree oil, or a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, to a basin of warm water. Soak your feet in the solution for 20-30 minutes, and then dry your feet thoroughly.
These drugs are often the first choice. One option is itraconazole (Sporanox). These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part. You typically take this type of drug daily for 6 to 12 weeks.
For example, people that have very dry skin should avoid overdoing foot soaks because the salt can dry out the skin leaving the feet more prone to cracks. Foot soaks of any type are not safe for people who have diabetes due to the increased risk of infection.
If you decide not to rinse off afterwards, your body may benefit for longer from the purported healing properties of the salt. However, Epsom salts can sometimes have a drying effect, so you may want to have a quick rinse off afterwards, especially if you have dry skin anyway.
Remain in the tub for 10-20 minutes, then pull plug and allow water to drain before standing up. Follow your bath with a cool shower to rinse off excess salt and replenish the pH of your skin.
Add half or three-quarters of a cup of Epsom salt to the water. Place the feet in the soak for about 20 to 30 minutes. Dry thoroughly after the soak and then moisturize the feet.
As vinegar has antifungal properties, soaking the feet daily in a vinegar foot bath could help fight off fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.
As the infection progresses, nails will often become thickened, crumbly and malformed. Although the fungus affects the appearance of the nails, it actually lives on the layer directly beneath the toenail. That's why it's so difficult to treat.
The fungus thrives in warm, moist areas. Your risk for getting athlete's foot increases if you: Wear closed shoes, especially if they are plastic-lined. Keep your feet wet for long periods.
You'll know that the medication is working and the toenail fungus is dying when your toenail changes back to its natural color, decreases in thickness, shows healthy new growth, and you see a clear delineation between the infected part of the toenail and your new nail growth.
If toenail fungus is left untreated, it can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot, causing another condition known as athlete's foot. An athlete's foot is a condition resulting in itchy, red, and cracked skin, which can become very uncomfortable.
Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
You can get relief from tired aching feet by following this easy remedy. Prepare by adding one cup each of Epsom salt, sea salt and vinegar in a large tub. Stir well to mix all the ingredients together. Now add enough warm water in the solution so that your feet get soaked in it properly.
Even before that, a study of some of the essential oils in Vicks VapoRub showed that they are active against five different species of fungus that infect nail tissue (Phytotherapy Research, April, 2003). Camphor, menthol, thymol and oil of eucalyptus are effective against these organisms.