Since our lifestyle requires us to wear shoes or tight-fitting footwear that blocks the free movement of air between our toes, we end up with Athlete’s Foot. It is a fungal infection that is caused by sweaty shoes, and it can spread from one person to another by skin to skin contact. It can also spread rapidly by touching surfaces and objects that are contaminated, like a blanket or a doorknob.
Studies show that it is a widespread skin disease which occurs in 1-15% of the population. Symptoms include scaly rashes that burn, itch, or sting. The skin in between the toes becomes moist and raw.
How to cure athlete foot with Epsom salt? Epsom salt for Athlete’s Foot has been prevalent for hundreds of years. Epsom salt is the common name of the mineral Magnesium Sulfate which was common in Surrey, England, in a place named Epson. It is used in foot baths to relieve pain. This article contains DIY home recipes and precautionary measures for Athlete’s Foot.
Epsom Salt Foot Soaks for Athlete’s Foot
1. Epsom Salt and Warm Water
Epsom salt foot soak recipe is a stress buster. It relieves pain and effectively treats fungal infections. When you mix the Epsom salt(1) in bathing water or foot soaking water, the skin absorbs the magnesium compound. It balances the magnesium levels in the body.
The salt solution fights against inflammation related to pain and reduces swelling. It cleanses the foot, increases the muscle function, and stimulates foot health. How much Epsom salt for foot bath? Ideally, half a cup. And how long to soak the foot in Epsom salt? For approximately 60 minutes. Let’s see how to get a foot bath.
How to Use It?
- Fill your bathtub or a basin with adequate Luke warm water to soak your feet.
- Add half a cup of Epsom salt into Luke warm water.
- Soak your feet for around 60 minutes.
- You can also add dilute lavender oil, peppermint oil, or medicinal herbs to the bathing or soaking water for aromatherapy.
- Do not forget to moisturize your feet once you a finish soaking your feet.
[Read: Natural Treatment for Athlete’s Foot]
2. Epsom Salt and Tea Tree Oil
Are you suffering from recurring fungal infection in your feet? This DIY Epsom salt home remedy is a perfect cure for Athlete’s Foot. This remedy consists of Epsom salt and tea tree oil, which contains antifungal properties.
Tea tree oil with Epsom salt prevents fungal infections. Besides, the recipe is ideal for everyone. If you are tired after a stressful day, you must consider this detox soak therapy as it relieves you from stress and cleanses your body.
How to Use It?
- In a foot-basin pour an adequate amount of hot water to soak your feet.
- Take about a quarter cup of tea tree oil and dissolve it in hot water.
- Soak your feet in the water for about 15 minutes.
- Pat the towel and dry your feet after soaking. Apply some moisturizer once your feet dry.
- Repeat this antifungal therapy regularly to experience effective results.
[Also Read: Home Remedies for Athlete’s Foot]
3. Epsom Salt and Lavender Oil
The DIY recipe of Epsom salt with lavender oil is an excellent foot detox treatment. It is a natural remedy that has been effectively treating Athlete’s Foot from hundreds of years. Adding medicinal herbs, eucalyptus, essential oils, or peppermint oil to this DIY recipe of Epsom salt foot bath will result in effective therapy. The therapy soothes the skin, relieves stress, and reduces inflammation(2) associated with pain.
How to Use It?
- Add around half a cup of lavender oil into the bathing water.
- Make sure that the bathing water is lukewarm or hot as it helps the body to shed sweat and toxins through the pores.
- Once the solution is ready, soak your body for about 15 to 20 minutes in the bathing water.
- Repeat the therapy regularly for better treatment.
Did You Know?
Soaking foot or body in lukewarm water alone has many benefits. It relaxes your muscles and relieves you from stress.
4. Epsom Salt and Baking Soda
The DIY baking soda recipe is famous for treating several health problems. The sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is also an excellent remedy for fungal infections in foot.
Soaking feet in Epsom salt with baking soda effectively treat any infection, itching or irritation in the body.
How to Use It?
- Fill bathing tub or basin with adequate water for bathing or foot soaking according to your preference.
- Add around half a cup of baking soda into the warm bathing or soaking water. Sodium and bicarbonate ions effectively stimulate oral hygiene.
- Baking soda easily dissolves in the water. Soak your feet or body in the water for about 30 to 40 minutes.
- Sodium bicarbonate usually dries the skin. Apply body lotion or any moisturizer and pat dry your foot or body.
- Repeat the procedure twice a week for better results.
[Read: Epsom Salt for Infection]
Precautionary Measures
Precautionary Measures to Be Undertaken:
- Maintain cleanliness of your skin by regularly cleaning the covered sections of your nails.
- Avoid crowding your feet into tight or ill-fitting footwear as it provokes the painful ingrown toenails.
- Avoid cutting your toenails too short as it encourages the skin at the sides of the nails to fold over it and cause more pain.
- Never ignore infections caused by ingrown nails. Prolonged infection can spread and cause a severe complication, especially if suffering from diabetics or poor blood flow.
- Avoid excessive running or ballet or accidents such as dropping a hard material on barefoot as it causes trauma to your toe area.
- Use Epsom salt foot soak recipes to prevent Athlete’s Foot.
Athlete’s Foot might seem like a relatively harmless infection. However, if left untreated, it could spread to your hands. It could cause fungal nail infections, secondary bacterial infections, cellulitis, infected lymph system, and allergy.
[Read: Bleach Soak for Athletes Foot]
Epsom salt baths can quickly treat Athlete’s Foot. Over the counter medications are available, and your doctor might prescribe antifungal medicines too, but they have several side effects. They interfere with both the male and female reproductive systems.
However, Epsom salt for Athlete’s Foot is a natural remedy with no side effects if used wisely. Not to mention, foot baths are relaxing to both the mind and the body, at the end of a hard day’s work.
FAQs
1. What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Athlete’s Foot?
Athlete’s Foot or tinea pedis is caused due to tinea fungus. It is a contagious fungal infection seen in the foot. You can catch this fungal infection through various modes. Athlete’s Foot fungal infection might spread from direct contact with an infected person or infected surface.
The fungus mostly forms in shower areas, swimming pools, and other wet areas. Walking around in barefoot over infected areas, sharing your shoes or socks with infected people, wearing tight shoes, having wet feet for long hours; minor injuries on feet and sweaty feet might increase the risk of being infected by Athlete’s Foot.
2. Does Epsom Salt Help Athletes Foot?
Epsom salt technically known as magnesium sulfate, is on the world health organization (WHO) model list of essential medicines, the most important medications needed in the primary health system.
Soaking feet in Epsom salt generally smoothes and boosts the therapeutic effectiveness by fighting fungal infection, reducing the inflammation from gout, eliminates odor, and reduces stress in the muscles of the foot.
3. What Are the Prevention Tips for Athlete’s Foot?
It is essential to adopt precautionary measures against Athlete’s Foot. Follow these precautions to achieve foot health.
- Avoid continuous contact of the foot with water for more than 30min.
- Keep your foot often moisturized to avoid dryness.
- Wash your foot thoroughly after using footwear to avoid fungal infections.
- Avoid walking barefoot in a discomforting surface.
