Home Remedy for Athlete's Foot - Apple Cider Vinegar
By Jon Group
One of the oldest and most trusted home remedies is apple cider vinegar. This valuable product has been heavily relied upon throughout the ages to prevent and alleviate a number of ailments. It helps alkalize the body and is rich in potassium, which supports cell growth. Throughout history apple cider vinegar has been used to treat earaches, infections, arthritis, and as an aid in digestion. It has also been said to aid in the detoxification of bodily organs and eliminate warts. It is easily accessible, inexpensive and useful for a variety of disorders and conditions.
For all of these reasons, apple cider vinegar may be the best natural remedy for athlete's foot. It is the ability of this type of vinegar to destroy fungal infections that makes it an ideal natural remedy for athlete's foot fungus. Not only is it considerably less expensive than prescription drugs and even over the counter medications, pure apple cider vinegar relieves the itching that is caused by athlete's foot making it a gentle, all natural answer to this common and painful problem. And best of all, you may already have it in your cupboard.
Athlete's foot is a well-known, persistent ailment caused by fungal growth on the feet. This type of infection occurs when the highly contagious tinea pedis fungus contacts the skin. Often the most affected area of the foot is between the toes, where it is especially warm and moist; however, it may also spread to the rest of the foot. When athlete's foot fungus is given an opportunity to develop, it may first result in an itchy red rash, typically beginning between the fourth and fifth toe. If the infection is not remedied, the skin may become soft and extremely sensitive to the touch. In the most severe cases, the edges of the afflicted area will become white and the skin can peel away, creating a milky discharge.
To combat this unfortunate condition, people have turned time and again to apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar is made from the liquid extracted from crushed apples. Sugar and yeast are added to encourage fermentation, which turns the sugars into alcohol. It is in the second fermentation process when acetic acid-forming bacteria transform the alcohol into vinegar.
This acidic product can be used to treat feet that have become raw, cracked, and damaged by the fungus that causes athlete's foot. Not only does it relieve the persistent itch that comes with the condition, it also has been reported to rid the body of the fungus that causes the condition. It may not have the most desirable odor, but the relief that is immediately felt as sore feet contact the vinegar will surely be worth it.
apple cider vinegar foot soak is an effective way to fight athlete's foot fungus. Simply mix one part pure all natural apple cider vinegar with one part warm water and soak for 20 minutes. Feet should be cleaned with a gentle soap both before and after the treatment. It is necessary to make sure that the feet are thoroughly dried after the treatment to prevent the fungus from spreading in a moist environment. If necessary, it is permissible to use this method of treatment twice daily. Depending upon the severity of the condition, the feet should be rid of the fungus within one to two weeks of regular home treatments.
For less severe cases of athlete's foot fungus, use a washcloth or cotton ball soaked in apple cider vinegar. Gently rub the cloth over the affected areas. This treatment works especially well for children who may not be willing to sit for a foot soak as the combination of the vinegar and the rubbing of the washcloth allow instant relief from the itchiness caused by the fungus.
It is wise to take some common sense precautions to lessen your exposure to the fungus as preventing athlete's foot fungus is typically much easier than curing it, it. The most important step you can take is to keep the feet dry, especially between the toes. Ensure that the environment in your socks is inhospitable to fungal growth. Socks that are made of cotton, wool, or other natural materials allow feet to breathe and remain dry. If your feet commonly sweat, see that your socks remain clean and dry, even if this means changing socks during the day. Choose shoes that are well ventilated and give them a chance to dry out before wearing them again. It is also important to reduce the risk of exposure by wearing waterproof sandals or shoes in public showers, locker rooms, and any other warm damp place that may host tinea pedis. Taking proper care of your feet and treating them with all natural apple cider vinegar should ensure that the athlete's foot fungus clears up and does not return.
