How Do I Know If My Toenail Fungus Is Going Away
Nail fungus can be resistant to treatment and nails take a long time to grow out, so it can take several weeks or months for an infection to be fully resolved. You will know that the treatment is working and the infection is clearing up when you see growth of a new, healthy nail from the base of the nail bed.
Vicks Vaporub Works As Treatment For Foot Fungus In Hiv
Vicks VapoRub may be a cheap, effective and safe topical treatment for foot fungus among people living with HIV, according to results from a pilot study presented at ID Week 2012.
Onychomycosis is common in both the general population and among those living with HIV. Studies have shown about 15% to 40% prevalence in people living with HIV, but data is limited, according to study author Mariea Snell, M.S.N. “Infection is associated with more advanced immunodeficiency and usually presents as proximal onychomycosis, which is often harder to diagnose and treat than other forms of this disease,” Snell told TheBodyPRO.com.
Snell, from BJK People’s Health Center and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., and colleagues followed 20 patients with toenail fungus for 48 weeks, with patient visits every 12 weeks. The patients were 90% male and 55% African American, with an average age of 46 years. Ninety-five percent were on antiretroviral therapy, with 60% having a viral load below 50 copies/mL. The median CD4 count was 399 cells/mL.
The participants self-treated by topically applying Vicks VapoRub to affected toenails for a maximum of 24 weeks. At each visit, a digital photograph of the affected toenail was taken and a clinical assessment was made. For the first two visits, treatment adherence and tolerability were determined.
Warren Tong
The Price Certainly Doesnt Get Any Better
If you are going to try a treatment for toenail fungus then one thing you definitely have to consider is the price and the price here is pretty darn good fortunately.
A 1.76 oz little tub usually costs somewhere around $5-6 and you can pick it up at any Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, and plenty other stores.
That is a very cheap treatment and Im sure you are well aware of that if you have been searching for treatments for any good length of time.
There are some rather ridiculously priced toenail fungus treatments out there that show less promising results than VICKS.
*Emuaid MAX is a more expensive topical treatment, but is something else you may want to read about. It is one of the very few toenail fungus treatments that we recommend here at Operation Wellness.
Also Check: How Do I Know If I Have Foot Fungus
What Are The Ingredients In Vicks Vaporub
Ingredients include:
- Thymol
- Turpentine Oil
All of these various essential oils have been used by indigenous cultures for centuries to treat nail fungus, athletes foot, ear infections, hemorrhoids, and more. Best of all is that they lack the side-effects that many other conventional fungal nail treatments have.
For example, prescription anti-fungal drugs can have serious side-effects, such as liver damage, or even death. For most people, Vicks Vaporub will be completely side-effect free. There is always a chance that you could have an adverse reaction or an allergy to some of the ingredients, so we always recommend consulting your doctor before using any treatment, every if it is over-the-counter.
How exactly do these natural ingredients work to treat your fungal nail? Camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, which hamper the growth of nail fungus and eventually cause the fungi embedded in the nail weaken.
All of these ingredients work together in harmony to destroy the nail fungus. Once the fungi have died off completely a new nail will grow in and push out the infected nail! The most important thing here is consistency you need to use Vicks Vaporub, or any other fungal treatment, consistently for it to work.
Nothing Worked Until The Vicks Vaporub Cure:
Q. This may sound crazy but its true. I had toenail fungus for a number of years. I had tried one prescription which didnt help. Then I tried painting my nails with vinegar with no result. Then I tried Vicks VapoRub on the affected nails. That worked like a miracle!
My result may be uncommon, but Im a believer! Cant hurt to try it. Vicks costs next to nothing!
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Possible Complications Of Untreated Onychomycosis
Not only can nails be badly deformed or even lost due to neglected fungal infection, but the infection can also spread to other fingers, toes, or various body parts. The pathological infection can be spread to people in close contact with the infected person.
An untreated fungal infection may lead to a bacterial infection of the soft tissue surrounding the nails. The medical word for this is paronychia. Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth are symptoms of bacterial infection in the skin and tissue surrounding infected nails.
Untreated paronychia can lead to cellulitis, a painful condition that is difficult to cure. Strong antibiotics may be the only cure to cellulitis, and often they must be administered intravenously.
How To Treat Severe Nail Fungus Au
There are a number of toenail fungus cures accessible for you to try.
Traditionally used home remedies, on the other hand, can be anything but herbal as an instance, they frequently ask for using chemicals akin to chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide, all of which carry their own set of risks.
