The Facts About Vicks Vaporub For Toenail Fungus
The truth of the matter is, toe nail fungus is extremely difficult to treat and even the best treatments have less than stellar results, particularly when the infection is severe. Research has shown that the best likelihood of obtaining a cure is to begin treatment very early and at the first signs of infection.
There are currently two types of treatment approved by the FDA for treating fungal nail infections: oral and topical. The traditional option that has shown the best success rate is Lamisil, an oral prescription medication. It has about a 50% cure rate, but it also has unpleasant and potentially serious side effects. Permanent liver damage is one such side effect. Prescription medications must also be used for extended periods of time and often interferes with other commonly used medications, such as antibiotics and antidepressants.
Compared to prescription medications, Vicks is even less promising as a cure despite treatment that can last over a year. Several studies have been conducted in an attempt to ascertain the effectiveness of Vicks Vaporub for toenail fungus. The results revealed that when Vicks was applied to the infected area on a daily basis, 65% of the participants said it was ineffective. It also seems that once you quit using the Vicks treatment, the infection is very likely to return.
Lamisil Cream Vs Lotrimin: What’s The Difference
- Lamisil Cream and Lotrimin are antifungal agents applied to the skin used to treat fungal nails, jock itch, and athlete’s foot.
- Other forms of Lotrimin are also used to treat vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, tinea versicolor, or tinea corporis.
- Lamisil Cream and Lotrimin Cream are available over-the-counter and as a generic.
- Side effects of Lamisil Cream and Lotrimin that are similar include itching and hives at the application site.
- Side effects of Lamisil Cream that are different from Lotrimin include headache, cough, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and altered taste and smell sensation.
- Side effects of Lotrimin that are different from Lamisil Cream include local redness, stinging, blistering, peeling, swelling, or burning at the area of application and nausea and vomiting .
Biggest Drawback: Side Effects Of Terbinafine Pills
Terbinafine tablets, although effective in the treatment of toenail fungus, is associated with various side effects that can be very serious if an individual does not seek medical help form a doctor.
Precaution is always necessary to identify if terbinafine is suitable for you, and taking Lamisil oral pills as prescription antifungal drug for toenail fungus treatment requires medical advice.
Before using the drugs, you should always consult your doctor in order to identify various ways the drugs are likely going to react with your body.
For examples, people who have reduced function of the liver and the kidney should always seek advice from the doctor first. Terbinafine can interact negatively with your liver and this can cause serious problems in an individual, and sometimes even death, although there is often a less likelihood of developing liver problems just because of taking Terbinafine pills.
Additionally, people who are often very allergic to any active and inactive ingredients should not start taking terbinafine tablets without a go ahead signal from the doctor.
Also if you are taking other medicines, you should always make this known to your doctor during your consultation. This is the best way to identify how terbinafine tablets will react or relate with the other medicines that you are taking. This important because terbinafine can cause very serious complications is taken together with other drugs.
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What Are The Most Effective Treatments For Toenail Fungus
The experts at Easton Dermatology Associates offer treatment customized to your exact situation, whether youve just noticed an irregularity with your toenail or youve been battling fungus for a while. Treatment options include:
- Prescription oral antifungal medications
- Topical nail cream
- Special antifungal nail polish that allows your nails to breathe
No matter what treatment you adopt, patience is key. It can take several months to clear up toenail fungus because even nails that grow at an average rate dont grow rapidly. We treat your fungus until its a thing of the past, and we also advise you on how to prevent a recurrence.
Its much easier to solve the problem when youre in the early stages of infection, before it becomes too advanced.
Do at either of our locations in Easton or Salisbury, Maryland, so we can start helping you eliminate embarrassing and persistent nail fungus problems ASAP. When next summer rolls around, you can be back in those oh-so-chic sandals!
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Is Toenail Fungus Really Such A Problem
If youre thinking you can just live with it, we dont advise letting toenail fungus go untreated. Its an insidious problem, and without treatment, you have to deal with the discomfort of the nail as well as feeling self-conscious about its unsightliness.
If you let a nail fungus infection go for too long, several problems emerge. The infected nail can become misshapen and increasingly separated from your nail bed. Itching and pain are unpleasant side effects if theyre too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.
You need to be especially attentive to treating toenail fungus if your immune system is compromised. If youre living with diabetes, its critical not to ignore the fungus. Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection.
Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athletes foot. Possibly the worst outcome of untreated nail fungus is needing to have your nail surgically removed.
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Staying One Step Ahead Of Toenail Fungus
An established fungal infection is hard to eradicate, but you can stop its spread and improve your toenail’s appearance.
Toenail fungus isn’t a pressing health problem. Yet a fungal infection can ruin the appearance of your nails and cause pain as it lifts the nail away from the nail bed. And fungal infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of. “You may want to consider fungal toenail a condition to be managed rather than cured,” says Dr. James P. Ioli, chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
How Effective Are Topical Treatments
So far, only a few studies have looked into topical nail fungus treatments with nail polishes or creams. Because these studies had weaknesses, the results should be interpreted with caution. Amorolfine has not yet been well studied. Ciclopirox polish and treatment sets with urea and bifonazole cream were tested in a few studies.
Research on the effectiveness of nail polish containing ciclopirox showed that, after one year:
- About 10 out of 100 people who did not use ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 32 out of 100 people who used ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, treatment with ciclopirox got rid of the fungal infection in about 22 out of 100 people. But even if the fungus had gone away, the cosmetic result wasnt always satisfying. The nails only looked healthy after treatment in 7 out of 100 people.
Treatment with sets containing urea and bifonazole cream was tested in one study. It was compared with a treatment in which only urea cream was applied and the nail was removed, but without applying bifonazole cream afterwards. Three months after treatment was completed, it was found that:
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 41 out of 100 people who only used urea cream.
