Consulting The Scientific Research
Itâs time to get science-y.
In 2011, an interesting study researching over-the-counter cures for toenail fungus was published. In this study, researchers used Vicks VapoRub against toenail fungus.
The first thing to note here is there are a few types of toenail fungus. Toenail fungus can be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds.
However, the most common culprit of toenail fungus is the dermatophyte trichophyton rubrum, also known as T. rubrum.
In this study, researchers studied the following toenail fungus:
- T. mentagrophytes
- T. rubrum
- Candida parapsilosis
After 48 weeks, all patients with T. mentagrophytes or Candida parapsilosis toenail fungus went on to a âtotal cureâ.
Remember, T. rubrum is commonly the fungi culprit behind most toenail fungus infections…
Continue Using Treatment Until Infection Is Gone
Continue daily use until your nails are healthy. The length of treatment depends on the severity of the infection. Please keep in mind that nail fungus is inherently tricky to deal with. Fungi are extremely good at adapting and thriving in environments. This is why it is vital you apply the treatment every day!
After continued application, the fungi under your nails will turn black. Although this might seem scary at first, it is actually a good thing Vicks Vaporub is killing the fungi! Eventually, the blackened nail will be pushed out by a healthy new nail, and you can clip off the dead part. Do not be discouraged if the treatment takes upwards of a year to treat nail fungus is tricky, especially for more severe cases.
We highly recommend continuing the treatment for a duration of time after the nail fungus infection has subsided. This will ensure that the fungus is completely destroyed, and will minimize the chance of reinfection.
How Well Does Vicks Vaporub Work
A. Over the years we have heard from many people who have had success with Vicks VapoRub in the treatment of nail fungus. You will read some of their stories below. Others tell us this remedy is totally worthless.
That is not surprising. Many people report failure with pricey prescription anti-fungal products too. Some people spend quite a bit of money on oral antifungal medicine and take it for many months, only to have the fungus return after a temporary cure.
It seems as if nail fungus is surprisingly variable. This may be due both to the range of fungal pathogens that can affect nails and to differences among the hosts immune systems. Some people never get nail fungus even though they walk barefoot in the garden, in the shower or at a locker room. Others find all their toenails are thick, yellowish-brown and misshapen. Not only do they look ugly, but they are hard to clip. One treatment may work for awhile, but the fungus seems to come back relentlessly.
We often wonder whether there are different fungi at work or if the relationship between the immune system and the fungi have something to do with this problem.
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Does Vicks Vaporub Really Cure Toenail Fungus
A longstanding rumor among those who suffer from fungus-ridden feet contends that over-the-counter Vicks VapoRub has a hidden podiatric power: it allegedly cures toenail fungus.
A 2009 piece from the New York Times backed up the unwittingly miraculous cure, citing one study that noted how one of the ointments active ingredients, thymol, had unforeseen anti-fungal qualities. Herbal medicine enthusiasts probably relished the scientific validation, because thymol is a chemical compound found in the oil of the common household herb thyme.
Perhaps owing to the insignificance of toenail fungus in light of other, more pressing health matters, the intrigue around this alleged cure still stands. And the question obviously remains: does it actually work?
Is Vicks Vaporub Suitable For Pregnant Women
In 2009, a statement was issued by doctors at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine warning people that Vicks salve should not be used on children under the age of two years old.
It was discovered that the strength of the VapoRub could promote mucus production and cause an inflammation of the airways.
Pregnant women are told to steer clear of over-the-counter medicines on account of the danger of impacting the placenta and creating an unsafe environment for the fetus.
There are two schools of thought. Non-medical groups claim the active ingredient, Camphor contained in the salve can pose a danger to unborn babies. However, there is no clinical evidence to support these claims.
Camphor can cause a miscarriage when ingested on its own. You would also need to consume a significant amount, more than the trace that would be left on your fingertips after applying the salve to your toes.
The other ingredients of Vicks VapoRub are also unlikely to cause any damage to your unborn baby. While it is safe to use the ointment while pregnant, if you do have any concerns, always make sure you give your hands a thorough wash before eating.
Also, if you have children under the age of two, dont leave the bottle out where your child can reach it. And flush any tissues or cotton buds you may use to apply the ointment down the toilet rather than putting them in a bin. You never know what kids are getting up to behind your back.
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How Fungi Infect The Nail
Onchomycosis, or toenail fungal infection, is an invasion by a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, damp environments. Fungal spores are in the air, and they will grow if they land on a receptive surface like your toenail. They feed off the nail tissues, burrowing into the skin under the nail. Over time the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won’t reattach, and a new nail won’t grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base.
How To Use Vicks Vaporub For Toenail Fungustreatment
As established above, the possibility of having Vicks VapoRub work for your toenail fungus is pretty slim under 40% precisely. However, you can determine if it will work if you fall under the following category:
- The entire toenail was not affected by the fungi
- There is no pain
- You do not have thick skin under and around the affected nail
- The nail has not grown into the skin edges
- The nail hasnt changed color to whitish-yellow, and there are not colored streaks
How to use Vicks VapoRub for Toenail Fungustreatment
Benefits of Using Vicks VapoRub for Toenail Fungus
What Kills Toenail Fungus Fast?
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Whats In The Vicks Vaporub Cure
Vicks contains menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil, petrolatum, thymol and turpentine oil. A number of these ingredients have antifungal activity, which may explain its success against nail fungus.
