Soothe the sores.
Use soothing compresses to cool the inflammation, ease the pain, lessen the itching, and dry the sores, says Dr. Hass. Dissolve one packet of Domeboro powder or 2 tablespoons Burow’s Solution (both available without a prescription) in 1 pint of cold water. Soak an untreated, white cotton cloth in the liquid and apply three or four times daily for 15 to 20 minutes.
Look for a (salty) solution.
Soak your foot in a mixture of 2 teaspoons salt per pint of warm water, says Toronto podiatrist Glenn Copeland, D.P. M. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes at a time, and repeat until the problem clears up. The saline solution helps provide an unappealing atmosphere for the fungus and lessens excess perspiration. What’s more, it softens the affected skin, so antifungal medications can penetrate deeper and act more effectively.
Medicate your foot.
Now’s the time to apply an over-the-counter antifungal medication. According to dermatologist Thomas Goodman, Jr., M.D., an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in Memphis, the three main types contain either miconazole nitrate (found in Micatin products, for example), tolnaftate (Aftate or Tinactin), or fatty acids (Desenex). ‘Iwo or three times a day; lightly apply one of them to the whole area involved and rub in gently. Continue for four weeks (or for two weeks after the problem seems gone).
Treat your little piggies.
For athlete’s foot between your toes, says Dr. Goodman, apply an aluminum-chloride solution. This clear liquid not only kills fungus but also helps to dry the area and discourage regrowth. Ask your pharmacist to make up a solution of 25 percent aluminum chloride in water. Use a cotton swab to apply the liquid between your toes two or three times a day. Continue for two weeks after the infection clears up. One caution, says Dr. Goodman, don’t use aluminum chloride on skin that is cracked or raw-it will sting like crazy. Heal the cracks first
with an antifungal agent.
Rub in baking soda.
For fungus on your feet, especially between the toes, apply a baking-soda paste, says Suzanne M. Levine, D.P. M., a clinical assistant podiatrist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and add a little lukewarm water. Rub that on the site of your fungus, then rinse and dry thoroughly. Finish off the treatment by dusting on cornstarch or powder.