Use Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
The best way to do this is to use an unused toothbrush, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will be a 1:1 ratio.
Get about 4 tablespoons of baking soda and put it in the bowl and mix with about 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and add a splash of water.
Use the toothbrush and mix the ingredients. Then, use the toothbrush and scoop up some of the baking soda mixtures on the bottom and scrub in a circular motion on the shoes that need to be cleaned.
This needs to be a deep scrub. Start on the inside and make sure it is fully saturated, then go to the front, then to the sides, and then to the rest of the shoes.
Let sit for about 15 minutes and use ONLY hydrogen peroxide and water to clean the baking soda residue off of the shoes. Then let sit for another 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, get water and rinse off the shoes using the toothbrush to ensure they have no chemicals on them.
At this point, the shoes should be completely cleared of any fungal spores and they should be whiter too! This process can be done to clean dirty shoes, carpet stains, pet odors, teeth whitening, and more!
Foot Fungus Prevention Tips
Of course, bad habits that lead to foot fungal infections should be avoided. Decrease your chances of getting infected by following the tips below:
Wash your hands and feet regularly. Keep your nails short and dry.
Hygiene is the main emphasis here. Wash your hands and feet with soap and rinse thoroughly, including between the toes. Trim and file your nails.
Wear socks that absorb sweat.
Socks made from fabrics like wool and nylon are effective at wicking away moisture. Change your socks often if you have sweaty feet.
Get smart shoes.
Choose shoes that reduce humidity such as open-toe footwear. If possible, avoid wearing old shoes that harbor fungi and cause infections. Treat your footwear with disinfecting antifungal powders or sprays. Avoid tight shoes make sure your toes can wiggle around.
Do not walk barefoot in public areas.
Wear sandals or shoes around pools, showers, and locker rooms.
Choose a reputable nail salon.
Although it may seem expensive, dont forget that cheap is expensive. Make sure that the place where you get your pedicures sterilize their instruments. If possible, bring your tools and disinfect them. Also avoid artificial nails, because they trap unwanted moisture and cause infections.
Protect your nails and feet from trauma.
Trauma to your feet and toenails can provide an opening for fungi to enter. Be careful not to bump into things to avoid injuries to your feet.
Strengthen your immune system.
Watch for warning signs.
Preventing Fungal Skin Infections
Good hygiene practices can help reduce the risk of you getting a fungal infection and help stop it from recurring. Follow these good skin hygiene tips to help protect your skin against fungal infections:
Keep your skin clean and dry. As fungi thrive in warm and damp environments, keeping your skin clean and dry helps to keep the fungi under control. Make sure you wash regularly, especially after exercise and on hot days. After washing, dry yourself thoroughly, paying careful attention to the areas such as skin folds and in between your toes.
Wear clean clothes. Make sure you change out of sweat soaked clothes, socks and shoes immediately after exercise or on hot days as they are the perfect environment for fungi to thrive. The same is true for bedsheets which collect moisture as you sweat during the night change them regularly to prevent fungi from growing.
Dont share personal items like bedsheets, clothes and towels. As fungal skin infections are highly contagious its always best to use your own clothes, towels and personal items. Fungal spores are passed between people through direct skin contact and by sharing objects such as towels, hairbrushes and bedding.
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What If It Does Happen Again
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, a fungal infection can return. The good news is, you likely know what to look for in your nails by now, and catching it early will most likely mean a much easier and shorter treatment time than your first go.
Our treatments, including Lunula laser therapy, are ready for you when needed. We will be perfectly happy if we never have to use them for you again, however.
If you ever have any questions or suspicions regarding a potential fungal nail infection, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Call our Princeton office at or our Roselle Park office at . You also can consult our free downloadable guide on fungal nails for some more tips!
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Ask The Doctor: Athlete’s Foot That Won’t Quit
Q.I have been struggling with persistent athlete’s foot. I have tried several over-the-counter medications for several weeks without improvement. How can I rid myself of this rash.
A. Athlete’s foot, a common rash on the soles of the feet and in between toes, is caused by a skin fungus . The rash usually improves with use of antifungal creams and sprays for two to four weeks. If not, you have several options.
First, you might not actually have athlete’s foot. Other skin conditions, especially eczema and dry skin, can mimic the symptoms of athlete’s foot. Your doctor can confirm athlete’s foot by scraping a small bit of scale off the foot and examining it under a microscope.
If you do have the fungus, changing your socks frequently to keep your feet dry will improve the chance that over-the-counter remedies will work. If the rash persists despite your best efforts, talk to your doctor.