Using Vicks for nail fungus remedy may be more desirable for individuals whove thin, soft nails if heres the case.
Also Check: What Kind Of Doctor Do I See For Nail Fungus
How Does This Remedy Work
Using Vicks for toenail fungus seems very simple and straight forward but there is actually a small trick to it. Many people make the mistake of putting the salve on the infected toenail itself. Its important to understand that when it comes to treating toenail fungus, youre not going to be able to take a toenail that is already infected and make it clear again. What happens is that as you start fighting off the infection, your new toenail as it starts growing out, grows out healthy and clear.
The trick is to specifically apply a small amount of the salve onto nail bed and cuticle of each infected toenail. Then just leave it there. At the of the day wash off the salve and repeat this every day until you see an improvement in the appearance of the nail.
Now the question is..
Does Vicks Vapor Rub Cure Toenail Fungus
It has been rumored that curing toenail fungus is as easy as going to your kitchen pantry or bathroom medicine cabinet. Vinegar and Vicks Vapor Rub are two products that are supposed to cure toenail fungus.
The problem with these home remedies is that there is no recommended treatment regimen for either product. There also have not been any clinical studies confirming that either treatment is effective. The Mayo Clinic mentions both treatments, but emphasizes that there is no clinical evidence supporting either claim.
A podiatrist can diagnose your condition as onychomycosis and provide scientifically-based treatment that is right for you.
There are three types of treatment for onychomycosis:
- Topical Medications
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Other Readers And The Vicks Vaporub Cure
Larry says it takes patience!
I have toenail fungus on my left big toe. I tried many treatments for it, but nothing worked. I tried Vicks VapoRub. I kept using it almost every day for about three months. I would put a bandage over the Vicks and the nail so the goo wouldnt rub off on my socks. Patience is the key. Slowly it is clearing up, and the nail is already starting to come back to its normal color.
Jean offered this perspective on the Vicks VapoRub cure:
I have had a fingernail fungus which seemed to defy all pharmaceutical remedies. I read somewhere on the web that Vicks VapoRub rubbed onto the nail twice a day would cure it. Because of the mess and smell I smeared a small amount of Vicks onto a plaster, twice a day, and wrapped my finger tip.
Occasionally I dropped Tea Tree Oil on the nail before applying the Vicks. Within two months the fungus was gone. I am now waiting for the nail to grow out.
We write about many more approaches for nail fungus and other common conditions in our book, The Peoples Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies. It is available in our bookstore.
Vicks Vaporub To Cure Toenail Fungus Faq
How to use Vicks VapoRub to get rid of toenail fungus?
Apply Vicks VapoRub to the affected area once a day for good results.
How long does it take for Vicks to work on nail fungus?
According to research done with HIV patients having toenail fungus, it took approximately 24 weeks to get rid of the fungus.
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How Often Should I Apply Vicks Vaporub To My Infected Nails
If possible, we recommend utilizing the Vicks Vaporub formula twice a day once in the morning and once at night. Everybodys skin and nails react differently to the formula and have different levels of sensitivity. If twice a day proves to be too extensive and causes any sort of adverse reaction, consider cutting it down to once a day.
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Dr Gott: Heres The Rub On Using Vicks For Nail Fungus
- DR. PETER GOTT, M.D. Newspaper Enterprise Association
Dear Dr. Gott: I am an avid reader of your column, primarily because you present so many remedies that do not advocate drugs for ordinary problems.
I am particularly interested in solving the problem of toenail fungus, and see that people have said that Vicks will help. Could you tell me exactly where you put the Vicks on top of the nail, or under? Would it make any difference if the nail had polish? I imagine many women would like to know if nail polish interferes with the action of the Vicks. I usually keep my toenails polished so that the fungus is not apparent.
Dear Reader: Apply Vicks VapoRub to the nail, cuticle and surrounding tissue twice daily, rubbed in well, after having trimmed the infected nail as extensively as possible to reduce the biomass of the fun gus. You need not apply the Vicks under the nail, because there will, literally, be no under the nail you have restricted that as much as possible.
Once you see normal nail growing out , continue to remove or trim infected nails, and apply the Vicks twice daily.
Although significant positive ef fects may take a year or more to appear , be patient. Keep telling yourself that 1) You have had nail fungus for years, so it may take years of therapy to cure it and 2) Vicks is so inexpensive that what have you got to lose?
Nonetheless, VapoRub does, unquestionably, in many people, provide a reasonable option for nail fungus that is safe and inexpensive.
