How Long Will It Take To See Results
Unfortunately, using Vicks Vaporub can take a long time to provide results for your fungal infection. This is one of the main downsides of utilizing this product.
For some users, it can take a few months to start seeing results, but for others, it can take upwards of a year.
For quicker results, we recommend checking out our buyers guide for the best nail fungus products on the market today.
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 Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Yellow Toenails
Here are three things you need to know about getting rid of yellow toenails: Toenail fungal infections can be treated with over-the-counter nail creams and doctor-prescribed medications. It can take up to a year to completely get rid of a fungal nail infection. The best treatment for yellow toenails is prevention.
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Vicks Vaporub Stories And Experiences From Readers Over The Years:
Tom N. touts the house brand at lower cost:
My solution was simple and no fuss. I rubbed Walmart house brand version of VapoRub on toenail, uncovered, each night before retiring. After 5 months the fungus has grown out the end of the nail.
Disclosure: I am not a shill for Walmart.
We have no opinion as to the quality of generic Vicks VapoRub. The relatively low cost of either the name brand or the house brand does not make this a big issue for us. Keep in mind that a jar will last a long time, even with daily applications.
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 Do You Get Rid Of Yellow Toenails Fast
Treatment
Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also be washed in hot water to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear.
Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus.
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Bleach And Vicks For Nail Fungus
If in case, you do not have the petroleum jelly to treat toenail fungus, it is better to use Vicks.
Research supports the use of Vicks to treat toenail fungus when combined with bleach to make a paste.
So, similarly here, just mix the bleach and Vicks to form a paste in direct proportion and then just apply it simply on the fungus directly.
You need to apply this solution, under the nail. Applying it over the cuticle would not help, because there is no such liquid to carry the Hypochlorous acid to the fungal infection site. So, try to use a cotton bud, to apply it.
You can then wash it after 15-20 minutes.
Use it twice daily for at least 3 months if you have less fungus, And if you have more that you would be able to notice, then you can continue on it for some more months.
Which bleach solution is better?
Both the bleach and water mixture, and the bleach paste are effective. To claim one of these methods better would not be correct. It depends on the skin condition. For people with sensitive skin, the dilute bleach solution will be safer to use.
The bleach paste is a concentrated mixture. If you have a deteriorating fungal infection it is better to use the paste initially, it will be more effective.
So, this is how to cure toenail fungus with bleach but there are still many important things to know before you go for it.
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How To Cure Toenail Fungus: Can Vinegar Help
This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Degrandpre is a Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is also a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 19 testimonials and 88% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,073,560 times.
Nail fungus refers to a fungal infection that starts underneath your toenails. It could cause discoloration, thickening, or crumbling on one or more of your nails. This is a frustrating problem, so youll naturally want to get rid of nail fungus as soon as possible. One remedy you may have heard of is soaking your foot in vinegar to clear the infection. Vinegar is acidic, so it will kill bacteria and fungus.XResearch source However, this remedy has very limited success because the vinegar cant penetrate under the nail. You can try it if you want to, but visit a podiatrist for further treatment if you dont see any results in 2 weeks.
Read Also: How To Get Fungus Out From Under Toenail
Making A Vinegar Soak
If you want to try treating your nail fungus with vinegar, then the best thing to do is soak your foot in a vinegar-water mixture. Diluting the vinegar is important to prevent it from irritating your skin. Try a daily soak and see if it helps clear the infection. If not, then don’t panic. You can still use more conventional treatments.
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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Can Baking Soda Whiten Nails
Baking Soda Fights Stains
A simple baking soda paste can be made to for DIY nail whitening. Water can be used to make the paste, but most prefer to add lemon juice, white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide* to the mix. Lemon juice and baking soda are the most popular combination to give nails a fresh clean look.
How Do You Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus In One Day
According to a 2016 review, thymol has antifungal and antibacterial properties. To treat toenail fungus, apply oregano oil to the affected nail twice daily with a cotton swab. Some people use oregano oil and tea tree oil together. Both products are potent and may cause irritation or allergic reaction.
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Destroy The Fungi In Your Shoes Or Risk Getting Reinfected
One of the most important aspects of treating your nail fungus is disinfecting your shoes, sheets, and other surfaces.
Unfortunately, If you have placed your infected nails into a pair of shoes, there are now fungal spores living in those shoes.
