Hydrogen peroxide for athlete’s foot is one of the most common home remedies for this infection. It is also a common household disinfectant, exploited to clean minor cuts and scratches and to disinfect cooking items. Thus, it makes sense that it is used for fungus treatment. This post will discuss the use of hydrogen peroxide as a home remedy for athlete’s foot and fungal infections of the feet, and also explain various alternatives that can be used similarly.
Is it safe to soak feet in hydrogen peroxide?
Hydrogen peroxide foot soak for athlete’s foot
Hydrogen peroxide foot bath is suitable for your feet and will get rid of viruses and bacteria on your feet.
How to use hydrogen peroxide foot soak detox?
For a healthy foot, add some hydrogen peroxide to hot water. You can also put some salt and or a few drops of two essential oil to make the mixture smell well. Put a couple of cus of 3 percent peroxide into a foot tub full of hot water. To make one percent peroxide, use 1 cup part of 3% peroxide and two parts water.
Hydrogen peroxide athlete’s foot soak
If you are attempting to treat athlete’s foot or ongoing fungal infection, soak your feet in 3% hydrogen peroxide, the mixture will get weaker over time, so you should not use it again. (Killing virus and bacterias makes hydrogen peroxide weak. Also, avoid exposing it to light as it breaks faster in light).
You may also opt to spray the athlete’s foot and toes with 3% hydrogen peroxide. Then let your feet air dry. And do not moisturize them. Soak your bathing products in hydrogen peroxide while your feet air-dry. That includes the pumice stone, nail brush, and the bathing towel. Soaking these products in hydrogen peroxide helps to clean and sanitize them. Use them to clean your feet in the next session then put them back into 3% hydrogen peroxide, an soak for an hour or overnight.
Cleaning your shoes and your shower with peroxide
If you have athlete’s foot or any other form of foot fungus, it is essential to spray the bottom of your shower to reduce the virus and bacteria in the shower. You will also minimize the chances of reinfection. Athlete’s foot virus thrive well in a wet and warm environment such as shoes. Thus you have to spray the inside of your shoes with 3% hydrogen peroxide once in a while. Soaking your shoes in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water can also help. Alternatively, you can soak your shoes in a mix of sodium percarbonate and water. This will vigorously clean and disinfect them. Be cautious if your shoes are leather as water or any other liquid can easily damage them, So do not soak leather shoes. You can also spray smelly feet with 3% hydrogen peroxide daily to reduce the bacteria on your feet.
Cautions to take when using hydrogen peroxide foot soak
- Avoid using hydrogen peroxide if you have cuts or blisters on your feet
- If your skin reacts with hydrogen peroxide or it feels so strong, you can dilute it or try another treatment
- Materials that are destroyed by water, including leather, should not be wet with hydrogen peroxide as it can damage them.
Soak feet in hydrogen peroxide and vinegar
Vinegar is an acidic solution that helps restore the skin PH and relieve itching. These properties help the liquid build an unfavorable environment for the fungi to breed in, getting rid of the infection. Apple cider vinegar helps minimize swelling, reducing the pain caused by nail fungus.
Both hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are active disinfected agents. It is therefore essential not to use them combined. Instead of alternate between using hydrogen peroxide one day, and vinegar the next day. Mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar creates peracetic acid. This is more likely to happen in a closed container, but under the right conditions, it might happen when putting them together in an open container.
Peracetic acid is highly corrosive, and it is a primary irritant. The acid can permanently damage the lungs or cause occupational asthma. The acid can also have other chemical properties depending on the concentration that make it very dangerous in different ways as well.
How to treat athlete’s foot with hydrogen peroxide and vinegar foot soaks?
Method one
For this remedy, you will use 5% vinegar, and 2% hydrogen peroxide soaks. The soaks should last for about five minutes on alternate days for about three weeks. Dilute the 3% hydrogen peroxide to 2% or 1% by adding water. This will help to make the hydrogen peroxide solution slightly less caustic on the exposed skin. If the athlete’s foot has spread to the toes, press on the toenail, then release it, and repeat that for a few times while you are soaking the affected foot. This will ensure that the mixture into every region that is infected.
Method two
1. Combine equal parts of the hydrogen peroxide and distilled water in the plastic tub.
2. Make sure that you are not using anything stronger than a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution, or it may destroy your skin.
3. On day one soak the nails that have been affected by the fungus in this solution.
4. Wait for 10 minutes.
5. Dry your nails with a clean towel
6. Make sure that your nails and toes are completely dry before you cover them.
7. On day 2, follow the same procedure using equal amounts of vinegar and distilled water.
8. Keep alternating in between hydrogen peroxide and vinegar until the problem subsides.
You will have to repeat this procedure daily until, and even after, the problem subsides. Getting rid of nail fungus is not easy and will take a lot of patience and effort.
