Athlete’s foot remedies are typically offered over-the-counter. The many different types of remedies focus on different aspects of treatment. Depending on the type and severity of your athlete’s foot, different treatments may be more or less helpful. If one remedy does not work, consider trying another method.
Athlete’s foot is caused by fungus that invades an individual’s skin. Commonly, athlete’s foot is found on an individual’s toes, but it can also occur on the top or bottom of the foot. It is highly contagious and can easily spread to other parts of the area. Because of this, it is important to obtain immediate treatment and not put the affected area into contact with other areas. The symptoms of athlete’s foot include itching, burning and cracking of the skin.
Hydrogen Peroxide Treatment
Hydrogen peroxide treatment for athlete’s foot consists of soaking the affected areas in hydrogen peroxide at least once a day. At the very least, hydrogen peroxide should be applied to the area multiple times a day, if the area is not entirely immersed in the solution. Hydrogen peroxide will destroy the athlete’s foot fungus through its antibacterial aspects, but also keep the area dry so that athlete’s foot does not have a chance to grow or reoccur. Keeping skin dry so that athlete’s foot cannot grow is just as important as removing the current athlete’s foot.
The goal of hydrogen peroxide treatment is to have the solution penetrate the skin and kill the athlete’s foot. Because of this, it is important that the solution be allowed to soak deep into the skin and attach the affected area.
Why Hydrogen Peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide treatments for athlete’s foot is not an immediate cure, but is one designed to thoroughly treat the area for good. Hydrogen peroxide is inexpensive and readily available at grocery stores or pharmacies.
Many companies will try to manipulate hydrogen peroxide into a new treatment and sell it under their name. While these products will work, they are not necessarily better than pure hydrogen peroxide. Not only will pure hydrogen peroxide be much less expensive than other products, but it may also be a more direct route to treatment. The other additions to products may have no purpose other than to attract the eye. Because of this, consider using pure hydrogen peroxide prior to using a hydrogen peroxide based treatment.
Hydrogen peroxide in the United States is diluted for consumer safety. Because of this, you will need to use hydrogen peroxide longer than you think. Even after your athlete’s foot appears to clear, continue soaking your foot for a week or two.
Common Athlete’s Foot Treatment
Common athlete’s foot treatment includes washing your feet daily, soaking or using hydrogen peroxide in the washing of your feet, or using hydrogen peroxide after washing your feet with an antibacterial soap. Advice for curing athlete’s foot also includes soaking your foot in bleach or vinegar. However, these treatments may inflame or irritate the skin and not treat the athlete’s foot.