Trying a different antifungal cream may also be helpful. Some studies have reported that products containing terbinafine were more effective than those with clotrimazole and similar medications. Prescription oral medications may be required to treat more severe cases.
William Kormos, M.D.
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Toenail Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors
Toenail fungus is a fungal infection in the toenail. It happens when a fungus anything from mold to yeast to other types of fungus gets in the nail bed from a cut or break in the nail or repetitive trauma to the nail, and penetrates the nail itself, says Dr. Sundling. The nail then continues to grow with the fungus. Once a nail plate is infected with fungus, it will never not be infected, and you must wait to see how it grows out and whether the new nail growing behind it is healthy. The new nail rarely grows in healthy without treatment, says Sundling.
Toenail fungus is very common 14 percent of people have it in North America, according to an article published in the journal PLoS Pathogens and its more common the older you get, adds Sundling. Wearing shoes that are too small can damage the nail and make it more vulnerable to fungus, as can having a fungal infection on the skin of the foot and not treating it, which could expose the nail to fungus. You may be more at risk to toenail fungus if you have diabetes, or a weaker immune system.
Wash Your Socks Regularly
Wearing the same socks every day is also a major cause of fungus, so wash your socks daily as much as possible. Although we wear socks because they absorb moisture, but if you wear the same pair of socks frequently, they can cause problems for you and can be a major cause of the fungus.
If your shoes have already been infected with the fungus, you will need to be more careful. For this, you will have to wash your socks with disinfected soap and dry them in sunlight and after drying, store it in a dry place so that the fungus does not multiply after wearing the socks.
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Q: Why Should I Treat My Fungal Infection
People often ignore mild cases of fungal infections, which can turn out to be a big mistake. If treated immediately, there is a much higher success rate and a lower chance of the infection spreading to other nails. Keep in mind that toenail fungi spread quickly and can affect the entire foot in no time.
How Do I Know It Is Scalp Fungus
- The symptoms of scalp infections normally look like severe dandruff and may be mistaken for psoriasis. Make sure to get a diagnosis from a doctor before taking any medicine to treat a fungal infection the scalp.
- Scalp fungus causes hair loss in patches because it affects the hair fibers. Fungus can cause those hairs to break and fall out more easily than normal, leaving a bald patch of skin. It also contributes to hair loss by causing itchiness, which makes us scratch the scalp and worsen hair loss.
- Sometimes small blisters can develop on the skin.
- In serious cases, scalp fungus can cause big bumps or swellings in certain areas of the scalp. These can hurt and, if not treated, can cause permanent hair loss and scars.
- In case of a very severe infection, a fever and swollen glands may also develop
- Still in doubt? Search online for some scalp fungus pictures to get an idea of what scalp infections look like. Compare your scalp to the scalp fungus pictures to see if it looks similar. Again, itâs important to get a firm diagnosis from a doctor before beginning a scalp fungus treatment regimen that involves medicine.
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How Can I Treat My Dogs Toenail Fungus
The use of topical ointments is one of the most effective ways to treat dog nail infections. These ointments are rubbed on the affected nails and you should follow the method demonstrated by the vet to apply them.
Alternatively, Epsom salt is also quite beneficial for treating a dogs toenail fungus. Dissolve one tablespoon of this salt in 4 cups of water to make a solution. Soak the paw of your pup in this solution for 10-15 minutes and then dry it thoroughly. Epsom salt is not only useful against fungus, but it also cures any kind of sore caused by the infection.
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How Can You Get Rid Of Sores Between Your Toes
Depending on the cause, sores between toes can be treated using antifungal medication or antibiotics, according to WebMD. Keeping the area between the toes clean and dry also helps the recovery process.
Sores between toes can be caused by fungal infections such as athletes foot, bacterial infections such as erythrasma, or blisters, according to WebMD, Merck Manual and MedicineNet.
Athletes foot is a very common cause of sores between toes, states WebMD. As athletes foot is a fungal infection, it is treated using topical antifungal medication applied directly between the toes. More severe cases are treated using oral drugs. The foot, and especially the area between the toes, should be kept clean and dry to discourage the fungus from spreading.
Various types of bacterial infection, especially erythrasma, can sometimes be mistaken for athletes foot as the cause of sores between toes, according to About.com. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics such as erythromycin or tetracycline, and cannot be treated with antifungal medication unless there are fungal-related complications, according to Merck Manual. Antibacterial soaps also help to reduce the sores, and topical versions of erythromycin and clindamycin are also effective.
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Ways To Get Rid Of Stinky Feet
You cant completely get rid of the bacteria and fungi that live on your skin. But you can keep their numbers down. The fewer bacteria and fungi you have on your skin, the less smelly your feet will be.