Thymol has antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal activity . Other essential oils such as eucalyptus and tea tree oil also have fungicidal action .
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.
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Pros And Cons Of Vicks Vaporub For Toenail Fungus
It does seem that a number of people have found some relief from this difficult problem by using Vicks. On the plus side, it has minimal side effects relative to the traditional treatment methods and is a product that is both easy to find and inexpensive to buy.
However, Vicks has been shown to be ineffective for the majority of people even when used for extended periods of time and the longer you use any treatment, the more costly it becomes. Some individuals have found that it irritates the skin surrounding the nail and are bothered by the strong smell. It seems that even in the best of circumstances, treating toenail fungus with Vicks is just a temporary stop gap as the infection generally returns once the treatment has been stopped. The bottom line is that like all home remedies, it is wise to proceed with a healthy dose of caution and a little bit of common sense when considering Vicks Vapor Rub for the treatment of toenail fungus.
Visit our main website to get a broader and deeper picture about the different treatments available to get rid of toenail fungus fast.
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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.
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Does Vicks Vaporub Really Work
Nobody has been able to prove that Vicks VapoRub is an effective treatment for toenail fungus. Although research has been conducted, testing has been limited, albeit positive.
Due to the lack of clinical evidence, the Food and Drug Administration have not added Vicks VapoRub to their approved list of treatments for fungal infections. At present, anecdotal evidence is the most we have to go on.
Medicines that are approved by the FDA are not exactly the best treatments either. Lamisil is the most successful drug for treating onychomycosis but still has less than a 50% cure rate. In a 12-week study, only 38% of patients reported improvements. This increased to 49% after 18 weeks.
The danger with Lamisil, however, is that patients can have serious side effects. Furthermore, FDA-approved prescription medicines can interfere with other commonly used medications, such as antibiotics. They also have to be taken over an extended period of time.
Medical professionals acknowledge that fungal infections are notoriously difficult to treat. Typical healing times take over a year, and anything up to 18 months to completely disappear. Furthermore, there is also a possibility the fungal infection will return once you stop treatment.
Therefore, religiously rubbing Vicks to your toes could prove as effective as any other treatment but without the side effects.
Vicks Curing Toenail Fungus A Myth
Some people may believe they are seeing positive results because this treatment may assist to minimise nail discoloration. Vicks vapor rub, on the other hand, contains a bleaching ingredient, which means it improves the color but does not treat the fungal infection.
Although the Vicks vaporub for toenail fungus reviews is quite positive. People using the ointment for several weeks have noticed the reduction of the toenail fungus. The Vicks VapoRub cures toenail fungus at a much slower rate than other medications and treatments, however, there are not any kind of side-effects reported by the people.
There isnt enough scientific evidence on the use of Vicks VapoRub with thymol to draw a firm decision about whether it will help your toenail fungus. Your podiatrist is unlikely to recommend that you use it for this purpose. VapoRub, on the other hand, does unquestionably provide a fair, safe, and affordable choice for nail fungus in many people.
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So Is It True Or Just A Myth
No, it is not a myth, Vicks VapoRub may help, though not as much as one may expect.
It is not a replacement for anti fungal therapy. It is also not what the product was designed for.
But it is something that may help in few cases, as no toenail fungal infections are same.
All three main components of Vicks are known to have some degree of antimicrobial activity, along with anti-inflammatory properties.
Myth Or Reality: Is Vicks Vaporub Effective For Mycotic Toenails
Honestly, when I read anything about Vicks VapoRub and onychomycosis, my mythbusters mind activates. I cant even count the times I have heard physicians and patients extol the positives of this over-the-counter ointment. I understand the cost benefit of using an easily attainable product but I want to see the evidence before recommending it.
What are the components of Vicks VapoRub? Thymol, menthol, camphor and oil of eucalyptus seem to be broad spectrum anti-infectives that have shown activity in vitro against Candida, Aspergillus and some dermatophytes.1 That said, in a recent literature search for a chapter I am writing on the myths of onychomycosis, I came across several articles on the use of the mentholated ointment for toenails, one of which was a clinical trial.1
The first clinical trial completed using Vicks VapoRub on mycotic nails was a pilot study by a family medicine group.1 Eighteen people who had nail disease completed the 48-week study. There are some positive aspects of this study but it did not follow all of the protocols that researchers normally do for topical antifungal studies. Unlike Phase 3 clinical trials for toenail onychomycosis, this study did not exclusively enroll patients who had cultures for dermatophytes like T. rubrum or T. mentagrophytes, and did not limit the percent of the affected nail to 50 or 60 percent.
Did this study convince me to recommend Vicks VapoRub to my toenail onychomycosis patients? No.
Reference
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How To Apply Vicks Vaporrub
Severe cases of toenail infection can cause you pain and irreversible toenail damage. To fully get the optimal result, twice a day is the recommended time to use this product, once in the morning and once at night.
Everyone has different skin types, so you might need to beware of how much youre putting in your toenail. Rub the Vicks VaporRub to the affected area and gently massage it. If twice a day is a bit much for you, you can have it once a day to see if there are some changes.
Once the infection is gone, you make sure to keep your toenails dry, clean, and well-maintained. You never know if they will come back, reinfection is a common scenario. As always, if the infection is still there, you might want to check in with your doctor for further assessments.
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