Does Vicks Vaporub Work for Toenail Fungus
Vicks, also known as Vicks Vaporub, is a product that was developed by Lunsford Richardson back in 1905 as a salve to give relief to his children. The product was actually named after his brother-in-law Dr. Joshua Vick.
Vicks is a product that can be found in many households and has been for decades. It is primarily used by people suffering from colds and congestion and is directly associated with the image of a Mom rubbing it on their child’s chest before going off to sleep.
However, Vicks has also become directly connected with toenail fungus and the claim that it can help you to get rid of this annoying problem. It is still up for some debate as to how well it works but there are plenty of comments around the web that suggests in does work.
One such comment was found on Tipking.Co.Uk and was from a reader who said Vicks was recommended by her doctor:
I HAVE HAD NAIL FUNGUS ON TOE AND FINGER NAILS. I HAD THEM ABOUT 3-4 YRS NOW. I TRIED MOSTLY EVERYTHING. I EVEN TRIED WHITE IODINE. I HAD NOTHING. SO MY DOCTOR SAID TO TRY VICKS. IT HAS BEEN ABOUT A WEEK AND ALL MY NAILS ARE GETTING DARK. I HAVE NOTICE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THEM. I WOULD TELL EVERYONE TO TRY THIS.
In fact, some users have claimed that they discussed various options to get rid of toenails fungus with their doctors and several of them actually recommended that they try Vicks to get rid of the fungus.
The main active ingredients in Vicks are Camphor, Eucalyptol, and Menthol, and most of these are for dealing with coughs. However, it is believed that the inactive ingredient Thymol is the key in fighting against nail fungus.
Thymol has been around for hundreds of years and its antibacterial properties have been recognized by several different cultures during that time. The ancient Egyptians used thymol in their process to mummify bodies and the Blackfoot Indians used it for skin infections and small wounds.
Thymol is known as a biocide and is documented to have strong antimicrobial properties. Is this the reason Vicks may work to inhibit the growth of toenail fungus?
One of the main reasons why consumers have been willing to try Vicks on toenail fungus is that it is not overly expensive. You can get a pack of 3 for about $12.00 on Amazon and that price makes it worth the test.
Some of the drawbacks to using Vicks is that the product is known to have a very strong smell and that could be an issue. Also, Vicks can make your skin and feet excessively moist and that can also cause problems for some people.
In addition to the issues mentioned above, another common complaint was that Vicks turned toenails a dark brown or black color. It was hard to tell if this was part of the healing process or an unwanted side effect.
Ultimately, Vicks was not formulated for toenail fungus but it may work on select cases. If you are looking for a non-prescription type remedy for nail fungus, tea tree oil based products have been proven effective.
Powerful Benefits of Tea Tree Oil
The benefits of tea tree oil have been well documented over the last few decades but were once only known by the original inhabitants of Australia. Also known as Melaleuca oil, tea tree oil was used in a variety of ways to help combat many common ailments.
They were known to crush the leaves and use them to rub on cuts and to prevent infections. Often, they would mix them with clay and use that to pack wounds. Even though white settlers in the area were able to learn about the healing ability of tea tree oil, it remained virtually unknown to the rest of the world for nearly 150 years.
It was an Australian chemist by the name of Arthur Penfold who put together a team of scientists to study the health benefits of tea tree oil back in 1922. As a result of their studies, a paper was soon published documenting the antibacterial and antifungal properties of the oil.
Tea tree oil quickly became known as a new type of germicide that was known to be safe to human cells. Soon it was being used for all kinds of things such as:
- Cuts
- Infections
- Head lice
- Ringworm
- Gingivitis
- Fungus
It was not long before medical professionals, dentists, scholars, and even animal doctors began touting the benefits of tea tree oil. For a number of years, the popularity of tea tree oil began to slow down but it came roaring back during the 1960′s.
During this time, new scientific evidence came forward that showed the oil had a positive impact on gynecological infections, skin boils, and eventually nail bed infections. Based on this demand, farms were now being developed to commercialize production.
In the early 1990′s, an associate professor at the Western University of Australia by the name of Tom Riley led a scientific research team that has produced several new papers and reviews on the effectiveness of tea tree oil.
Riley and his team were able to disclose that Melaleuca oil had the ability to fight against…
- Fungal infection that causes dermatitis
- E Coli and Staph Infections
- Bacterial Vaginosis
- Halitosis/Bad breath
In addition, Mr. Riley’s team was able to discover that in mild dilutions, tea tree oil was able to inhibit various bacteria but did not threaten normal human skin.
Over the years, there have been many studies completed on the health benefits of tea tree oil and new studies are being done on a regular basis. The oil has amazing properties with just one of them being its ability to stop the growth of dermatophytes that cause toenail fungus.
