It’s that time of year again (at least in my neck of the woods!) The temperatures are rising, feet are sweating, and foot fungus rages out of control.
Thankfully, I do not battle this issue personally. However, I know many people who do and they dread the sweaty days of summer.
Athlete’s foot is an infection also called tinea pedis, caused when various types of fungus invade the skin. It usually occurs between the toes but can also occur on the bottom and sides of the feet and is highly contagious. It can spread to other parts of the body (most notably under the arms and under the breasts) and can affect your toenails. Athlete’s foot usually causes itching, stinging, redness, flaky skin, and burning.
It is VERY important to not allow your foot fungus to get out of control. The more you let it go, the worse it will be to reign it back in. So what is a natural minded person to do?
Coconut Oil For Athlete’s Foot
Quick disclaimer – I am required to clearly state that I am not a licensed medical professional nor do I pretend to be one on this site. Take what I write as a launching off point to do your own research. My advice, experience, and suggestions are not to be considered medical advice.
Coconut oil is known to have powerful anti-fungal properties. These properties are due largely to the presence of lauric acid. Your body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which has been shown to control the activity of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Coconut oil has been proven effective in killing the tinea pedis fungus and at reducing the scaly, red rash caused by the fungus.
In addition to fighting back against unwanted fungi, coconut oil provides a layer of protection for the skin. It is an effective and deeply nourishing moisturizer that can replace other foot lotions permanently. Coconut oil and for athlete’s foot is truly the way to go!
There are two ways to use coconut oil for Athlete’s Foot.
First up – the therapeutic treatment. If you are suffering from a flare up, you want to bring out the big guns! Mix two tablespoons of coconut oil along with 10 drops of oregano oil, tea tree oil, garlic oil, clove oil, and/or peppermint oil. These essential oils all have incredibly powerful antifungal properties in their own right. Massage this blend into feet (making sure to get in between the toes) 2-4 times per day. The more intense the fungus, the more you need to apply the coconut oil blend.
Second up – maintenance mode. If there is not an active flare up, all you need to do is rub coconut oil into your feet one to two times per day, especially after bathing. No need for the other essential oils.
Consuming a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil daily is a great way to potentially prevent athlete’s foot from returning in the future.
Are you looking to add additional support in your fight against Athlete’s Foot?
In addition to coconut oil for athlete’s foot, there are a couple other natural things to add to your regime.
Acidophilus powder is a potent probiotic powder which creates an environment in which funguses are unable to thrive. Sprinkle a small amount between toes and into socks twice daily. This is good to do between the times you are applying the coconut oil blend. You want your feet to be clean and dry.
Apple Cider Vinegar changes the pH of the skin creating an environment in which the fungus cannot thrive. It can be applied to infected areas using balls of cotton or can be added to a bowl of water and used as a foot bath. One part warm water to one part apple cider vinegar is most effective.
And there you have it! Easy ways to combat Athlete’s Foot!
Want to know which brands of coconut oil I use and love? Check these brands out!
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Sources for this article include:
David says
Thank you fur the article definitely going to go get the other ingredients, I’ve been battling athletes foot for 20 years, I believe it’s Candida, I like wearing Socks but I knew I have to let my feet breath more & fight the infection internally & externally!
BR says
Would this work for toenail fungus as well?
Jennifer says
Absolutely!!! Coconut oil with tea tree oil is very effective at combating toenail fungus!
brie says
not if you are a chronic case.
Ivy says
What about stinky feet?
Jennifer says
Got you covered! https://hybridrastamama.com/foot-deodorant-and-shoe-odor-remover
Danielle says
I’ve found that garlic, sliced up and placed on the feet, can also get rid of athlete’s foot or ringworm.
grace says
for how long and how many times?
