Can oregano oil cure Athlete’s foot?

Dealing with athlete’s foot can be really annoying as it only leaves you with swollen itchy feet with dry flaking skin not forgetting the redness it comes with. It can be really burning some times and with some cracks in between your toes. What makes it even worst is the stinky smell to the feet.

Athlete’s foot can be really difficult to get rid of but oregano oil has always proved this claim otherwise. Oregano oil, with its outstanding properties, is well known to kill unwanted fungus, parasites, and bacteria. Oregano oil is anti-viral which can prevent fungal and parasites from spreading to other parts of the body.

In this post, you will be able to learn more about athlete’s foot for a better understanding will provide better knowledge to avoid athlete’s foot now and even in the future. You will be able to understand why oregano is a perfect candidate for treating athlete’s foot, how it can be used and other natural treatments you can use to treat athlete’s foot from the comfort of your own home.

What’s Athlete’s Foot

The athlete’s foot which is scientifically known as tinea pedis is a skin infection generally caused by a fungus called dermatophyte. No one can conveniently claim immunity from athlete’s foot as it is very common and can affect anyone. The dermatophyte fungus preys on people with a compromised immune system as science has shown such individuals are more vulnerable. (1)

Lets, look at the dermatophytes that attack the skin

The fungus survives on the skin which is made possible because of the availability of keratin which sustains them. Keratin is a structural protein that can be found on our skin (top layer of the skin). This protein can not be utilized by most of the organisms which makes it a safe haven for dermatophyte.

Tinea pedis suffers 3-15 percent of the population annually and it is considered one of the most common types of fungal which can be found in humans. It is also believed one out of four people will experience the symptoms of athlete’s foot as they journey through life. (2)

Athlete’s foot is known to be highly contagious, which means it can easily be picked up just by stepping on an infected person’s “footprint” with bare feet. It can be contracted by contact with spores that are shed by an infected person on the floor or wet areas, like swimming pool environment, showers, and locker rooms.

It is known to be most contagious in warm and moist facilities like hot tub areas, steam rooms facilities. The fugal can easily make its way into your socks and tight-fitting shoes, limiting the free flow of air. At this point, they grown and eventually starts with a rash on your feet.

Athlete’s foot is commonly seen on the toes, gap in-between the toes, across the bottom, and soles of the feet. But that doesn’t mean they can make their way to other parts of the body. They “pride” to live in moist, warm areas of the body. They can make their way to the groin (tinea cruris) or the scalp (tinea capitis). They can also make their way to the heels of the feet if you are dealing with moccasin athlete’s foot.

Some signs and symptoms

Acute athlete’s foot

– It is sometimes self-limited and recurrent in nature

– It is often followed by activities that cause feet to sweat

– Starts with the presence of intensely itchy, painful, reddish blisters, in-between the toes or around the soles of the feet

– An appearance like a dry, flaky skin on the feet.

– Swelling and thickening of the skin.

Chronic athlete’s foot

– Starts with a slow but steady and progressive itchy skin.

– The red area starts breaking down, scaling, flaking and cracking

– Starts in between toes, then spread across the soles of the feet, sides and to the top of the foot.

– The skin can develop a greenish color in-between the toes

– It can lead to blisters and ulcers but in rare cases.

– Increase swelling and redness.

– Can spread to the toenails, hands and other parts of the body.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis for athlete’s foot is usually by historical and clinical presentation. The results can be determined by the examination of scrapings with a solution under the microscope. Another diagnosis procedure can be a fungal culture, but it is less used due to the length of time required to get the final results. For chronic athlete’s foot, it can look like psoriasis or even eczema.

Why Oregano oil Can cure Athlete’s Foot

As many people today are more concerned about their health, society is now rejecting the use for pharmaceutical drugs and rather sourcing for more natural and organic options. Using oregano oil for athlete’s foot is a natural and healthy way of treating yourself.