To read more about athlete's foot, nail fungus, toenail fungus, and candida go to http://www.nail-fungus-toenail.com or http://www.mycozil.com
Dr. Jonathan N. Group, B.S., R.D., D.C. is a Doctor of Chiropractic, Registered Dietitian and Independent Research Scientist. He has over 15 years of educational and research experience in health care focusing in clinical nutrition, alternative medicine, holistic healing, chiropractic, medical testing, rehabilitation, physical medicine, nutritional counseling, wellness, and personal training. His seminar presentation experience includes various topics including but not limited to health, healing, nutrition, weight loss, alternative medicine, fitness, rehabilitation, back health and overall wellness. He is the co-owner and founder of Fungus Research, L.L.C., a company dedicated to conquering fungal infections such as nail fungus, toenail fungus, candida, yeast infections and athlete's foot. http://www.nail-fungus-toenail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Group
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Toenail Fungus: Tips For Treatment
By Christine Dobrowolski, DPM
The medical term for toenail fungus is "onychomycosis," pronounced on * EE * ko * my * ko * sis. Despite the commonly used term "fungal toenails", onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail. The prevalence in America is about 2-3%, but some have reported it as high as 13%. Even at a low estimate of 2%, this accounts for 6 million Americans with toenail fungus. Toenail fungus affects men twice as often as it affects women.
The prevalence among elderly individuals and diabetics is 25%. In the 1800s, fungal toenails were very rare. The increased prevalence is linked to the increased exposure to fungus through the use of showering facilities in gyms, the use of hot tubs, saunas and public pool areas. There is an increase in occlusive footwear, an increase in sporting activities, an increase in diabetes and increase in age of the general population.
The risk factors for developing toenail fungus are increasing age, male gender, nail trauma, sweaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygeine, foot fungus and a compromised immune system.
Athlete's tend to have a higher rate of fungus infection than non-athletes. The moisture in the shoe combined with repeated nail trauma increases the chance of infection. Hikers, runners, backpackers, soccer, basketball and tennis players, athletes wearing loose fitting shoes that allow jamming of the nails against the shoe and any individual wearing shoes that toe tight are at risk for developing toenail fungus.
There are a number of treatments for onychomycosis. The most aggressive and effective way to treat the fungus is with oral anti-fungal medications. The most common oral anti-fungal medications are Itraconazole (Sporonox ®) and Terbinafine (Lamisil ®). Both medications can be quite expensive as they need to be taken once daily for 3 months. The effectiveness of the medications ranges from 60 to 80%, with a recurrence rate of 15%. Lamisil® appears to be more effective and has fewer drug interactions than Sporonox®.
With both medications there is a long list of benign side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, headache, taste disturbances and dizziness. Serious adverse events are very rare, less than 0.5%, but do include hepatitis and acute hepatic necrosis.
There are many other options besides oral anti-fungal medications. Unfortunately, they are not very effective. The most effective topical medication is Ciclopirox (Penlac ®) lacquer. Some studies have shown cure rates up to 60%, but in my experience the effectiveness is about 10-15%. Side effects occur in less than 2% of patients and include burning and redness around the nail.
This medication is only available by prescription and is also quite expensive. A few other prescription medications that help decrease the thickness of the fungal nails are Carmol® 40 and Keralac® Nail Gel. I would not expect to see complete cures with these products, but they can decrease the thickness and discoloration of the nail in some cases.
There are many home remedies and over the counter products that you can purchase. Some home remedies that can be used include bleach, tea tree oil, grapeseed extract, and Vics VapoRub®. With any home remedy or non-prescription topical, you must understand that the effectiveness of the treatment is fairly low, less than 10%. If you do try one of these therapies make sure to use it every day. Roughen up the nail surface with a file and apply the medication with a q-tip. Bleach can cause skin irritation and some individuals have had skin reactions to the Vics VapoRub®. In general these treatments are considered very safe.
Combination therapy can help increase the effectiveness of the treatment. If you choose to take an oral medication, make sure you use a topical anti-fungal agent as well. Nail removal is also an option. Once the nail is removed, the topicals can reach the nail bed and they become more effective. The nail will grow back in over a period of 8-10 months. Permanent nail removal is reserved for those with chronic ingrown nails, ulceration under the nails or pain from the fungal nails.
