Can You Treat Foot Fungus at Home? - Feet First Clinic (2024)

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Can You Treat Foot Fungus at Home? - Feet First Clinic (1)

Written by Bianca Charles on August 4, 2022

Last updated October 23, 2024

Medically reviewed by Dominic Hough, D. Ch.

Making a medical appointment can be a hassle. Finding a reliable practitioner, and one that isn’t always booked up, can be a huge challenge (especially in Toronto), not to mention all the trouble that comes with taking time off work in the middle of the day. On top of that, we have trade in the cozy, work-from-home track suit and put on – gasp – a pair ofjeans. Rough. So, it’s understandable why it’s sometimes tempting to try and treat infections at home with social media suggestions, or just leave it. However, while the internet might tell you otherwise, this is not a good solution for fungal foot infections.

Having foot fungus may seem like it can wait, but the truth is it can’t. If you leave it and wait, you are actually feeding the fungus with your skin or your nail. So it is not going to go away – it will actually thrive, grow and increase. After a while people will try and treat foot fungus at home.

Toenail fungus home remedies have gotten a lot of press recently. Some of them good…some bad and some just down right dangerous.

Did you know there are people washing their feet in perfect bleach to get rid of foot fungus? This is not good.

You might have also heard of Listerine. Listerine is good at what it does – helping fight all manner of mouth problems. However, it was never designed for the feet. Yet people still use it for fungal toenail or skin infections.

The problem with the majority of home treatment remedies is that:

  • They have minimal amount of the active component that actually attacks the fungus
  • Fungus is not on top or necessarily under the nail – it is within it. So any treatment has to penetrate the nail or treat the nail from where it grows from and soaking the nail does not allow this.

What is a Fungal Foot Infection?

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What is a fungal foot infection? Well, it’s an infection on the foot caused by a fungus. It can be classed in 2 ways.

  1. It can be a skin infection. One common example is athlete’s foot, which often manifests as a scaley, red rash or translucent, moist skin between toes. Other symptoms can include itching, stinging, burning, and skin that’s dry, cracked, or peeling.
  2. Another common fungal foot infection is fungal toenails. With fungal toenails, you might notice nail discoloration (yellow, brown, or white), nail thickening, and a fragile or brittle nail. Both infections can cause foot odor (not ideal).

Can You Ignore a Fungal Infection?

Now in the grand scheme of things, you might notice these symptoms and not think much of them. Sometimes these infections aren’t even that painful, it might be easy to write this off as not a big deal. However, while lots of people think foot fungus is just a cosmetic problem, there can be significant health consequences to not getting proper treatment.

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Fungal infections can:

  • Spread from the skin to the nail or vice versa
  • Increase and worsen. The nail can become thicker and apply more pressure to the nail bed causing pain. Fungal skin infections can start to crack and in some cases create a bacterial infection
  • Travel to other parts of your body including your scalp, skin folds or finger nails

For people with diabetes, the thickened nail can cause skin and cellular breakdowns under the nail. A thick nail also has the potential to scratch the adjacent toe. If the skin breaks then that small cut can become bacterial infected. This can then lead to life-threatening complications.

Do At-Home Remedies Work?

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Okay, so leaving these infections untreated is a bad idea. But can we avoid the dreaded journey out of the house? The short answer is no – foot fungus can rarely be eradicated and fully treated at home.

The 6 top home “remedy” myths to treat foot fugus

  • Vicks VapoRub. This foot fungus treatment myth is based on a study done a while ago with just 18 patients. That’s all the patients they had. It took 48 weeks for any change to occur. We don’t really know what the change was or even if they had fungus initially. So, needless to say, this is not a reliable solution for foot fungus and there’s limited to no scientific evidence to support it.
  • Mouthwash. You can’t soak your feet long enough for the liquid to penetrate the nail if you have toenail fungus. That said, it might have a very minor affect upon Athletes Foot – but the expense, the potential complications, side effects and risks associated with adding more moisture to the area are just not worth it
  • Oregano oil. Oregano was used by Hippocrates as an antiseptic. Oregano has been shown to be an effective anti-microbial agent. However, while it can possibly be good against bacterial problems, that doesn’t mean it will work against fungus. Fungus and bacteria are different organisms, so what works for one may not work for the other.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. This classic “remedy” to treat foot fungus at home is talked about a lot on the internet. Yet, there is no evidence that it has antifungal nail properties.
  • Hydrogen Peroxide. The bubbling nature cures! Actually it doesn’t; it reduces the good healing chemicals produced by our body, and the bubbling doesn’t mean it’s working; it is just a chemical reaction. There is no evidence that hydrogen peroxide has any antifungal properties. More likely, people were applying so much Hydrogen Peroxide that the nail came off.
  • Tea Tree Oil. It seems to be in everything and possibly it might have some antifungal properties. However, tea tree oil gets so diluted that the core anti-fungal properties are drastically reduced. Tea tree oil might be able to help very very mild toenail fungus in its early stages, but its ability to work is reduced because it can not penetrate the nail effectively enough.

Regardless of treatment, toenail fungus can come back.

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What About Over-The-Counter Medications?