Oregano oil has been used for thousands of years by ancient healers for the treatment of skin conditions and respiratory conditions. With recent developments, more far-reaching health benefits can be obtained just by using oregano oil.

Just as any other fungal infections and parasites like toenail fungal, candida, yeasts, eczema of which oregano has been used with remarkable achievements, athlete’s foot can be no different.

To answer the question, can oregano oil cure athlete’s foot? This is possible because of oregano oil which is an anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and an anti-oxidant (3)(4). These outstanding properties of oregano oil make it unique to treat fungal infections like athlete’s foot and many other parasites.

Some research and studies have successfully proved oil of oregano can do more than just killing fungal. Oregano oil is well known to boost our immune system, fight against toxins, and molds in our bodies. Oregano oil is well known for its anti-inflammation properties which help to fight against unwanted problems in our system.

Studies have proved the key compounds of oregano oil which are thymol and carvacrol are best in controlling harmful microbes in our system. The benefits of oregano are limitless and far-reaching.

How oregano oil is used to cure Athletes foot

Before using oregano oil, it is advisable to seek professional advice from a certified health practitioner or your doctor. You will have to make sure you are not allergic to oregano oil. Oregano oil belongs to the Lameaceae plant family. If you are allergic to mint, sage, basil, marjoram, then there is a high probability you are allergic to oregano oil.

Pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid using oregano oil in any way especially internally. If you are dealing with diabetes oregano is not a suitable option for you as oregano reduces blood sugar levels.

If you are taking blood-thinning drugs or anticoagulants, then oregano oil should be avoided. Oregano oil is known to promote the free flow of blood which can cause bleeding if taking alongside a blood-thinning medication.

The Best way to use oregano oil for athlete’s foot

You can easily make your own anti-fungal cream to be used topically from the comfort of your home with oregano oil. This can be done by mixing 2-3 drops to a tablespoon of a carrier oil of your choice and apply 3-4 times daily on the affected area. This will help you get the best results.

For chronic, conditions oral antifungal intake may be required. You will have to take oregano oil orally by adding 2-3 drops of oregano in a glass of water and drink. You can also perform this mixture with any beverage of your choice as the taste of oregano oil is not attractive. You can take oregano oil internally for not more than 14 days.

You can best use oregano capsules for this purpose. You should not exceed more than 600mg of oregano a day.

Best prevention practices.

• By keeping your feet clean and dry; To prevent such fungal you will have to practice keeping your feets clean and dry at all possible times. It is important to use a soft shower brush or cloth to scrub the feet and wash in-between your toes when you take your shower. Always remember to dry your feet thoroughly after showering or swimming. Make sure your feet are dry even between your toes before putting on your socks and shoes.
• Wash with soap or shampoo after sports or exercise. We are most likely to pick up bacteria when our feet are sweaty.
• Change your socks once a day. It is important to note that cotton socks will absorb sweat and changing them every day will prevent you from athlete’s foot and any other related fungal infections
• Avoid wearing shoes for an entire day. Give your feet some time to breathe. Wear shoes that can allow some air to circulate. Avoid shoes made of materials such as vinyl as they can cause foot moisture. Try to sun your shoes when you can.
• Wear flip-flops in shared areas like the gym, public swimming pools, shower, and locker rooms. Wear footwear in gyms.
• Avoid sharing nail tools or disinfect before using them. This can include clippers, scissors.
• Avoid using other people’s sports gear, shoes, and towels.
• Try to use antifungal powders on the foot and in your shoes.
• You can also increase your chances of killing bacteria by washing your clothes with bleach and hot water.
• Treat allergies that affect the skin or which may cause skin dryness. A good example is an eczema or dermatitis
• Step up your immune system and eat healthy foods.

What is the fastest way to cure athlete’s foot naturally?

To cure athlete’s foot fast, you will have to start a viable treatment immediately and avoid any exposure to the fungal during your treatment. If you are using oregano oil for your treatment of athlete’s foot, use it as required above and take the oil internally for fast results.

Make sure the oregano oil you are using is a high therapeutic grade oregano oil produced by a reputable brand.

