Nourish - Natural Remedies to Prevent Athlete’s Foot (Part 2)
Welcome to part two of our athlete’s foot blog series. This blog post’s focus is on Natural Remedies to Prevent Athlete’s Foot.
In part one, Natural Remedies to Treat Athlete’s Foot, we covered:
- What is Athlete’s foot
- What causes Athlete’s food
- How To Treat Athletes’ Foot Naturally
Have a nosey over part one of this blog series here for a better understanding of athlete’s foot as a whole, and how to treat it naturally.
Today, we’ll be covering the best ways to prevent or at least reduce your chances of getting athlete’s foot. After all, prevention is the best remedy to avoid getting Athlete’s foot in the first place.
That being said, these upcoming methods are also good for treating it if you have it and also helping to stop reinfection.
9 Ways to Prevent Athlete’s Foot
No. 1 – Wear Some Kind of Foot Protection
For example, flip flops when you’re in wet public places, if possible.
No. 2 – Dry Your Feet Thoroughly
Especially after a shower/bath or coming out of the pool. Concentrate especially between the toes as this is where the bacteria LOVE.
No. 3 – Use Foot Powder
As mentioned in part one, use this daily to keep your feet and toes dry. Alternatively, sprinkle baking soda or cornstarch into your socks or over your feet before putting on your socks.
This will help absorb moisture during the day. And as we know, a moist environment in your socks and shoes encourages foot fungus to grow.
No. 4 – Use Separate Towels
Use separate towels to someone you know is infected. Since the fungus is contagious, it is very easy to catch when you come into contact with these infected items.
No. 5 – Wash Towels
Wash any towels after they’ve been used in a public place. Use the Vinegar Sock Wash technique to kill any fungus that may be present on your towels.
No. 6 – Choose Proper Shoes and Socks
Avoid plastic shoes and non-breathable materials. They trap perspiration and create a warm, moist environment for the fungus to grow.
Choose natural fibres when possible, with both shoes and socks. Bamboo socks are a great choice, as are wool and cotton.
If you have very sweaty feet, change your socks twice or three times a day.
No. 7 – Change Your Shoes Often
If possible, try not to wear the same shoes two days in a row, especially if your feet are very sweaty.
This gives your shoes a chance to thoroughly dry out over at least 24 hours.
If you must wear the same shoes daily, I would advise that you sprinkle a small amount of baking soda or cornstarch in them at night to absorb the moisture. Then in the morning, tap it out and you’re good to go.
You can also air them out by putting them outside/on a window sill. Equally, leave them in the sun during sunny days to kill any fungus that’s inside them.
No. 8 – Clean Your Shoes
You can also clean your shoes with the foot spray mentioned in part one. Alternatively, use a mix of roughly:
- ½ cup vinegar
- ½ cup vodka
- plus 10-15 drops of your chosen antifungal essential oil, such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint etc.
- Mix in a spray bottle and spritz spritz!
Also, don’t forget to clean undersides of straps after wearing to reduce/remove infectious skin particles and help prevent reinfection.
No. 9 – Spend Some Time Barefoot
If you have athlete’s foot, this is essential. Socks can trap moisture and you want to give your feet every chance to dry out in between wears.
Going barefoot can also be great for your mood. Check out my previous blog post on 9 Two Minute Habits to Improve your Health and Happiness.
And there we have it for Natural Remedies to Prevent Athlete’s Foot. I hope this blog post has and will help you out. Should you be suffering from the itchiness of athlete’s foot, have a look over at part one on Natural Remedies to Treat Athlete’s Foot.
Good luck and happy healing 🙂
Emily Nöth
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