To treat toenail fungus at home many people will go to the Pharmacist or dug store. Most over-the-counter medications only help with the symptoms of minor, early-stage fungal infections. When the fungus is around the toenail, sometimes these anti-fungals can’t even reach the area that most needs treatment. Foot fungus likes to hide behind and within the toenails and grows in the moisture-rich environment in our shoes and socks. While some home remedies or over-the-counter medication might relieve symptoms for a short period of time, it’s more than likely that they’ll just come back, sometimes worse than before.

How Can I Treat Foot Fungus?

If you think you have a fungal infection, treatment by a foot health professionalis your best bet. They will:

  • Assess your feet and figure out if it is a foot fungus in the first place.
  • Find the effective treatment for you and the severity of the foot fungus
  • Discuss ways to try and prevent the foot fungus from coming back

If you book a visit here at Feet First Clinic, our chiropodists have all the tools to properly manage that fungal foot infection – and even help you keep your feet infection-free in the future. (Plus, we promise not to use any oregano oil).

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Your Foot Fungus Solutions Live Here!

Got Foot Fungus? We can help! Our licensed chiropodists have the tools to treat your fungal infection, as well as many other common foot concerns. Contact us at 416-769-FEET(3338) or use our online booking form to book your appointment today!

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About Author: Bianca Charles

With 15 years of dedicated experience in podiatry, Bianca Carter offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise at Feet First Clinic. Throughout her career, Bianca has worked closely with leading chiropodists, continually deepening her understanding of all aspects of foot care.

Learn more about Bianca Charles

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5 Ways Cold and Wet Weather Impacts Your Feet

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Foot Care for Runners: Preventing Injuries and Maximizing Performance

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September 5, 2024

How to Treat and Prevent Athlete’s Foot: Tips from Chiropodists

Athlete's foot is a fungus that infects the skin on your feet. Many people get it, and it can cause a lot of problems. Your feet may itch, turn red, and peel when you have it. This fungus grows best in places that are warm and damp. The good news is that you can treat and stop athlete's foot if you know what to do. Here are some tips from chiropodists (foot specialists) to help you keep your feet healthy and free from fungus.Treatment strategiesSee a ChiropodistBecause of all the moisture buildup on our feet, fungal infections can grow out of control very quickly; they're stubborn and persistent, and once the infection gets under the toenail, it becomes very difficult to treat. In addition, over-the-counter anti-fungal medications are not very effective unless the infection is in the very early stages. That's why it's important to see a chiropodist as soon as you notice any symptoms. A chiropodist will debride and clean up any fungal growth on the skin and prescribe a topical anti-fungal medication to help nip the athlete's foot in the bud before it spreads to the toenails. Oral anti-fungal medications, while effective, are often not recommended due to their side effects. Often, topical prescription anti-fungal medication and persistence are the best way to go. Maintain a rigid hygiene routineYour feet and body will thank you if you keep the infected area clean and dry. Wash your feet daily with soap and water and dry them well between your toes. Fungus grows best in damp places, so ensure your feet are dry before putting on socks and shoes. If you're particularly prone to sweaty feet, you can also try an anti-bacterial foot deodorant like Gehwol's Foot Deodorant spray. This can help prevent Athlete's foot, and even treat it in its very early stages. Avoid scratchingScratching the infected spot can cause other bacterial infections. To soothe the itch, try using antifungal creams or powders. If the infection gets worse or spreads, talk to a doctor.Change socks regularlyChoose cotton or merino wool socks that let your feet breathe and wick away sweat. Wear fresh socks every day and change them after physical activity or when they get wet. This helps reduce moisture build-up, which can worsen the fungal infection.Prevention TipsAvoid walking barefoot in publicAthlete's foot, along with other fungal infections, are contagious and spread when skin comes into contact with an infected surface. Therefore, always make sure you are wearing some kind of protective footwear in public spaces - like flip flops or slippers - in locker rooms, communal showers, pool decks and gymnasiums. Stick to a foot care routineClean your feet and dry them well between your toes. Also make sure you cut and clean your toenails often, as fungi can hide under the toenails. Just make sure you don't cut them too short, or you can get an ingrown toenail. Put on the right shoesPick shoes that let air flow through them. Avoid (if possible) wearing the same shoes all day, every day, and ensure they're dry before putting them on. Use flip-flops or water-safe sandals in public spots like pools or gym showers to avoid touching infected surfaces.Clean Your ShoesFungal spores can hang around in shoes, which will feed the infection. To combat this, spray your shoes and socks with antifungal and antibacterial products, such as hypochlorous acid, zinc oxide or zinc incoleate, and dry them out before you put them on again. You can use Gehwol Foot & Shoe Deodorant Spray in your shoes, or dust Gehwol Foot Powder into your socks. These products contain zinc oxide and zinc ricinoleate, respectively, which are great for maintaining a healthy environment in your shoes. You can find these products at our Toronto foot clinic.Keep personal items to yourselfDon't let others use your towels, socks, or shoes, and vice versa. Fungal infections are contagious and spread through touching or sharing personal items with people who have a fungal infection.

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Can You Treat Foot Fungus at Home? - Feet First Clinic (2024)

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Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.