Can soaking feet in white vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Written by Liu Jing
Dermatology
Updated on April 17, 2025
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Using white vinegar for foot soaking is not a treatment for athlete's foot, which is an infection caused by dermatophyte fungus, commonly known as tinea pedis. Standard and effective antifungal treatments are required. It is necessary to enhance foot hygiene, frequently change socks and shoes, keep the feet dry and ventilated, and use antifungal medications such as oral terbinafine hydrochloride tablets. Apply antifungal creams like luliconazole cream and miconazole cream to the affected areas. Adequate dosage and course of treatment are needed to prevent the recurrence of symptoms, often requiring continuous application for more than three weeks. Athlete’s foot is prone to occur in summer as fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. Therefore, cleanliness is considered a fundamental caregiving measure. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Will having athlete's foot cause an infection during a water birth?

Giving birth in water does not increase the risk of infection; in fact, the rate of newborns carrying bacteria significantly decreases when birth occurs in water. The reason is that water can wash off the bacteria on the baby's body, and the birth takes place in a special tub where the water is flowing and free of bacteria. Before the birth, the doctor will disinfect the mother. In current practices, liquids are generally used to inhibit the growth of pathogens, so infections like athlete's foot are generally not caused during childbirth.

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Can soaking feet in vinegar cure athlete's foot?

Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a condition caused by skin fungal infections affecting the superficial layers of the skin on the feet. For treatment, one can opt for antifungal ointments, and when necessary, oral antifungal medications, which are very effective in killing fungi. However, using home remedies like soaking feet in white vinegar, salt water, or applying garlic locally is not advisable. These do not effectively kill the bacteria and can instead damage the skin barrier and irritate the skin, potentially causing symptoms such as redness, flaking, and itchy sensitivity. If the concentration of vinegar is too low, it is ineffective; if too high, it can be intolerable for the skin. Therefore, if you have athlete's foot, it is best to opt for proper antifungal medications and ensure treatment for a sufficient duration.

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The difference between athlete's foot and foot odor

Athlete's foot and tinea pedis are two completely identical diseases, with no differences between them, differing only in what they are called. Athlete's foot, also known as tinea pedis, is a common skin disease caused by fungal infections. Symptoms of athlete's foot include flaking, peeling, itching, and blisters. It is advisable to treat it with antifungal creams, and to maintain cleanliness, keep the feet dry, and avoid sharing shoes and socks.

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Can water blister type athlete's foot be punctured?

For vesicular athlete's foot, if blisters appear, it is advised not to puncture them because the blisters contain fungi. Puncturing them can cause the infection to spread to others. Additionally, once the blisters are broken, it is more susceptible to secondary bacterial infections, resulting in a combined fungal and bacterial infection. If vesicular athlete's foot occurs, it is crucial to promptly treat it with antifungal cream.

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Is infant thrush related to athlete's foot?

Infant thrush and athlete's foot are not highly related. Thrush is an oral infectious disease caused by Candida albicans infection, while athlete's foot is a local superficial skin fungal infection caused by fungi such as Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The pathogens of the two are different and are not related. Thrush is a common oral infectious disease in infants and young children, mostly due to poor immune function in children, lack of oral hygiene, incomplete sterilization of bottles and pacifiers, or contact with children suffering from thrush.