7 Ways to Use Foot Baths for Athlete’s Foot - wikiHow (2024)

Table of Contents
Hydrogen Peroxide Tea Tree Oil Mustard Oil or Mustard Powder Salt Water Tea of Oregano Leaves Povidone-Iodine Squeeze Lemon Expert Q&A Video Tips Warnings You Might Also Like References About This Article Reader Success Stories Did this article help you? References
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  • Leg and Foot Health
  • Foot Problems

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methods

1Hydrogen Peroxide

2Tea Tree Oil

3Mustard Oil or Mustard Powder

4Salt Water

5Tea of Oregano Leaves

6Povidone-Iodine

7Squeeze Lemon

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Co-authored byKaveri Karhade, MD

Last Updated: March 2, 2024References

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Athlete’s foot is the most common form of fungal infection that causes redness and itchiness on the skin between the toes. The rule of thumb is to keep your feet clean, although it is not always possible to prevent an occurrence of fungal infection such as athlete’s foot. In that case, you should employ foot bath procedure with certain variations to treat an athlete’s foot.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Hydrogen Peroxide

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  1. 1

    Kill the bacteria with hydrogen peroxide. The idea is to kill bacteria and fungus lying on your feet, and using hydrogen peroxide is ideal for killing harmful bacteria and fungus.[1]

  2. 2

    Take 1 gallon (3.8L) of lukewarm water and add just 2 to 3 percent hydrogen peroxide in it.

    • Alternatively, add 8 fluid ounces (240mL) of vinegar instead of hydrogen peroxide.[2]
    • Ideally you should soak your feet in the warm water twice a day – morning and night for at least 20 to 30 minutes individually.
    • Rinse your feet with clean water.[3]

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  3. 3

    Dry your feet well. Remember to dry your feet with the help of clean towel or air dry it.[4]

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Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Tea Tree Oil

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  1. 1

    Give yourself a tea tree oil foot bath. Tea tree oil is essential antiseptic oil that helps immensely in cleaning fungus from the infected area. Many dermatologists reckon adding 30 to 40 drops of tea tree oil into the foot bath warm water.

  2. 2

    Soak your feet in the water for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily. This will show remarkable results.

    • Tea tree oil has natural properties that will literally destroy fungus on your feet.[5]

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Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Mustard Oil or Mustard Powder

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  1. 1

    Prepare a mustard oil or powder foot bath. Either you can add few drops of mustard oil in the foot bath water or you can sprinkle some mustard powder in the water. By doing either of it, you are using mustard to kill the fungus.[6]

  2. 2

    Soak your feet in the same water for at least 20 minutes daily.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Salt Water

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  1. 1

    Prepare a salt water foot bath. For a nice warm foot bath, add 2 to 3 tbsp of salt to 300 to 500ml bucket of warm water.[7]

  2. 2

    Soak your feet in for up to 5 to 10 minutes. Follow this habit at regular intervals till you don’t see the much anticipated results.

  3. 3

    Combine with essential oils for best results.

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Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Tea of Oregano Leaves

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  1. 1

    Prepare an oregano leaves foot bath. Some athlete foot sufferers have made a tea of 3 to 4 ounces of oregano leaves and added it to warm water.[8]

    • Some people also reuse the same used oregano leaves for a week, but some prefer using free oregano leaves-tea each time.

  2. 2

    Soak your feet into the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes each time.

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Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Povidone-Iodine

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  1. 1

    Prepare a povidone-iodine foot bath. Povidone-iodine is an antiseptic solution used for killing bacteria. Soaking your feet in this mixture of warm water and povidone-iodine will help you get rid of harmful bacteria and fungi.

  2. 2

    Take one liter of warm water and add 2 capfuls of Povidone-iodine into it.

  3. 3

    Make sure you soak your feet in the mixture for total 40 minutes a day (one time = 20 minutes).

    • Of course, do not forget to dry your feet completely.

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Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Squeeze Lemon

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  1. 1

    Prepare a lemon foot bath. Your feet perhaps may be producing an unpleasant smell of a particular kind due to athlete’s foot. To avoid your feet stink just add ½ cup of lemon juice in a bucket of water.

  2. 2

    Soak your feet in the mixture for 10 minutes daily to mitigate bad odor of your feet.

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Expert Q&A

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      Tips

      • Follow foot bath technique for at least three to six weeks to see remarkable results.

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      • Regular use of antifungal soap is necessary to keep fungus away.

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      • Wash your feet at least twice a day regularly with the help of antifungal soap.

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      Warnings

      • If you are diabetic, you should see your physician for treatment.

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      • If you continue to see the infection for a prolonged period, make sure you consult a doctor immediately

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      About This Article

      7 Ways to Use Foot Baths for Athlete’s Foot - wikiHow (37)

      Co-authored by:

      Kaveri Karhade, MD

      Board Certified Dermatologist

      This article was co-authored by Kaveri Karhade, MD. Dr. Kaveri Karhade is a board certified Laser, Medical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her areas of expertise are acne and hair loss. She has advanced training in injectables, lasers, surgery, and other cosmetic treatments, and has published extensive research in medical journals. She holds a BS from Michigan State University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at New York University School of Medicine and her Residency in Dermatology at Brown University School of Medicine. Dr. Karhade is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. This article has been viewed 62,070 times.

      11 votes - 82%

      Co-authors: 12

      Updated: March 2, 2024

      Views:62,070

      Categories: Foot Problems | Essential Oils

      Medical Disclaimer

      The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

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      7 Ways to Use Foot Baths for Athlete’s Foot - wikiHow (2024)

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