I am sure you have heard of the home remedy “cure” for nail fungus that uses Vicks VapoRub if you have nail fungus and want to get rid of it. Do you think that these over the counter topical cough suppressants are really effective at killing toenail fungus?
Considering that it would be a cost-effective cure, with a bottle costing roughly five dollars, is it backed by science as well?
I am going to go over a scientific study which aimed to answer the same question: can Vicks VapoRub kill toenail fungus in the body over the long term?, and my focus will be on this study.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
An infection known as onychomycosis, or toenail fungus, is a fungal infection that causes your toenails to thicken and develop blemishes. It can cause cosmetic issues as well as pain over the course of time as a result of this condition. Athletes’ feet are at a higher risk of developing toenail fungus due to the fact that most people spend a lot of time in the water, experience diabetes mellitus, and spend most of their time near water. We must first understand the symptoms of toenail fungus before we can tell you how to get rid of it once and for all.
Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
Onychomycosis patients will experience the following symptoms:
- The nails of infected people are thicker
- Changing color of nails from white to yellow-brown
- Nails that are crumbly, brittle, or ragged
- Nails that lift easily from the bed due to distortion
- It smells bad when your nails are infected
- On the nails, there is a larger white dot
Can Vicks VapoRub kill toenail fungus?
There is no doubt in my mind, however, that despite the fact that the study concluded that “Vicks VapoRub appears to have a positive clinical effect when it comes to the treatment of onychomycosis” – it’s still true that it only works for some people.
It is more likely than not that Vicks VapoRub will be unable to help you get rid of your infection as most toenail infections are caused by T. rubrum. On the other hand, if your infection stems from a yeast growth or is due to the presence of T mentagrophytes, it could prove useful.
There is limited scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of Vicks VapoRub in treating toenail fungus despite some anecdotal evidence.
The antifungal properties of Vicks VapoRub may not be sufficient to completely eradicate the fungus, since it contains ingredients such as camphor, eucalyptus oil, and menthol.
If you don’t know what antifungal treatments are right for you, discuss it with your healthcare professional. These may include oral medications or topical creams formulated to effectively get rid of nail fungus.
Toenail fungus and Vicks VapoRub – what’s the connection?
Procter & Gamble’s over-the-counter cough suppressant has a strong smell you’re probably familiar with. Menthol, camphor, and eucalyptus oil are responsible for giving Vicks VapoRub its infamous smell.
It comes down to two ingredients in VapoRub that are active against toenail fungus: camphor and eucalyptus oil. Antifungal properties have been observed in these ingredients.
Although their main purpose is to soothe coughs, some claim they can also kill toenail fungus when applied to the toenails.
The fungi that cause toenail fungus can vary from strain to strain. What is the effectiveness of VapoRub in killing toenail fungus? Will it work as a catch-all product?
Here’s what we find out.
Vicks VapoRub and nail fungus: What the studies have shown
We’re going science-y now. The Journal of Clinical Pharmacy published an interesting study in 2011 on over-the-counter cures for toenail fungus. Vicks VapoRub was used in this study to treat toenail fungus.
In the world of toenail fungus, there are various types. In addition to dermatophytes and yeasts, nondermatophyte molds can also cause toenail fungus.
There is, however, one dermatophyte that typically causes toenail fungus: trichophyton rubrum, also called T. rubrum.
How does Vicks fight toenail fungus?
The only thing you need to fight toenail fungus is Vicks VapoRub. The active ingredients in Vicks’ products are camphor and eucalyptus which eliminate the fungi that cause onychomycosis, namely C. parapsilosis and T. mentagrophytes.
Precautions
In order to get rid of toenail fungus with Vicks VapoRub, follow the following precautions.
- Avoid children’s reach and pets’ fury by keeping Vicks in a safe place.
- Vicks should never be used on sensitive skin.
- A physician should be consulted if a person has onychomycosis.
Tips for taking care of your toenails
Following these tips will help you take care of your toenails while using Vicks to treat toenail fungus.
- Using soap and water, clean your feet daily, paying special attention to the areas between your toes.
- Toenails affected by fungus should be trimmed periodically with a clean tool.
- In order to get rid of the fungus, you should not use polish on the discolored toenails.
- You should wear socks that absorb or draw moisture away from your feet.
- Shoes that allow air to freely flow through them are the best choice.
- In public places where it is wet, such as swimming pools, you should wear shower shoes.
VapoRub can also be used for other purposes
Vicks VapoRub can be used for more than just treating toenail fungus.
- Insect and mosquito repellent
- Pain Relief for Earaches
- Symptoms of the common cold and flu can be eliminated
- Stretch marks are healed by this product
- Ensures headache prevention
- Bites caused by insects are soothed
- Muscles that are aching are eased
- Cracked heels can be healed
- Your chest needs to be decongested
Does Vicks Vapor Rub Help Toe Fungus?
In addition, it’s one of the cheapest and easiest home remedies for treating fungal infections of toenails.
Conclusion
There may be some information on this, but we do not have enough to be sure.
Most fungus culprits can’t be treated by Vicks VapoRub. As a result, it may just be inconvenient for the majority of people.
If you have a yeast infection or a T mentagrophyte infection, Vicks VapoRub may be beneficial.
Our best bet might be to choose trusted and proven azole antifungals such as ketoconazole.
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