Will hydrogen peroxide get rid of toenail fungus?
Hydrogen peroxide for nail fungus
Nail fungus can be challenging to treat. Primarily dealing with the yellow spot- where the athlete's foot spread from to your nail. If not treated on time it can escalate to the entire nail, thicken it and even crack it causing pain and tenderness. Thankfully you can use hydrogen peroxide to treat toenail fungus using the guide below.
How to use hydrogen peroxide to treat nail fungus?
Soak your feet in hydrogen peroxide.
You will need the following ingredients:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- Distilled or tap water
- Bathing tub, bowl or basin
- Tissues
- The soak will take thirty minutes.
Follow the following procedure
1. Combine equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water in the tub. Do not use hydrogen peroxide stronger than 3% as it might damage your skin.
2. Soak the foot which is affected by the fungus in the solution and wait for about thirty minutes.
3. Dry your nails with a dry tissue or towel. Dispose of the tissue after use. If you used a towel soak it in a new hydrogen peroxide solution and clean it.
4. Ensure your nails are dry before you cover them. Before the procedure, you might want to trim the affected nail so that the solution can be able to penetrate the affected areas.
5. Repeat this procedure every day until and after the infection goes away. Beware that treating fungus is not easy and can take time and effort to go away completely.
Hydrogen peroxide foot soak works on fungal infection toenail since the oxygen levels increase destroys the fungus on the nails.
Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide for nail fungus
You will need the following ingredients:
- 3% hydrogen peroxide
- White vinegar/apple cider vinegar
- Distilled water or tap water
- Tissues or clean towel
Note that in this section it is recommended you use method two since combining the two acids to treat fungal infection since they form peracetic acid as discussed in section one which does not share desired properties to treat nail fungus. Note that method one will last for one to ten minutes while method two will last for two to thirty minutes.
Method 1
Step 1: Mix equal parts of the hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, and vinegar in the plastic tub
Step 2: Make sure that you are using hydrogen peroxide which is 3% or less, as higher than that will damage the skin.
Step 3:Soak the nails which have been affected by the fungus in the solution and wait for about ten minutes.
Step 4: Dry your nails with a dry tissue or dry towel. Dispose of the fabric after use.
Step 5: Once you have completely dried your nails cover them.
Method 2
Step 1: Combine equal parts of the hydrogen peroxide and water in the bowl
Step 2: Follow the steps in method one
On the second day following the same procedures using equal amounts of vinegar and distilled water. Keep alternating between hydrogen peroxide and vinegar. Repeat the procedure until the fungal infection is over.
Vinegar works best on fungal toenail since it is an acidic solution which aids relieve itching and reinstates the PH balance of your skin and nails. These features help the acid create a bad environment for the fungus to thrive in, killing off the infection. The acid also helps minimize inflammation, and the pain caused by nail fungus.
Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for nail fungus
The following are the ingredients you will need for this remedy:
- One cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide
- A quarter cup of white vinegar
- Four cups warm water
- Half a cup of Epsom salt
- Plastic tub, bowl or basin
- Tissues or a clean towel
Procedure
Step 1: Mix the baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and Epsom salt and water in a plastic tub until they are well combined.
Step 2: Similar to the other methods ensure the hydrogen peroxide is 3% strong or less.
Step 3: Soak the nails which have been affected by the fungus in this solution and wait for about 10 minutes.
Step 4: Dry your nails and cover them. Repeat the procedure daily until the infection goes away completely.
Baking soda has antifungal properties which can aid in preventing the growth of fungus. This solution helps to balance your skin PH levels while killing off the fungus.
Tips for treating and preventing athlete’s foot and nail fungus
- Always wash and disinfect all of your shoes and socks
- Disinfect your nail and feet products with hot water and alcohol
- Keep your feet covered while you are outside
- Keep nails short and clean
- Always dry your feet and hands well after washing them
- Spray your gloves and shoes with anti-fungal sprays frequently
- Always dry your shoes and socks thoroughly. Moisture creates a breeding ground for fungus
What are the possible side effects of hydrogen peroxide for fungus treatment?
Just like any other medicine hydrogen peroxide has the good and the bad side. If you notice any of the side effects discussed below dilute the solution further or stop using it.
- Hydrogen peroxide can irritate your skin causing redness, stinging and mild itching
- Note that hydrogen peroxide can dry out your skin and cause cracked feet
- The acid could also make your skin peel