Will says
I have had chronic athlete’s foot on and off for my whole life pretty much. (Oddly just my right foot.) Just started rubbing oil on my feet every morning before putting my socks on and it has worked great. It is actually improving my toe nail fungus as well. It doesn’t eliminate either one, but substantially reduces the symptoms and outbreaks. It is so simple and comparatively inexpensive to do this. Vinegar foot baths have also been good, but it takes longer and is more expensive with all the vinegar you use. It is not a practical solution for ongoing prevention IMHO.
Only have been putting it on in the morning after shower, but before bed is good too depending on whether you feel any itch when going to bed at night.
It is definitely true that the trick is keeping it in check. I will always need to do something preventative, but keeping it away is easier than taming a full blown outbreak. This solution costs pennies a day. (You could easily go several months with one container of coconut oil.)
Gwen says
Thank you for this info! For the first time in my life I’ve got a raging case of AF on my right foot, have no idea how it started. First I tried all the OTC creams, sprays & powders, but nothing helped. Then read about apple cider vinegar, and that did wonders for soothing the itching! I mixed 2 parts water to 1 part ACV and apply with cotton balls, or spray it directly on a few times a day. It’s working great, but I noticed that the patches of AF are now starting to get very dry and tight, feels like they might crack open if I move my foot wrong. Very uncomfortable to say the least. I was trying to figure out what kind of moisturizer might help without feeding the fungus and making it worse. Being a huge coconut oil fan, I decided to search for info and I’m so thrilled to know it helps athlete’s foot. I’m still going to use the vinegar but in between I’ll be slathering a ton of coconut oil on to help keep the skin soft and comfortable while it heals. Thank you again!
Juanita Pierce says
Hi Jennifer,
Fantastic and very valuable article……it never ceases to amaze me the qualities of Coconut Oil!!!
My questions are as follows…..
I’ve always wondered what is the correct way to store coconut oil to preserve it’s potency…..or is that even a concern?
I’ve been desperately looking for a treatment for whatever is causing this burning itch under my boobs…..how would I use the CO there?
Thank You
P.S.
I’m so glad that I’ve found you
Jennifer says
Hi Juanita! Coconut oil should be stored with a tight fitting lid. You don’t want moisture getting in to it. Otherwise, you can put it anywhere to store it. It does not need to be temperature regulated.
The boob itch sounds like yeast overgrowth and YES, coconut oil will help immensely. If you have tea tree oil, mix a drop of that in with the CO before applying. Works wonders!
Kayla says
Hi Jennifer,
I was wondering if you could treat
Ring worm the same way as AF?
Love this site very helpful
Thank you!
Jennifer says
Absolutely! I do know that many people have had great success using Tea Tree Oil along with coconut oil to clear up ringworm. It is slightly different that AF but works in the same way in the body. So yes, give these ideas a try!
grace says
for the flare ups, do you have to use all those oils or just one of those oils with coconut oil?
Rosie S says
Was that 10 drops of each of the essential oils?
Jennifer says
Sorry for the confusion Rosie! 10 drops TOTAL of whichever oils you select.
Alison says
10 drops of oil to what amount of coconut oil?
Jennifer says
Sorry if it wasn’t clear Alison! You will want to use 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. 🙂
Mar says
You were clear. People just don’t bother reading.
Lori says
I passed this along to my husband who battles athlete’s foot from wearing boots all day in hot weather (he’s a construction superintendent).
Thank you!
Jennifer says
You are most welcome!
Christina says
Hello! Tea Tree oil burns my feet badly. Can I just use the coconut oil by itself? It might take longer? Thank you for your reply. My feet keep me from sleeping at night due to the burning and prickly feelings. I actually have to strap ice pads to both feet to calm them down. sigh.
Jennifer says
So sorry to hear this! My boyfriend has the same issue with TTO. Yes, just use the coconut oil by itself. If you are not seeing improvement let me know and I can suggest some other oils to use as well.
becky says
I’ve never heard of using coconut oil for this condition, but it’s very useful for tons of other problems. I’m gonna give it a try.
Kathy says
What kind of oil? The one used for cooking, fractionated, ?????
Jennifer says
Ideally not fractionated. Virgin coconut oil would be best.