The best form of treatment is prevention and preventing the fungus from spreading to other toenails may be the best treatment option. I recommend choosing a topical that you feel comfortable with and use it once a week. No matter which treatment option you choose, you should take the following steps to avoid re-infection.
1. Make sure you rotate your shoes often and keep them in a cool dry place.
2. Change your insoles frequently, and make sure they dry out between use.
3. Place an anti-fungal powder or spray in the shoes to help fight off the fungus.
4. Bleach out the shower on a weekly basis and wash your shower mat regularly in hot water.
5. Make sure your athletic shoes fit well to prevent jamming at the toes. Jamming at the toes leads to microtrauma at the nails and increases the chance for fungal infection.
6. If you belong to a gym or health club, wear sandals in the locker room and don't walk around barefoot.
8. If your feet sweat excessively, try using an antiperspirant spray on your feet before your workout.
9. Cut your toenails straight across. Don't cut too short and cause breaks in the skin. This will increase the chance for fungal infection. Don't let the toenails grow too long or they will jam against the shoe and cause bleeding under the nail, again increasing the chance for fungal infection.
The bottom line is that treating onychomycosis is very difficult. If you have fungal toenails that cause pressure, pain or infection, consider talking to your doctor about prescription medications or nail removal. Make sure you take precautions to prevent re-infection and take multiple approaches to eradicate the problem. If your fungal toenails are only unsightly and don't cause any discomfort, try a weekly application of an over the counter topical along with methods to prevent re-infection.
Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. To learn more about Dr. Dobrowolski and her book visit http://www.skipublishing.com/ To learn more about products for toenail fungus visit http://www.northcoastfootcare.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Dobrowolski,_DPM
By Christine Dobrowolski, DPM
The medical term for toenail fungus is "onychomycosis," pronounced on * EE * ko * my * ko * sis. Despite the commonly used term "fungal toenails", onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail. The prevalence in America is about 2-3%, but some have reported it as high as 13%. Even at a low estimate of 2%, this accounts for 6 million Americans with toenail fungus. Toenail fungus affects men twice as often as it affects women.
The prevalence among elderly individuals and diabetics is 25%. In the 1800s, fungal toenails were very rare. The increased prevalence is linked to the increased exposure to fungus through the use of showering facilities in gyms, the use of hot tubs, saunas and public pool areas. There is an increase in occlusive footwear, an increase in sporting activities, an increase in diabetes and increase in age of the general population.
The risk factors for developing toenail fungus are increasing age, male gender, nail trauma, sweaty feet, poor circulation, poor hygeine, foot fungus and a compromised immune system.
Athlete's tend to have a higher rate of fungus infection than non-athletes. The moisture in the shoe combined with repeated nail trauma increases the chance of infection. Hikers, runners, backpackers, soccer, basketball and tennis players, athletes wearing loose fitting shoes that allow jamming of the nails against the shoe and any individual wearing shoes that toe tight are at risk for developing toenail fungus.
There are a number of treatments for onychomycosis. The most aggressive and effective way to treat the fungus is with oral anti-fungal medications. The most common oral anti-fungal medications are Itraconazole (Sporonox ®) and Terbinafine (Lamisil ®). Both medications can be quite expensive as they need to be taken once daily for 3 months. The effectiveness of the medications ranges from 60 to 80%, with a recurrence rate of 15%. Lamisil® appears to be more effective and has fewer drug interactions than Sporonox®.
With both medications there is a long list of benign side effects including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rash, headache, taste disturbances and dizziness. Serious adverse events are very rare, less than 0.5%, but do include hepatitis and acute hepatic necrosis.
There are many other options besides oral anti-fungal medications. Unfortunately, they are not very effective. The most effective topical medication is Ciclopirox (Penlac ®) lacquer. Some studies have shown cure rates up to 60%, but in my experience the effectiveness is about 10-15%. Side effects occur in less than 2% of patients and include burning and redness around the nail.
This medication is only available by prescription and is also quite expensive. A few other prescription medications that help decrease the thickness of the fungal nails are Carmol® 40 and Keralac® Nail Gel. I would not expect to see complete cures with these products, but they can decrease the thickness and discoloration of the nail in some cases.
