5 Best Ways to Deal with Fungus Rash and Athlete’s Foot

• Part 2: 5 More Ways to Prevent Fungus Rash and Athlete’s Foot

• Using at-home remedies like salt water solutions, tea tree oil and other anti fungal remedies can help athlete’s foot
• Both topical and oral medications can be used to fight fungal infections
• Aluminum chloride is a good tool to use after your fungus rash begins clearing up

Athlete’s foot and other fungus rashes can be extremely irritating and uncomfortable. These infections cause burning, itching, and redness and, if left untreated, can lead to more severe bacterial infections. Thankfully, there are some good ways to deal with these infections. Below are five remedies you might want to try to get some relief.

1. Salt Water

When you add salt to water, you get a surprisingly effectives antibacterial and antifungal solution. If you’re treating tinea pedis (the clinical term for athlete’s foot), you want to dissolve two teaspoons of salt in a pint of warm water then soak your feet in the solution for about ten minutes every day. The salt will make your foot less hospitable to the fungus which should eventually stop the infection. While this method can be used alone, you can also combine it with the topical medications described below because the salt will also make it easier for the medications to penetrate deep into the skin.

2. Tea Tree Oil

If you’re looking for another possible at-home remedy, consider trying tea tree oil. The oil acts like an antiseptic so it kills the fungus while also drying out the area. Using the oil can also help prevent the growth of bacteria which can worsen the condition. Studies have shown that tea tree oil is effective against athlete’s foot and other types of fungus rash. Concentrations of between 10 and 25% have been safely used in these studies. Like salt water, tea tree oil can be used effectively with other medical methods, too.

3. Anti Fungal Creams and Sprays

Whether you go through your physician/dermatologist or just head to the pharmacy section of your local retailer, you’ll find some creams and sprays that can help fight the fungus, too. These products often contain imidazole drugs. Basically, these drugs work by attacking the fungi’s own enzymes which make reproduction impossible. After a few weeks of treatment, the infection clears up. In some cases, a capsule form of these drugs can be taken orally, too.

4. Allylamines

One of the newer methods of treating athlete’s foot, especially when it gets under the nails, are allylamines. These drugs are taken orally daily for several months. Slowly, your body builds up a store of compounds that are actually toxic to the fungus which is living off of you. As a result, the fungus is slowly poisoned and dies thus ending the infection. In most cases, these drugs are used in combination with anti fungal creams.

5. Aluminum Chloride

Once you’ve cleared up the cracks and sores associated with athlete’s foot using the creams and medications, you can further heal up your feet and prevent a recurrence by using a solution of aluminum chloride and water. Aluminum chloride is used in powerful antiperspirant products to aid in drying out affected areas so this keeps your feet from staying too damp and sweaty which makes them a great choice for fungi. You can use a cotton swab to apply the solution to the affected areas of your foot, plus between and around your toes. This should be done daily for about three weeks. If the skin is still damaged or raw, the aluminum chloride will cause serious burning when applied which is why you need to do other healing treatments before using this option.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.