This means that even if you successfully treat your fungal nails, you will most likely reinfect yourself unless you destroy the fungi in your shoes.
Fortunately, there are a number of great solutions on the market. Although there are many different antifungal sprays and powders, our top recommendation is utilizing an LTE system.
Ultraviolet Shoe Sanitizer is a fantastic option that kills 99.9% of bacteria in your shoes. Simply place the ultraviolet bulbs in your shoes, and the system will automatically get to work destroying the fungi in quick 15 minute intervals.
The bulbs each last up to 8000 hours and are easy to replace, so you can finally get rid of your nail fungus and prevent reinfections.
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 .
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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.
How Does Baking Soda Get Rid Of Yellow Toenails
Prepare a baking soda paste using 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide with two and a half tablespoon of baking soda in a bowl. Stir the two ingredients and then using a cotton swab apply it onto your nails and also under the tip of your nails. Leave this mixture for three minutes and then rinse it with warm water.
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Vicks Is A Staple Product With A Multitude Of Personal And Household Uses In This Article Youll Learn How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus With Vicks
Owned by Procter & Gamble, Vicks VapoRub is a popular menthol-filled over-the-counter salve used for cough suppression and soothe muscles and joints aches. Due to Vicks VapoRubs plenitude of remedial uses, its a readily available product in every household. Along with its traditional use, Vicks is helpful against onychomycosis as well. If you dont know how to get rid of toenail fungus with Vicks, read this article till the end.
Does This Even Work
There was a small study published in the Journal of The American Board of Family Medicine that followed a group of 18 individuals who used Vicks Vapor for toenail fungus and the study found the following results
- Of the 18 people who were in the study, over half saw an improvement in the appearance of their nails. 10 of them to be exact.
- It did not get rid of their toenail fungus infection completely, they just had perceived improvement in the appearance of the nail.
- This perceived improvement was likely do the nails being more hydrated therefore giving the nail the appearance of being healthier.
The fact that I found alarming about this study is that this small improvement in their nails was after the course of..
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Soak In Listerine And White Vinegar
The combination of Listerines antifungal ingredients and vinegars acidity makes an inhospitable environment for fungi. This treatment is effective for green nails which may have whats called atypical organisms, says Dr. Goldenberg. If you have true toenail fungus, its less likely to work, though.
How to use it: Combine the two in equal portions and soak your toes in the solution, ideally for 45 to 60 minutes daily.
Home Remedies That May Be Worth A Try
- By Beverly Merz, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Harvard Medical School embraces evidence-based medicine treatments that have been shown to be effective through high-quality studies called randomized controlled clinical trials. So its always a little surprising when a Harvard doctor proposes a home remedy, as Dr. James P. Ioli did in an interview about toenail fungus. Dr. Ioli, who is chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital, suggested that daily applications of Vicks VapoRub might be at least as effective as most of the topical treatments for toenail fungus that are available by prescription or over the counter.
Toenail fungus is representative of the type of condition that may benefit from home remedies. It isnt usually serious and there are no sure cures for it that dont have significant side effects. Vicks is also representative of the type of home remedy that isnt likely to be harmful a product we know well and have used safely for other purposes.
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Can I Use A Bleach Pen For Toenail Fungus
Bleach pens are convenient for removing stains from fabric quickly. The good news is that you can use them for toenail fungus just as conveniently. Not only will it help to get rid of discoloration, but it will kill the fungus thats underneath the nail.
There have been many success stories that suggest using a bleach pen can clear up toenail fungus faster. Of course, you can choose to use one or the other. But, combining the two may yield faster results in your healing process.
A bleach pen is easy to use. You remove the cap and apply it directly to the nail and surrounding skin. Bleach pens are easy to find and relatively inexpensive. You may already even have one in your home and can try it right away.
So, why dont you have to dilute a bleach pen for toenail fungus? Most bleach pens contain a lower concentration of sodium hypochlorite . They also include several ingredients not typically found in liquid bleach.
This is because the pen releases a thicker, gel-like substance. These extra ingredients help to lower the concentration of the potent chemicals, so its safer to use directly on your nails and skin.
If you experience any irritation, stop using bleach to treat toenail fungus immediately.
Treatment Tips and Advice
If you want to get the best results when using a bleach foot soak or bleach paste, you need to prepare your toenails ahead of time. Use these tips to make the treatment more effective.