Does Vicks Vaporub Cure Nail Fungus
You may have heard that Vicks Vaporub can treat nail fungus. Many people share their experience using Vicks Vaporub for treating fungal nail infections. Even though there are success stories using this product, It is still considered a myth. There are no significant studies that prove the effectivity of Vicks Vaporub in treating nail fungus. It is proven to cure other issues such as cough and colds, but not for toenail fungus
Here are the reasons why people think Vicks Vaporub can cure Toenail Fungus:
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Amber Listerine & White Vinegar:
Jen says Listerine and vinegar are her go-to solution:
I used tea tree oil faithfully for several years with some improvement. Also oregano oil, recommended as stronger than tea tree oil and quite expensive. Again, some improvement. I tried the Vicks with socks at night, but I dont like sleeping with socks.
Then I began one hour per week of soaking in water with lots of white vinegar. I had immediate success the fungus cleared almost completely and quickly.
Since then I have continued the weekly soaks with vinegar and the amber Listerine and no water one hour while sitting at the computer. I wonder if there is more than one kind of fungus since the tea tree oil was only somewhat successful, while the vinegar was much better for me. If there is more than one kind of fungus, that would explain why different strokes for different folks seems to be a key factor.
Incidentally, the weeds in my garden do not like vinegar so I just dump my used soaking mixture there I have lots of weeds to use it on! And it works.
We have lost count of the number of people who insist that when all else fails, white vinegar and Listerine foot soaks do the job. We are not surprised. Listerine has a good dose of alcohol and other ingredients that attack fungi.
Vinegar also makes the environment inhospitable to fungi. It does take the kind of patience that Jen describes to work the magic.
Some Of Its Other Uses Include:
- Insect repellent
- Promotes the healing process of bruises
- Alleviates an earache
Vicks Vapor also proves to be effective for persons with fungal infections, particularly those affecting their toenails. In fact, this is one of the most commonly recommended remedies for nail fungus, but its natural to be skeptical and wonder whether it really works because fungal infections are incredibly stubborn.
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Toenail Fungus Prescription Medications
Sometimes prescription medications are needed to treat a toenail infection that just wont go away with natural remedies or over-the-counter medication in a few months. In this case, prescription-strength antifungal medication can eradicate stubborn onychomycosis.
Topical medications often are effective in treating mild to moderate toenail fungus. Topical solutions may include medicated nail polishes or liquid medications. Loprox , Penlac , Kerydin , and Jublia are among the top prescription drugs for toenail fungus.
Oral medications can come in capsules, tablets, or liquid. Some common prescriptions are Diflucan , Lamisil , Onmel , and Sporanox .
Why Does It Work A Look At The Ingredients
In order to answer the question of why does VICKS work?… we first need to take a look at the ingredients it contains.
It has some proof of working, so what it is exactly that makes it effective?
The ingredients included in the normal VICKS VapoRub include the following:
Active Ingredients
- Used commonly for pain relief, anti-irritant, against coughs, and yes… even as an antifungal.
- Reduces pain and swelling and increases blood flow when applied topically.
- 2014 study published in the journal Biological Research shows it does indeed have antifungal activity, although not particularly when dealing with toenail fungus. It has been shown to inhibit growth of fungi better than other essential oils.
Inactive Ingredients
- Turpentine oil
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How To Use Vicks Vapor Rub For Toenail Fungus
While it can be tricky applying the Vicks to your toenail, with a few tips, you will be treating your toenail fungus in no time.
Once you notice the fungus, apply the Vicks immediately. First make sure your toenail is completely dry as noted above, a wet environment can cause the fungus to grow further and spread.
Next, trim your toenails short. The less toenail you have to treat, the better.
After trimming, make sure you clean your toenail clipper thoroughly with hot, soapy water, and then wash it with rubbing alcohol. The fungus can easily spread to other toes if you use the same clipper without cleaning it.
Now start by using a spoon or something similar to scoop out the Vicks. You dont want to be smearing the rub on your toe and then putting your fingers back into the tub.
Apply the medication thoroughly to your nail. To get to the edges, into the cuticle, and around the nail bed, use a cotton swab or a Q-tip.
Make sure to rub the Vicks in as thoroughly as possible, and then cover your toes with a bandage. This will help the treatment absorb rather than rubbing off on everything you step on. Repeat this process twice a day.
Over the days/weeks that you apply the Vicks, make sure to keep your toenails short so that the formula can soak into as much of your nail as possible. And be patient! This could take up to five months before you start to see some effects. .