Will Vicks Help Toenail Fungus

How To Treat Toenail Fungus

Despite what you may hear, covering your infection with nail polish or artificial nails will not get rid of toenail fungus, says the AAD.

There are a few different ways to get rid of toenail fungus, whether youre looking for home remedies or stronger prescribed treatments. Just know this, per Dr. Goldenberg: Treating toenail fungus is extremely difficult.

But the earlier you treat the nail infection, the more likely you are to cure it, explains, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a New York Citybased board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Treatment can take several months, even up to a year, as you need to wait for healthy nail to grow out, which is a slow process, he says.

If you prefer to go the natural route first, these are the home remedies worth tryingplus, stronger prescription options to ask about if the infection persists. It usually takes three months of treatment to cure a toenail fungal infection.

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What Does It Mean When Toenail Fungus Turns Black

• Patients frequently ask us, what does it mean when toenail fungus turns black?
• There is a chance that this could be a black yeast or a black toenail fungus, but it is usually dry blood.
• This usually means that the toenail is getting thick and ripping away from the underlying skin.
• These small blood vessels called capillaries rupture and form dry blood underneath the toenail.
• As the toenail dies, the toenail will eventually turn black and die.

How Soon Will It Get Results

Toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to cure. As we noted in the scientific studies, some participants noticed results in 24 weeks and the condition cleared up in 48 weeks. However, toenail fungus is also known to take 12-18 months to clear.

The time it takes for toenail fungus to clear depends on the severity of the infection and your reaction to the treatment. No one treatment works for everybody. However, if Vicks VapoRub does work for you, expect to start seeing signs of improvement after about six months.

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How Did I Get Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus usually enters the nail bed when there has been an injury to the area, such as a crack or a split.

Once the fungus enters, the warm, dark environment that it finds in shoes and socks allow it to grow and spread. The fungus starts by growing under the nail bed, making it very difficult to reach with any sort of medication.

The standard treatment usually involves prescription medication or partial or full removal of the toenail.

The fungus first appears as a black spot on the toenail. This spot can start to grow and your nail can start changing color as it progresses.

If you let it go, your nail may thicken, change color further, and even produce a foul odor . It is best to deal with the early signs before it turns into something really serious.

One of the main causes of toenail fungus is poor hygiene, and the chances of getting toenail fungus increase with age men being more likely to get it over women.

This could be due to many factors, but most likely because men typically dont take care of their foot/nail hygiene as much as women do.

Benefits Of Applying Vaseline Ointment On The Toenail Affected With Fungus

• 1. Moisturizes the toenail

When a toenail is affected by toenail fungus, it gets exceptionally dry and you may even see yellowness and cracks. This can be cured with the help of vaseline ointment as it is said to heal and repair the skin and nails.

You can try applying vaseline twice a day for at least 15 days to see a positive result. Most people cover the toenail with a bandaid too.

• 2. Waterproofs the area

It is very well-known how humidity can make your toenail fungus worst, so the vaseline jelly is applied to waterproof the nail.

You must have noticed when applying it your lips or skin, the water doesnt touch the skin. The same way the toenail is protected from humidity yet moisturized at the same time.

• 3. Softens the nails and cuticles

As most people suffering from toenail fungus have a very stiff toenail, it becomes extremely difficult to even trim such nails.

Applying vaseline jelly on and around the toenail helps the cuticules to soften.

It also eases the cleaning process of the toenails and helps you get rid of the fungus faster.

• 4. Anti-bacterial effect

Since vaseline is a sticky solution for nails, it prevents bacteria to enter the nailbed.

When you keep the toenail open for a long time, it can invite tons of bacteria to make the situation worse and you may even get additional infections.

Even when you keep wearing shoes and socks, the vaseline layer protects the humidity and bacteria from entering and damaging the nail even more.

• 5. Promotes Healing

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Scoop Out Some Vicks With A Spoon

Use a spoon to scoop out a small amount of Vicks. Its important to use your spoon and not your applicator, as it would be unhygienic to use, say, a cotton ball to apply the Vicks to your toenail, then re-dip it in the Vicks for a second helping.

Remember also that touching your toenail directly is a bad idea.

Does Vicks Vaporub Cure Toenail Fungus

Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a positive clinical effect in the treatment of toenail fungus.

similarly, How do I get my toenails white again?

Apply a baking soda paste Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with warm water. Apply the paste to the tops and undersides of your nails. Let the mixture sit for at least 5 minutes. Rinse your nails If theyre still stained, apply another coat of the baking soda paste.

in the same way, What really kills toenail fungus? Hydrogen peroxide can kill fungus that grows on toenails. You can directly wipe hydrogen peroxide on your infected toes or toenails with a clean cloth or cotton swab. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in a foot soak.

likewise Will nail fungus grow out?