Today, authentic tea tree oil is used in a host of products and toiletries, including products like Zetaclear that are specifically formulated for toenail and fingernail fungus. You can also purchase pure tea tree oil via online retailers like Amazon.com.
Lamisil Side Effects – Are They Dangerous?
When it comes to prescription strength toenail fungus medications to help get rid of yellow nails, Lamisil is one of the better known names on the market. However, Lamisil side effects can be dangerous so you need to be aware before you decide to use it.
What Is Lamisil?
Lamisil, scientifically known as Terbinafine, is an antifungal medication that is often prescribed in a tablet form to help stop the growth of both fingernail and toenail fungus. The medication is taken by mouth for a period of time specified by your doctor.
These Lamisil tablets should not be confused with over the counter creams or gels that Lamisil offers primarily for athlete’s foot.
Lamisil Side Effects
Most drugs can cause some side effects but Lamisil side effects can be especially dangerous. The reasons for this are the harsh ingredients used in the drug as well as the prolonged use required to get rid of toenail fungus.
Here are some of the known side effects as shown on WebMD.com
Diarrhea, stomach upset, or temporary change or loss of taste may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: new signs of infection (e.g., fever, chills, persistent sore throat), vision changes.
This drug has rarely caused very serious (possibly fatal) liver disease. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop symptoms of liver disease, including persistent nausea, loss of appetite, severe stomach/abdominal pain, dark urine, vomiting, yellowing eyes/skin.
A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
One of the major potential side effects of Lamisil tablets would be the potential damage to your liver or kidney. Although rare, such side effects can be life threatening in certain situations.
In addition to its direct side effects, Lamisil could also adversely affect other medications that you may be taken. It is very important to speak with your doctor about other prescriptions you are using.
If you need a Lamisil alternative that does not offer the same harsh side effects, try a natural antifungal such as Zetaclear or Funginix.
Why Toenail Fungus Won’t Go Away
If you are suffering from toenail fungus, you will quickly learn that it is very stubborn and you will often see people asking online about why it won’t go away.
Well, there are many different reasons why you are unable to get rid of toenail fungus so let’s talk about some of the major reasons.
1. Misdiagnosis
Some people believe that they have toenail fungus when they may actually have psoriasis or some other kind of skin ailment that could look similar to nail fungus. The only way to know for sure is to have your doctor do a test on your nail clippings/shavings.
Without this test, you could waste a lot of time or money using products that were not designed to treat your particular condition. So, if you have not had a test done and are not seeing fast enough results, you should check with your doctor to ensure that you are buying the right products and treating the right ailment.
2. Fungus Is Under Your Nails
Some cases of nail fungus are superficial and are a bit easy to get rid of because whatever solution you are using can access the fungus. However, most cases of nail fungus involve the fungus being under the nail.
This means that it is much harder to reach the fungus and requires a much longer time for most treatments to be effective. The key is to be diligent and not give up weeks after you start.
3. Reinfection
Toenail fungus is highly contagious and reinfection is one of the primary reasons that many sufferers are unable to get rid of it. If you are not careful, it is quite easy to contract it again and you will have to start the process all over again.
One of the fastest ways to be infected with toenail fungus is by walking barefooted in areas that could be contaminated. This normally means around surfaces like swimming pools, showers, bath tubs, gym floors, etc. Any of these spaces could have fungi lingering on them for many month so you need to protect yourself by wearing shower shoes or some other kind of shoe.
Keep in mind that the same thing applies inside your home. You can get nail fungus from a public location but you can get it from your own home just as fast. It’s important to keep your bathroom and other areas clean and sanitized.
4. Unclean Socks and Shoes
One of the best ways to fight against toenail fungus is to make sure that you change your socks and shoes on a regular basis. This is especially important if you sweat a lot or work and live in humid areas.
It is a good idea to have multiple pairs of shoes and rotate them daily to keep them dry. You can also spray them with some type of foot powder to help with that process. The dermatophytes that cause nail fungus can live inside of your shoes for long periods of time.
Even though toenail fungus is definitely difficult to get rid of, it is possible.
What Is Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is basically the scientific name for toenail fungus or fungal infection of the nail. It is a very common nail disease and one that is suffered by over 35 million people just in the United States. Even though Onychomycosis can affect both fingernails and toenails, it is far more common on toes.
Onychomycosis or Toenail Fungus
Symptoms of Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis symptoms can vary but one of the most common is to have yellowish colored nails that become very thick in appearance. In addition, your nails can become brittle or cracked and will often separate and raise up from the nail bed.
After exposure, early symptoms of the infection can start to appear in 4 to 14 days.
Although there is normally no physical pain associated with fungal nails, they can lead to a great deal of psychological pain especially in the case of women.
What Causes Onychomycosis?
