Athlete’s foot is a contagious infection that quickly spreads through toenails and hands.
While the itchiness and burning sensation make it a dreadful condition for all active individuals, what makes it even worse is that it can be difficult to get rid of, especially if you’re not committed to treating it daily.
This is where essential oils for athlete’s foot come in!
These highly concentrated and aromatic liquids contain several chemical compounds and are extracted from flowers, leaves, root, or fruit of a plant or tree.
Over the years, we’ve seen more and more people using essential oils to treat athlete’s foot – and for good reasons.
Here’s a list of the top five essential oils for athlete’s foot.
1. Tea Tree Oil
Obtained from the leaves of an Australian plant, tea tree oil possesses powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties.
It doesn’t only fight bacterial action but also relieves inflammation. This oil kills the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and prevents it from growing.
As a result, it provides relief from the burn and discomfort.
How To Use It
There are two common ways of using tea tree oil for athlete’s foot:
- You can use it as a foot soak by mixing 10 parts of tea tree oil with 3 parts olive oil in a bowl of warm water. All you have to do is to sit with your foot soaked in the mixture for at least half an hour two times a day on a daily basis. Continue this treatment until you experience pain relief.
- Alternatively, you can mix tea tree essential oil with a carrier oil, such as coconut or almond oil and rub it on the affected area.
2. Lemon Essential Oil
As evident by its name, the lemon essential oil is made from the lemon’s peel. It acts as an excellent anti-fungal and anti-microbial agent.
With strong antioxidant properties, it also feels refreshing and invigorating. Lemon oil has proved to be a great treatment option for many fungal infections.
It reacts particularly fast to the fungus of athlete’s foot due to its astringent properties and acidic content. It helps relieve the pain and treat the infection on the skin.
Disclaimer: Since lemon essential oil is photosensitive, you shouldn’t expose your skin to the sun if after topical application.
How To Use It
The best way of using lemon essential oil for treating athlete’s foot is by mixing 10 drops of it with 10 drops of olive oil and then pouring the mixture into a bowl containing a liter of warm water.
Soak your foot in the mixture every day until the condition gets better.
3. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint is one of the oldest and most popular herbs that people have been using for years for medicinal purposes.
This hybrid oil is basically made by a combination of spearmint and water mint plant. Menthol and menthone are the main active ingredients in this oil.
Peppermint essential oil has a very cooling effect on the skin and a calming effect on the body.
While people have been using this magical oil topically to treat sore muscles for years, they have now started using it for athlete’s foot as well.
Thanks to its anti-microbial and astringent effects, this oil effectively removes the tinea fungi and treats athlete’s foot when used in combination with a carrier oil.
With the added benefit of cooling the skin, it further solves the problem of itching and inflammation.
How To Use It
Mix a teaspoon of peppermint essential oil with ¼ cup of sea salt and ½ cup of rolled oats. Use this mixture to massage your foot twice a day every day.
You’ll surely experience a significant decrease in your pain and discomfort levels.
4. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil is one of the best essential oils for athlete’s foot.
From time immemorial, people have been using this oil for improving mood, promoting appetite, and relieving pain.
Today, it is widely used for removing the harmful tinea fungus that causes athlete’s foot.
The right way to use it is by mixing it with a carrier oil and applying it topically to the affected area.
How To Use It
One option of using lavender essential oil for athlete’s foot involves applying it directly to the affected area.
Alternatively, you can mix it with a lotion (any will do) and massage the mixture on to your foot every night.
Make sure you wear socks immediately after the massage and go to sleep with them on.
It’ll ensure that the affected area is covered with healing oil for hours before you wake up in the morning.
5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil comes from an evergreen Australian tree called the eucalyptus tree.
While it is often used for detoxifying the body and promoting the health of hair and scalp, it is particularly known for fighting the tinea fungus.
This oil is infused with anti-bacterial agents that not only treat the athlete’s foot but also leave the skin fully hydrated and replenished.
How To Use It
The best way of using eucalyptus essential oil for athlete’s foot is by mixing one teaspoon of it with two cups of water.
You can pour the mixture into a spray bottle for convenient use. Simply, spray the mixture on to the affected area on your feet.
You should also consider spraying it in your shoes to keep them clean and hygienic.
Final Thoughts
Athlete’s foot is a common infection that can get serious if not treated properly.
You may come across topical creams and sprays to get rid of it but there are natural and more effective alternatives as well.
With these essential oils for athlete’s foot, you can not only treat but also prevent the tinea fungus from causing the infection.
The best thing about using these oils is that they are inexpensive, have a pleasant smell, and don’t lead to any side effects!
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