ACV is a true multifunctional tonic that is used in DIY cleaners, toners, bath soaks, hair rinses, you name it. And here’s just another reason to stock up on a bottle: It may help ease and remedy symptoms of athlete’s foot. Fungal overgrowth is actually the cause of tinea pedis, or what’s commonly called athlete’s foot. It’s caused by the overgrowth of fungus like Candida albicans, trichophyton, epidermophyton, and microsporum. In the case of athlete’s foot, these fungi thrive in wet, warm conditions—like your feet after being tucked into socks and shoes all day or after a workout. But as functional medicine practitioner Will Cole, D.C., IFMCP, explains, “Apple cider vinegar has also been shown1 to have antiviral, anti-yeast and antifungal benefits, all helpful in supporting your microbiome balance.” And numerous studies and research have pointed to ACV’s antifungal abilities2 in general—while there is less research about athlete’s foot specifically. However, in a 2018 study, scientists found that the vinegar can inhibit the growth of C. albicans3 in a petri dish3. It works by destroying the fungus’s cell structure, along with specific enzymes the fungus needs to survive.
