When it comes to home remedies for athlete’s foot, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing
A 45-year-old English woman suffering with a stubborn case of athlete’s foot read somewhere that garlic can help eliminate fungal infections. So, naturally enough, for the next four weeks she applied slices of raw garlic to the affected area for up to four hours a day. The result? A red, raw, scaly, and very painful foot. And the foot fungus? Still there.
After two weeks of medical treatment, the garlic burns finally healed
And then she was able to begin a successful course of standard treatment for athlete’s foot. But you really have to admire the woman’s steely tenacity. Not many folks would have continued to slap slabs of garlic on their feet for a month in the face of such negative results.
What is athlete’s foot?
You don’t have to be athletic to incur tinea pedis, the fungal infection commonly known as athlete’s foot. All it takes is contact with a damp floor in a communal environment, like a gym locker room, to contract the annoying fungus. The symptoms include flaking, itching, and cracks in the skin between the toes that can sting like a bee. The condition is persistent and will often reappear long after it has apparently been cured.
Does garlic really work as a home remedy for athlete’s foot?
A quick internet search reveals a multitude of more or less effective treatments for athlete’s foot, ranging from home remedies to medicines which require a doctor’s prescription. Guess what? Credible studies have shown that garlic can be one of the more effective common home remedies. A New York Times article suggests that garlic cloves that are finely crushed and steeped in water can offer a solution as an antifungal treatment.
Throughout history, garlic has been recognized for its antimicrobial properties. Recent studies have focused on a compound found in garlic known as ajoene. This substance does appear to be somewhat effective against the fungus that causes athlete’s foot. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the subjects that used a mild garlic solution on their athlete’s foot experienced a 100% cure rate, as compared to a 94% cure rate for Lamisil (one of the most popular over-the-counter ointments).
If fungus has penetrated the toenail, see a podiatrist
We suggest caution when exploring home remedies to treat any kind of foot fungus. If you’re about to try garlic as a remedy for athlete’s foot, check with your doctor. It will never be effective when the fungus has penetrated under a toenail. Podiatric intervention is always appropriate for severe and/or persistent cases of athlete’s foot.
Some final words on “Garlic Foot”
If you’re going to use garlic to treat your athlete’s foot, don’t count on complete social acceptance when barefoot in the park. On the other hand, (or foot in this case) you might be a little less vulnerable to attacks by werewolves. Your call.
If you’re suffering from any type of foot fungus, Dr. Bob Baravarian is here to help. As a nationally recognized podiatrist, he provides the most advanced foot and ankle care with some of the highest success rates in the nation and is a leader in the research and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions.
To schedule a consultation, please call (855) 557-5400 or make an appointment now.
Dr. Bob Baravarian is conveniently located in Los Angeles, near Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, providing expert foot and ankle care for patients throughout Southern California.
Read the full article at: www.livescience.com