Using oregano oil internally and externally will destroy the bacteria inside out. Using oregano internally will strengthen your immune system and prevent it from unwanted bacteria.

You should always remember to soak and clean the affected area for about 10-30 minutes in warm water. You can crush 3-4 garlic cloves in the water and let it soak. Dry your feet thoroughly before applying your treatment (5). Wear open shoes to let your feet airy.

It is very important to be consistent with any fungal treatment, as they can be resistant and viral.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after every treatment. This will prevent you from touching any other area of the body and spreading the bacteria. Avoid touching plates and spoon until your hands are thoroughly clean and dry.

During treatment and for fast healing, try a full body detox and avoid processed foods that may contain sugar, refined grains, farm-raised meat, processed oils, fried foods, and alcohol. Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and drink a lot of water. Add probiotics in your meals and eat a lot of garlic.

Try to exercise regularly as it will help to improve your immune system, release stress, and better sleep. Enough rest and sleep also restore the body’s strength.

Follow the preventive measures listed above

Some questions asked about athlete’s foot

What can kill athlete’s foot?

First of all athlete’s foot is a fungal infection with viral characteristics, so what can kill athlete’s foot infections is an anti-fungal treatment with anti-viral properties. Many essential oils are anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, and anti-viral. A good example can be tea tree oil. Studies placed tea tree oil to contain antimicrobial properties and can fight against common skin conditions (5a). Other oils may include cinnamon oil and frankincense oil.

Garlic can also help to fight against athlete’s foot. Some studies suggest the use of garlic in treating bacterial and fungal conditions (6). Another study concluded that garlic contains anti-fungal characteristics (7).

Does coconut oil kill athlete’s foot?

Coconut oil can help to fight against athlete’s foot especially when used in combination with oregano oil. Coconut oil is known to possess anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal properties. The lauric acid found in oregano oil is very important in fighting microorganisms (8). The properties of coconut oil can also fight against staphylococcus aureus (9) and candida (10). One can safely conclude coconut oil can play a major role in fighting against athlete’s foot.

Does bleach kill Athlete’s foot?

A home bleach soak can help fight against athletes foot at the early stages. But you should be cautioned of the quantity of bleach to use as it can burn your feet if used in excess. You can prepare 1 tablespoon of bleach in half a gallon of water. This cannot be an effective method of treatment if you have to fight the fungal infection from within.

Does apple cider vinegar kill athlete’s foot?

Apple cider vinegar can also be used to treat athlete’s foot at the early stages as it is known to demonstrate anti-fungal, anti-microbial, and antiseptic properties. Apple cider can help to fight the irritating symptoms of athlete’s foot. Many people also use apple cider vinegar to treat toenail fungus and even plantar warts.

To use apple cider vinegar to treat athlete’s foot, you can simply take use container in which your feet can easily fit in it, fill in water until ankle level, add 3-5 cups of apple cider vinegar, you can also add about 2 tablespoons of epsom salt and place your foot in it for about 10-20 minutes. You can do this once every day. You can later apply, your oregano antifungal cream for fast results.

This treatment method may not be too effective if you are required to treat the bacteria from within your system and to boost the immune system.

What will happen if athlete’s foot is left untreated?

If athlete’s foot is left untreated it will be left with only one option to spread to other areas of the body which can lead to other forms of tinea pedis. First, it will affect the nails which will lead to a toenail fungus (11). They can go up to the groin causing tinea cruris or to the scalp causing tinea capitis. They can spread to the heels of the feet causing moccasin athlete’s foot.

It can also spread to the hands and other favorable parts of the body the fungal can survive.

EndNote

Using oregano essential oil for athlete’s foot is very effective but you have to make sure the oregano oil is high-quality and therapeutic grade oregano oil. You will have to be consistent with the treatment and try to prevent the fungal from gaining grounds. It is important to eat healthily and boost your immune system. Share your experience with using oregano oil so we can gather more information and learn from your experience.