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 51 out of 100 people who used both urea and bifonazole cream.
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Nail Fungus Consumer Review
If you are someone who suffers from toenail fungus, chances are you are struggling to find an effective cure for your condition. Prescription treatments recommended by doctors are often difficult to follow and have serious side effects. Its not surprising that alternative, home remedies are being sought out and tried. Vicks VapoRub for toenail fungus is one such treatment that is being touted by some. But, is it a viable option? Here are some facts you might want to consider before following this treatment plan.
Is There Anything That Really Works For Toenail Fungus
Terbinafine for toenail fungus treatment
The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time. Common side effects may include headaches, skin rash, and vomiting.
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What Oral Medications Are Available
To treat fungal nail infections from inside the body, you can take tablets that inhibit the growth of fungi or kill them. They are all prescription-only. Terbinafine and itraconazole are typically used for this purpose.
- Terbinafine is preferred if the nail fungus is caused by a skin fungus . This is usually the case.
- Itraconazole is generally used if the nail infection is caused by yeast or mold.
Itraconazole and terbinafine tablets can both be taken either continuously or with breaks between treatments. But they are used differently:
Lamisil Spray For Toenail Fungus
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Precautions And Side Effects Of Terbinafine Topical Cream
Lamisil cream for toenail fungus is often not associated with side effects, and if they happen they are usually very common. In case of any symptoms of side effects, you should seek medical help from your doctor in order to avoid any complications that can be serious.
According to WebMD and the package leaflet of Lamisil 1% cream , some of its possible side effects include skin rash, itching, swelling of the mouth, tightness in the chest, and burning around the nail.
These side effects may not happen to everyone who is using the topical Lamisil. Due to the fewer side effects, most people prefer using the Lamisil cream to Lamisil oral pills for toenail fungus .
Lamisil cream should never be used by the pregnant women as well as the breastfeeding mothers. You will want to discuss the possible risks of Lamisil cream with your doctor before start using it.
Alternative Over The Counter Toenail Fungus Treatment Solution
You may look for OTC product that contains a natural fatty acid extracted from castor oil, called Undecylenic acid. This is an antifungal active ingredient approved by the US FDA.
Undecylenic acid has long been applied in traditional medicine field for its antifungal and antiviral properties, while the efficacy of using Undecylenic acid for nail fungal infection treatment is supported by various medical research
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Is Bleach Safe To Use For Removing Toenail Fungus
Keep in mind that bleach is a caustic solution. If misused, it can severely damage the skin. It doesnt matter if you use chlorine or non-chlorine bleach, the risks are the same. Using straight bleach on toenail fungus can be dangerous and damaging.
You should never soak your feet in undiluted bleach or apply straight bleach directly to the toes. An exception to this rule is using a bleach pen as it may not be as concentrated as straight bleach. But, you should still be cautious with any bleach solution.
Some of the potential side effects of putting bleach on toenail fungus include:
- Itching
- Skin damage
- Pain
If you experience any of these side effects after using a bleach treatment for toenail fungus, rinse it off immediately. If its left on and causes irritation, it could cause severe burns to your skin.
Another risk factor is getting it in your eyes. If it gets in the eyes or mucous membranes, it can cause permanent damage. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling bleach, so you dont accidentally touch your face or other areas of your body.
Breathing in bleach can cause respiratory problems and damage the lungs. If you breathe in too much of it, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
Make An Antifungal Foot Soak
Soaking your feet can also be a useful technique in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus. Many common household items can be used to make a healing antifungal foot bath. Mix one or more of the following with warm water and soak feet for 15 to 20 minutes. After foot bath, rinse feet with clean water and pat dry.
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Thieves oil
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The Price Certainly Doesn’t 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, Walgreen’s, CVS, and plenty other stores.
That is a very cheap treatment and I’m 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.
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How Is Toenail Fungus Diagnosed
Nearly 3 million people in the United States are diagnosed with toenail fungus each year. Men are up to three times more likely to develop toenail fungus than women. You are also at a higher risk for a toenail fungus infection if you smoke or have diabetes. Also, individuals with compromised immune systems may experience toenail fungus that can turn into an infection.
When feet remain moist or damp, the fungus can grow, causing discoloration and thickening of toenails. Infection can cause discomfort and pain. The spread of fungus and infection can go from toe to toe, hand, fingernails, or skin on other parts of the body.
The toenail may become warped, cracked, or loosen itself away from the nail bed. Often the nail appears yellowish and may have white spots. Your doctor will examine your feet and potentially take a small sample of skin or nail to be sent off to a laboratory for testing. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist, podiatrist, or other healthcare professional if your condition is unusual or needs special care. Other foot conditions such as psoriasis can look similar to a fungal infection. Lab reports can indicate if the problem is fungal, helping the doctor prescribe the best medication for effective treatment.
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Urgent Advice: Contact 111 For Advice Now If:
- You take a lot of terbinafine tablets at the same time even if you have no side effects.
- You take 2 or more terbinafine tablets and have side effects.
Side effects may include stomach pain, feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, headache or feeling dizzy.
Call or go to 111.nhs.uk
If you need to go to hospital take the packaging, or the leaflet that came with your medicine, and any remaining medicine with you.
How And When To Take Terbinafine
The treatment you use will depend on where the infection is on your body and how severe it is.
For large areas of skin, or if the area is hairy, it’s best to use the spray.
Your pharmacist or doctor will tell you how much to use and how long you need to use it for, depending on your infection.
If you buy terbinafine in a pharmacy or supermarket, follow the instructions that come with your medicine.
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