Cornmeal for Foot Fungus | Foot Fungus Remedies

Before using cornmeal to treat your foot fungus, check out this article to find out whether cornmeal for foot fungus works or not!

Cornmeal is a coarse flour made from either dried yellow or white dent corn. Besides its culinary usage, cornmeal is also a popular home remedy for foot fungus. That’s why if you too want to try this hack, read this article first to know the efficacy of cornmeal for foot fungus, what foot fungus is, its symptoms, and some prevention tips to stop its reoccurrence.

What Is Foot Fungus and Symptoms?

Foot fungus, a discomforting and aesthetically unpleasing superficial fungal infection that affects the nails and skin of the foot. There are two types of foot fungus, i.e., Onychomycosis and Athlete’s foot/foot ringworm; both are highly contagious and have different symptoms.

Onychomycosis (Fungal infection of nails)

• Nails look warped and discolored
• Fetid odor from nails
• Nails surface feel dry and gritty
• Crumbled, ragged, and weak toenails

Foot Ringworm (Fungal skin infection of feet or toes)

• Raw and dry skin on the sides of your feet
• Itching, burning, chapping skin, and scaly red rash among the toes
• Painful blisters on the foot

What Causes Foot Fungus?

The causes of both types of foot fungus are:

Athlete’s Foot- This condition is caused by the dermatophyte fungi, namely, T. rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and T. interdigitale. However, there is a non-dermatophyte fungus named Tricholosporum violaceum, which is also responsible for the athlete’s foot.

Onychomycosis- The real culprits behind onychomycosis are Trichophyton rubrum, T. interdigitale, Candida albicans, and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis. These are dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds.

Who Gets Foot Fungus?

Below are some factors that increase your chances of getting foot fungus:

• Compromised immune system
• Exposure to water for a longer time
• Going public places barefoot
• Using towels, shoes, socks, and nail styling equipment of an infected person
• Immune suppressing medications
• Spending time in a warm and humid environment
• Excessive sweating
• Wearing ill-fitted shoes
• Using poorly ventilated socks and shoes
• Old age
• Nail injury
• Diabetes

Cornmeal for Foot Fungus

There is no scientific research available proving the efficacy of cornmeal against foot fungus. Although, surprisingly, there are lots of anecdotal evidence on the internet recommending cornmeal as an effective foot fungus in-home treatment. As clinical studies are lacking in this regard, it’s best to avoid this remedy. But if you still want to give it a try, combine two cups of cornmeal and four quarts of warm (not hot) water into an empty container and leave it for an hour. After that, soak your problematic feet into the mix for an hour. Once it’s done, clean your feet with tepid water and pat dry with a towel.

Other Natural Home Remedies to Kill Foot Fungus

As cornmeal is not a scientifically proven sure shot way to kill foot fungus, you can use the below inexpensive home remedies to get rid of this pesky condition.

• Coconut oil- Thanks to its anti-fungal and anti-bacterial values, coconut oil is the go-to product to eliminate an athlete’s foot. Read more here.
• Vicks VapoRub- Say goodbye to the annoying onychomycosis with this Vicks VapoRub hack. It’s a potent and super economical remedy against toenail fungus.
• Snakeroot extract- Another natural and safe-to-use home remedy to tackle foot fungus is snakeroot extract. Read the how-to here.
• Baking soda and apple cider vinegar- Besides dissolving stubborn stains, the duo of baking soda and vinegar also alleviates toenail fungus because of their anti-fungal activity.
• Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda- The combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is an excellent remedy to get rid of onychomycosis.
• Essential Oils- If none of the above remedies works, this will definitely do. All you need are carrier oil, cotton balls, and these essential oils.

Safety Precautions

Follow the below safety precautions before using the above home remedies to eliminate foot fungus.

• Always wear hand gloves while treating foot fungus because it’s a transmissible disease.
• People with sensitive skin and moderate to severe foot fungal infections must avoid any of the above hacks.

How to Prevent the Reoccurrence of Foot Fungus?

As prevention is better than cure, inhibiting the reoccurrence of foot fungus is as important as eliminating this condition. Take a look at the below tips to avoid foot fungus in the near future.

• Make sure to clean your feet with anti-fungal soap regularly and dry with a towel.
• Never make any physical contact with a foot fungus-infected person.
• Don’t allow anyone to use your footwear, socks, towels, and clothing.
• Keep in mind to wear shower sandals near pool areas, gyms, locker rooms, and other public spaces.
• Don’t leave your feet wet for a longer period of time.
• Toss out worn-out shoes and socks.
• Always clean your sweaty socks and shoes before wearing them.

When to Consult a Dermatologist?

People suffering from other skin-related disorders, diabetes, depleted immune system, and moderate-severe foot fungus must avoid in-home treatments and consult a dermatologist promptly. Also, take medical attention when the foot fungus doesn’t improve from home remedies within a week or two.

Final Thoughts

After reading this article, we hope all your doubts related to cornmeal and foot fungus are gone now. Feel free to share this article with your family and loved ones to let them know how to tackle foot fungus without using traditional medications.