In the United States and other western countries with similar climates, dermatophytes are the fungi most commonly responsible for Onychomycosis. Dermatophytes can be responsible for nail fungus, athlete’s foot, and jock itch on the human body.
There are a couple of dermatophytes that can be transferred from human to human but there are also others that can be transferred from pets, such as dogs and cats, to humans.
Types
There are several different kinds of Onychomycosis but two of the most common are “Subungual” and “White Superficial.” Subungual is the most common and is when the fungi invades both the nail plate and underneath the nail itself. White superficial is far less common and involves the superficial layers of the nail plate.
Risk Factors for Onychomycosis
- Age
- Poor Blood Circulation
- Genetics and History of the Ailment
- Males
- Slow Growing Toenails or Fingernails
- Compromised Immune Systems
- Sweating
- Humid Environments
- Improperly Fitted Shoes
- Failure to Regularly Change Socks and Shoes
- Exposure to Contaminated Surfaces
- Athlete’s Foot
- Diabetes
- Nail Damage
Learn more about Onychomycosis on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
How to Treat an Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails can be super painful and may even lead to infections if they are not taken care of properly. The symptoms of an ingrown toenail are unmistakeable for most since they often involve pain, swelling, and soreness.
What Is an Ingrown Toenail?
Basically, an ingrown toenail happens when your nails begin to grow into your skin and surrounding flesh versus straight out from the end of your toe. Although they can happen on any toe, they are most common on the big toe.
As with any kind of health ailment, the ideal thing to do is to try and avoid getting it in the first place. You can help stop ingrown nails by making sure to keep your nails trimmed short and proper.
This means that you should cut your nails on a regular basis and make sure not to round off the edges. It is important to cut your nails straight across the top as this will help them to not grow sideways into your skin.
How to Fix an Ingrown Toenail?
If your ingrown toenail is in the early stages of cutting into your skin, you may be able to lightly pry it out and trim the nail. Remember, you don’t want to round off the edges but you will need to try and clip the portion of nail that is going into your flesh.
Since toenails can be rather thick and tough to cut, it is normally a good idea to soak your feet in some warm water and maybe a little Epsom salt. This will help to soften your toenails and make them easier to cut.
You also want to make sure and cut your nails with a heavy duty toenail clipper versus a smaller clipper that you would use on fingernails. This allows you to get a smoother single cut as opposed to multiple smaller cuts.
You can use your fingernail or a nail file to help pry your embedded nail out of your skin. If your toe is infected and showing signs of pus, you may need to see a foot doctor.
You can get an idea of what it takes to relieve the pain of an ingrown toenail in the following video. However, please check with your doctor before attempting anything shown on the web.
If you do get to the point where you need to have your nail removed, it is normally an outpatient type of treatment provided you don’t have any other health complications.
You can check out the photos below from a brave lady who shared her ingrown nail surgery day with us. As you can see from the first picture, her nail has obviously become infected.
Infected Ingrown Toenail
Getting prepped for anesthesia and removal of the embedded toenail…
Getting Prepped for Anesthesia
You have to wonder how painful it is to have a needle stuck into your big toe or maybe it’s not.
Numbing the toe before surgery
Portion of the ingrown nail removed.
Ingrown Nail Removed
All finished.
Ingrown Nail Surgery Completed
Needless to say, an ingrown toenail can turn into a pretty big deal if you are not diligent in taking care of it. Thanks to TheGirlsNY for sharing these helpful pics.
3 Dangers of Severe Toenail Fungus
When it comes to nail fungus, millions of people just consider it to be a cosmetic issue but severe toenail fungus can lead to some major complications that you will probably want to avoid.
Toenail fungus is caused by a small organism that normally finds its way under your nails through some kind of breach in your surrounding skin or the nail itself. Once inside, it can feed and thrive on nail debris and eventually spread to other nails on your foot. If you are not super careful, you may even end up with the fungus on your fingernails as well.
As for severe nail fungus cases, here are a few real dangers that you should know about…
Infected Ingrown Toenail
One of the most painful dangers that can result from toenail fungus is an infected ingrown toenail. If you have ever had an ingrown toe nail in the past, you know that they can be extremely painful and may even lead to days off work depending on what kind of job you have.
Toenail fungus combined with an improperly growing nail can cause redness, swelling, and pus to form around your nail. This can eventually lead to swelling in your entire toe. This can be a major problem and especially if it is your big toe.
Although normal toenail fungus is not generally painful, an ingrown toenail is a whole different story. The pain can be unbearable and can easily lead to difficulty walking and maybe even an unwanted podiatry bill.
Toenail Removal
Another danger associated with nail fungus infection is potential toenail removal. If you are like most people, you really don’t want to run around with missing toenails. This can be even more troubling for women who tend to wear sandals and open toe shoes more often than men.