With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months.

Can I get a pedicure with toenail fungus?

2. If you suspect you have toenail fungus: if your toenails are thick, yellow, raised, or otherwise not normal looking, you likely have toenail fungus. You absolutely MUST avoid pedicures if you have a skin or nail fungal infection.

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The Research On Vicks Vaporub For Nail Fungus:

As for Vicks VapoRub, there actually have been a few studies showing benefit against nail fungus. In one, people with AIDS had their nail fungus treated with Vicks. The conclusion: safe and effective .

Previously, a pilot study had shown results in 15 out of 18 people using Vicks VapoRub on the nails daily for 48 weeks . Even before that, a study of some of the essential oils in Vicks VapoRub showed that they are active against five different species of fungus that infect nail tissue . Camphor, menthol, thymol and oil of eucalyptus are effective against these organisms. Moreover, fungi rarely develop resistance to them .

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Toenail Fungus Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is among the household disinfectant that is used in cleaning and treating minor injuries on the skin. This solution can also be used as an antiseptic, oxidizer and antiseptic. Although there is not scientific study that shows the effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide in treating fungi, many people have recovered from toenail fungus up on the use of this remedy.This solution is among the effective home remedies for toenail fungus when a correct concentration of 3% is used. A strong concentration is harmful to your skin and may cause various reaction. There are different procedures you can use to apply this remedy. They include the following:

• Obtain 3% hydrogen peroxide solution and mix with equal quantity of water or vinegar. Soak the affected foot in the solution. Leave the solution to penetrate your skin and under the nail bed for about 30 minutes. When done, dry your feet thoroughly before wearing socks or shoes.
• Alternatively, you can spray the affected foot using the hydrogen solution and leave it to dry there.

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When To See A Doctor About Toenail Fungus

If you are experiencing persistent toenail fungus or pain is present, you may need to see a specialist. A dermatologist or podiatrist may be able to assess your symptoms and send a small sample of the affected toenail or flesh to a laboratory to be analyzed as there are various types of fungi and yeasts that cause onychomycosis. Knowing the specific cause of your foot fungus can help identify what route to take to treat your condition.

Nail changes can also be caused by underlying conditions, like psoriasis and diabetes, so its important to seek professional medical advice if your condition persists or worsens. Bacterial and fungal infection of skin in diabetes patients often result in hospital admissions, and in severe cases, can result in amputations. If you are at a higher risk for infection, you should skip home remedies and seek professional medical treatment.

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What Are The Pros And Cons

I always recommend using a more effective treatment for your toenail fungal infection. Because there is limited information available regarding whether Vicks VapoRub is an effective treatment for toenail fungus. Scientific studies are small and have not been repeated to confirm effectiveness.

Pros

• May take a long time before seeing any results
• Not scientific proven
• May not work for everyone

Why Does Vinegar Soak Work

The idea behind taking a vinegar foot soak for toenail fungus is relatively simple: vinegar is acidic, which gives it antifungal and antibacterial properties.

To explain a bit further, vinegar is a diluted form of acetic acid . As a result, it is an antifungal agent meaning it slows down the growth of some types of foot fungus and may kill fungus entirely.

It might also make your body less hospitable to fungus because the acidity affects the pH level of your skin. This makes fungal overgrowth and infection much more unlikely.

Its worth noting though, that there is no scientific evidence that shows vinegar soaks is a reliable method for treating toenail fungus.

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Do You Like Home Remedies

During this pandemic, many people have delayed treatments for relatively minor health problems such as nail fungus. Thats completely understandable. It also explains why home remedies are more popular than ever.

We have two options if you would like to learn more. Our eGuide to Favorite Home Remedies is an electronic resource that you can refer to on your computer. You can find it in the Health eGuide section of this website. It provides scientific rationale behind many of our favorite remedies.

If you are the kind of person who loves to hold a book in your hand, we recommend The Peoples Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies . It is 264 pages and can be found in our bookstore.

Have you tried a home remedy to fight your own nail fungus? How did it work? Leave your story in the comment section below.

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Vicks Vaporub For Nail Fungus Does It Actually Work

Fungus Supplement Vicks VapoRub In A Nutshell First of all Vicks VapoRub is a cough suppressant. It is also used to ease joint and muscle pain. Its formula is like petroleum jelly with a strong medicated vapor. Plus, you can use it by rubbing it on the aching areas of your body. However there are speculations that it has other uses.

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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 Peoples 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

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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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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