Athlete’s Foot/Tinea

Tinea is a highly infectious fungal disease, characterized by itching, red, scaly skin between the afflicted toes.  Tinea will not heal without intervention.  There are several forms of tinea, but the most common form is athlete’s foot (tinea pedis, which affects the toes).

Athlete’s foot affects approximately 10% of the population at any given time and affects approximately 75% of the population at some stage of their lives.  Men aged 25 - 54 have a higher incidence of athlete’s food than the rest of the population.

The following are suggested therapies that may treat tinea:

Tea Tree Oil:

Rationale:

Tea tree oil (applied topically) alleviates the symptoms (especially the itching) of athlete’s foot, however it must be kept in mind that tea tree oil is incapable of killing the underlying fungus.  In one recent clinical trial, a cream containing 10% tea tree oil was compared with a cream containing 1% tolnaftate (a common pharmaceutical treatment for athlete’s foot) and a placebo.  Tea tree oil was found to reduce the symptoms (scaling, inflammation, burning and itching) of athlete’s foot in a higher percentage of subjects than either the placebo cream or tolnaftate.

Dosage:

Apply cream containing at least 10% tea tree oil directly to the affected regions twice per day.  Alternatively, pure tea tree oil can be used.

Grapefruit Seed Extract:

Rationale:

Grapefruit seed extract applied topically has been found to kill the fungi that causes athlete’s foot.

Dosage:

Grapefruit seed extract liquid or powder is applied topically to the site of the infection twice per day.

Propolis:

Rationale:

Propolis has been demonstrated to be considerably more effective against Trichophyton fungi (responsible for many cases of athlete’s foot) than the standard anti-fungal pharmaceutical, griseofulvin.

Dosage:

Propolis-containing cream or propolis tincture is applied topically to the region of the skin that is affected by athlete’s foot.

Aloe vera:

Rationale:

Topically applied Aloe vera gel helps to kill the fungus that causes tinea.

Dosage:

Aloe vera gel is applied topically to the affected area four times per day.  Best results are obtained when the gel contains at least 85% Aloe vera.

Vitamin C:

Rationale:

Topical application of vitamin C powder is claimed to help to kill the fungus that causes tinea.  This aspect of vitamin C has not yet been tested in scientific studies.

Dosage:

Vitamin C powder is applied topically to the region of the skin that is affected by tinea.

Calendula:

Rationale:

There are anecdotal reports that topical application of calendula helps to cure tinea.

Dosage:

Calendula ointment is applied topically to the region of the skin that is affected by tinea.

Beneficial Bacteria (Probiotics):

Rationale:

There are preliminary reports that topical application of Lactobacillus acidophilus (the most well-known strain of beneficial bacteria) kills the fungi that cause tinea.

Dosage:

Lactobacillus acidophilus powder is applied topically to the region of the skin that is affected by tinea.

Neem:

Rationale:

Topical application of neem oil to the affected regions alleviates athlete’s foot by suppressing or killing the fungi that cause tinea.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that topical application of neem oil results in total elimination of tinea in 75% of tinea patients within three days.

Dosage:

Neem oil is applied topically to the affected regions of the skin several times per day for at least three days.

Oregano Oil:

Rationale:

There are anecdotal reports that topical application of oregano oil alleviates athlete’s foot (by killing or suppressing the toxic fungi that cause athlete’s foot).  This claim has not yet been tested in scientific studies.

Dosage:

A few drops of oregano oil are diluted in a carrier oil and applied topically to the skin at the site of the athlete’s foot infection.

Lactoferrin:

Rationale:

Lactoferrin is one of the only oral treatments that are effective against athlete’s foot.  In a clinical study, eight weeks’ treatment with 600 mg of lactoferrin per day was found to significantly reduce the severity of athlete’s foot, although it did not totally eliminate the toxic fungi that cause athlete’s foot.

Dosage:

200 - 600 mg per night.

Lactoferrin supplements are usually taken at night.

Lifestyle Changes to Assist the Prevention/Treatment of Athlete’s Foot

Hygiene:

The most important preventative measure you can use against tinea is to keep your feet dry as much as possible.  The feet/toes should be thoroughly dried after bathing or showering.  Some people use a hair dryer to ensure that this region is properly dried.  Socks should be changed daily to minimize contact with the fungus that causes athlete’s foot.

Sunlight:

Wearing open sandals during warmer weather can increase sunlight exposure of the feet.  Sunlight exposure helps to kill the fungus that causes athlete’s foot.

References

Aloe vera

· Zimmerman, S. R.  Effect of aloe vera gel on mycotic organisms [unpublished].  1970.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

· Sachs, Allan, D.C., C.C.N.  The Authoritative Guide to Grapefruit Seed Extract.  Life Rhythm, Mendocino, California, USA, 1997:75-76.

Lactoferrin

· Yamauchi, K., et al.  Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin for treatment of tinea pedis.  A placebo-controlled, double blind study.  Mycoses.  43(5):197-202, 2000.

Neem

· Singh, N., et al.  Clinical evaluation of anthelmintic activity of Melia azadirachta.  Antiseptic.  77:739-741, 1980.

Oregano Oil

· Terhanian, H.  Bactericidal oregano oil.  Well Being Journal.  9(1):18-20, 2000.

Propolis

· Bone, K.  Propolis:  a natural antibiotic.  Mediherb Newsletter.  December 1998:1-2.

Tea Tree Oil

· Satchell, A. C., et al.  Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study.  Australasian Journal of Dermatology.  43(3):175-178, 2002.

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