Keeping your feet as dry as possible is key. Less sweat means less bacteria and fungi growth.
Heres 10 other things that can help get rid of stinky feet:
Wash and dry your feet. Wash your feet with mild soap and lukewarm water at least once a day. And make sure to completely dry them afterward, including between your toes.
Go barefoot at home. This includes sleeping without socks, which will keep your feet cooler and prevent sweat from being trapped against the skin.
Wear shoes in public and communal places. This includes places like public showers and gyms. Wearing shoes will protect you from extra bacteria and fungus.
Try a foot antiperspirant. You can use regular antiperspirant on your feet, but you might have better luck with a prescription strength antiperspirant that contains 20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate
Use essential oil on your feet. Put a few drops of an essential oil containing lemongrass or thyme on your feet. These oils can decrease the amount of bacteria.
Try a foot soak made from Epsom salt or vinegar. If you try a soak with vinegar, the recipe is 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar. You can soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes once a week. Just make sure you dont have any open sores.
Q: What Are The Symptoms Of Toenail Fungus
1. The affected nail turns white-yellow or yellow-brown and the nail may thicken.2. A crust develops and the surrounding area may become red and swollen, causing discomfort.3. The nail becomes pitted and misshapen with grooves or ridges.4. Thickening, discoloration, and irregularities are present in the nail.
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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot usually causes redness, flakiness, peeling, or cracking of the skin on the feet. It may itch, sting, or burn, or simply feel uncomfortable.
It’s usually on the soles of the feet, the areas between the toes, and sometimes the toenails. When the toenails are involved they become thick, white or yellowish, and brittle.
How Long Does It Take For A Yeast Infection To Go Away
How long it takes to treat a yeast infection on your dogs paw depends on the infection itself. If its a mild infection that you caught early, it can sometimes clear up in a matter of days. More severe infections can take weeks to heal fully.
Keep treating a yeast infection until all the symptoms are gone. This type of fungus can regenerate quickly. If its not fully treated, it can come back, and youll have to start the treatment process all over again.
As we talked about earlier, some dogs are more prone to recurring yeast infections. But, the rules still apply. Treating it earlier rather than later can help it to go away faster. You can also use some of the preventative measures listed here to lessen the frequency of the infections.
If your dog has open sores on their paws and develops another kind of infection, it may take longer for everything to heal up completely. If possible, its best not to let the infection get that far.
Its not uncommon for dogs to get yeast infections. The paws are a huge target because they can get dirty easily and harbor a lot of moisture if your dog tends to sweat quite a bit. While yeast infections on the paws arent completely preventable, they are manageable.
The best thing you can do as a dog owner is to pay attention to the signs. Recognizing early symptoms can make this kind of infection much easier to treat. If you have a breed that is more susceptible to yeast infections, its important to pay even closer attention to their feet.
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Healthy Foods That Are High In Iron
Iron is a mineral that serves several important functions, its main one being to carry oxygen throughout your body as a part of red blood cells .
Its an essential nutrient, meaning you must get it from food. The Daily Value is 18 mg.
Interestingly, the amount of iron your body absorbs is partly based on how much you have stored.
A deficiency can occur if your intake is too low to replace the amount you lose every day .
Iron deficiency can cause anemia and lead to symptoms like fatigue. Menstruating women who dont consume iron-rich foods are at a particularly high risk of deficiency.
Luckily, there are plenty of good food choices to help you meet your dailyiron needs.
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There Is A Wide Range Of Options With Varying Success Rates
Other than keeping your toenails trimmed and perhaps painted, you may not pay much attention to them unless a problem develops. Healthy toenails are pink, shiny and smooth, but a fungal infection can cause them to become discolored, thick, brittle and even painful.
Toenail fungal infection, known as onychomycosis, is a common but challenging condition toenail fungus treatments include a wide range of options with varying success rates.
Causes of toenail fungus
Fungal nail infections are usually caused by fungi called dermatophytes that infect the skin beneath the nail yeast is another common culprit. Toenails are especially vulnerable to infection when your bare feet contact damp surfaces such as showers, swimming pools and locker rooms. If you have athletes foot, the infection can spread to the nails.
Wearing closed shoes such as athletic shoes for extended periods also can contribute to infection if your shoes and/or socks are damp from perspiration or heat. Moreover, if your shoes fit snugly enough to put pressure on your toes, they can damage the nail bed, making it more susceptible to infection.
People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes or circulatory problems, also may be more prone to toenail infections.
Symptoms of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus symptoms can develop slowly over time and may go unnoticed at first. Symptoms can include:
Toenail fungus treatments
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