There are many home remedies and over the counter products that you can purchase. Some home remedies that can be used include bleach, tea tree oil, grapeseed extract, and Vics VapoRub®. With any home remedy or non-prescription topical, you must understand that the effectiveness of the treatment is fairly low, less than 10%. If you do try one of these therapies make sure to use it every day. Roughen up the nail surface with a file and apply the medication with a q-tip. Bleach can cause skin irritation and some individuals have had skin reactions to the Vics VapoRub®. In general these treatments are considered very safe.
Combination therapy can help increase the effectiveness of the treatment. If you choose to take an oral medication, make sure you use a topical anti-fungal agent as well. Nail removal is also an option. Once the nail is removed, the topicals can reach the nail bed and they become more effective. The nail will grow back in over a period of 8-10 months. Permanent nail removal is reserved for those with chronic ingrown nails, ulceration under the nails or pain from the fungal nails.
The best form of treatment is prevention and preventing the fungus from spreading to other toenails may be the best treatment option. I recommend choosing a topical that you feel comfortable with and use it once a week. No matter which treatment option you choose, you should take the following steps to avoid re-infection.
1. Make sure you rotate your shoes often and keep them in a cool dry place.
2. Change your insoles frequently, and make sure they dry out between use.
3. Place an anti-fungal powder or spray in the shoes to help fight off the fungus.
4. Bleach out the shower on a weekly basis and wash your shower mat regularly in hot water.
5. Make sure your athletic shoes fit well to prevent jamming at the toes. Jamming at the toes leads to microtrauma at the nails and increases the chance for fungal infection.
6. If you belong to a gym or health club, wear sandals in the locker room and don't walk around barefoot.
7. Don't keep your shoes in the gym locker where they cannot dry out.
8. If your feet sweat excessively, try using an antiperspirant spray on your feet before your workout.
9. Cut your toenails straight across. Don't cut too short and cause breaks in the skin. This will increase the chance for fungal infection. Don't let the toenails grow too long or they will jam against the shoe and cause bleeding under the nail, again increasing the chance for fungal infection.
The bottom line is that treating onychomycosis is very difficult. If you have fungal toenails that cause pressure, pain or infection, consider talking to your doctor about prescription medications or nail removal. Make sure you take precautions to prevent re-infection and take multiple approaches to eradicate the problem. If your fungal toenails are only unsightly and don't cause any discomfort, try a weekly application of an over the counter topical along with methods to prevent re-infection.
Christine Dobrowolski is a podiatrist and the author of Those Aching Feet: Your Guide to Diagnosis and Treatment of Common Foot Problems. To learn more about Dr. Dobrowolski and her book visit http://www.skipublishing.com/ To learn more about products for toenail fungus visit http://www.northcoastfootcare.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Dobrowolski,_DPM
What is Athletes Foot?
Athlete's foot is a skin infection in the foot caused by a fungus. The fungus that causes Athlete foot is called Trichophyton. When the feet, or other areas of the body, stay moist, warm and irritated, this fungus can thrive and infect the upper layer of the skin.
Athlete foot is caused by the ringworm fungus ("tinea" in medical jargon). Athlete foot is also called tinea pedis. The fungus that causes Athlete foot can be found on floors and in socks and clothing. The fungus can be spread from person to person by contact with these objects. However, without proper growing conditions (a warm, moist environment), the fungus will not infect the skin. Up to 70% of the population will have athletes foot at some time during their lives.
Click here for Symptoms and ways to Cure Athletes Foot
Athlete's foot is a skin infection in the foot caused by a fungus. The fungus that causes Athlete foot is called Trichophyton. When the feet, or other areas of the body, stay moist, warm and irritated, this fungus can thrive and infect the upper layer of the skin.
Athlete foot is caused by the ringworm fungus ("tinea" in medical jargon). Athlete foot is also called tinea pedis. The fungus that causes Athlete foot can be found on floors and in socks and clothing. The fungus can be spread from person to person by contact with these objects. However, without proper growing conditions (a warm, moist environment), the fungus will not infect the skin. Up to 70% of the population will have athletes foot at some time during their lives.
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