Feet Naturally — natural steps, better health
The shelf
20
Kitchen staple

Vinegar

The cheapest effective antifungal there is

Vinegar — still life

Vinegar is dilute acetic acid, and acetic acid changes the pH of the skin surface. Fungi that cause athlete's foot and nail infection need a fairly narrow pH range to thrive; drop it and they struggle. That is the entire mechanism, and it is a good one — simple, cheap, and hard to get wrong.

Its second use is softening. The same acid that discourages fungus breaks down the keratin bonds in hard skin, which is why vinegar appears here for calluses and corns as well as infections. A vinegar soak before filing a callus does much of the work for you.

Apple cider vinegar and plain white vinegar both work. Apple cider is gentler and smells better; white is cheaper and slightly stronger.

How to use it

  1. 1

    Antifungal soak

    One part vinegar to two parts warm water. Twenty minutes daily. Dry completely afterwards — every crevice, especially between the toes.

  2. 2

    Callus and corn softening

    Soak in the same one-to-two solution for twenty minutes, then file gently with a pumice stone. Never cut. Repeat over several days rather than trying to remove it in one go.

  3. 3

    Nail treatment

    Equal parts vinegar and water, affected toes only, fifteen minutes twice daily. Months of consistency, as with every nail treatment.

Before you use it

  • Dilute it. Neat vinegar on skin for twenty minutes will irritate and can burn.
  • Stings badly on cracked skin — treat the cracks first.
  • Diabetics should not use acid soaks without medical advice.
  • Prolonged soaking softens skin generally, which is not always what you want. Twenty minutes is the limit.

Treats

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Feet Naturally

The original book this guide is built from — 30 common foot problems and the natural remedies for them.

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This is natural-care information for general guidance only — it is not medical advice. For severe, worsening, or diabetic foot problems, please see a doctor.