In addition to being unsightly, toe nail removal can obviously be very painful. Your doctor will help to numb the area prior to the procedure but that doesn’t mean you won’t feel it.
In a perfect scenario, you will grow another toenail and it will be normal. However, sometimes this does not happen or the nail does not grow in straight and smooth.
Toenail Fungus and Diabetes
One of the biggest risk factors to someone with severe nail fungus is diabetes. If you have diabetes, complications with even minor infections can sometimes lead to amputations. Needless to say, this is a very big danger and one that you will want to avoid at all costs.
Diabetics need to be extremely careful when it comes to their foot and nail care and some of them even have it done by professionals to avoid any mistakes. If you clip your nails too short or improperly, it can lead to infected ingrown nails or an opening that will allow fungus to enter. Once the fungus begins to live and feed under your nails, this can lead to other major foot problems.
Although toe nail fungus is considered to be a low threat for many, it can definitely lead to more serious medical problems if you don’t address it timely.
Are You at Risk for Toenail Fungus?
How do you get toenail fungus is a question that is asked by many who believe they may have the ailment or want to take steps to avoid it. There are several risk factors that you should be aware of to better protect your nails so let’s take a look at a few of them.
Age
Age is one of the many risk factors associated with developing toenail fungus because the elderly often suffer from weaker immune systems. In addition, as you age, you can suffer from reduced blood flow and nails that tend to grow much slower. All of these things can make you more susceptible to developing toenail fungus problems.
Poor Grooming Habits
Needless to say, poor grooming habits and sub-par hygiene can put you at risk for contracting nail fungus. Nails that are not kept neat and trimmed can be damaged easier and that often provides an opening for fungi. Combine this with improper bathing and washing of your feet and toe nails and you are setting yourself up for fungus problems.
Improper Fitting Footwear
Shoes and sneakers that don’t fit properly can put you at risk for having an infected toe nail. If your shoes don’t fit correctly, your nails will rub or slam against the insides of your shoes and this can cause trauma that will allow fungi to enter your nail bed. Eventually, this breach will lead to crumbling and yellow nails, or may cause you to actually lose your nail because it fell off.
Excessive Sweat and Moisture
The dermatophytes that often cause nail fungus thrive in damp and dark places. That makes the insides of sweaty shoes the perfect environment for them to spread and infect your nails. It is important to keep your feet dry by using powders or sprays and by changing both shoes and socks as needed.
Exposure to Contaminated Surfaces
One of the greatest risk factors for contracting fungus on toenails is being exposed to contaminated areas. This includes places like shower stalls, pool decks, bath tubs, or any similar surface where you may decide to walk without shoes. Fungi can live for many months on these surfaces so you need to protect your feet and nails whenever possible.
Sharing Shoes
It only takes a few minutes to be at risk for toe nail fungus and one of the fastest ways is by wearing shoes or socks owned by someone who may already have nail fungus. Several years ago there was a Mom online who got nail fungus after putting on her daughter’s shoes for just a few minutes.
Toenail Fungus Fast Facts
Here are some interesting facts about toenail fungus and toenail fungus treatments…
- Toenail fungus is a major problem and one that affects over 35 million people just in the United States. That number swells into the hundreds of millions when you consider the many other countries around the world.
- Nail fungus is often caused by a small living organism (fungi) known as a dermatophyte. There are several different kinds of dermatophytes but Trichophyton rubrum is a common one that causes nail fungus.
- Dermatophytes normally infect your nails after entering through some kind of crack or nail trauma. They don’t need light to survive and literally feed from your feet and nails before spreading to other nails.
- Nail fungus can infect both toenails and fingernails but it is far more common on toenails since the dark and moist areas inside your shoes are a prime environment for them to grow and multiply.
- Toenail fungus can infect the nails of both men and women but is often more prevalent in men. It is also a very common ailment for the elderly.
- Nail infections are often ignored by people and not considered to be that serious. However, it can be a major threat in some cases, especially if you are someone who suffers from diabetes or has a very weak immune system.
- You may be more prone to develop nail fungus if you have a family history of the ailment, sweat profusely, wear poorly ventilated shoes, or have reduced blood circulation.
- Also known as Onychomycosis, nail fungus is highly contagious and can be easily contracted from contaminated surfaces like tubs, pool decks showers, or by sharing shoes or towels used by anyone that has been infected with toenail fungus.
- Damaged nails are more likely to be invaded by dermatophytes so avoid repeated banging of your nails or shoes that don’t fit properly.
- Infected nails will typically begin to become thicker, yellow, brittle, and cracked. It is also not uncommon for the nail to become raised and separate from the nail bed.
- Nail fungus can often be confused with other skin ailments so it is important to have test done via your doctor to confirm that you do in fact have toenail fungus.
- Although there are some cases of nail fungus that generally infect the surface of the nail, it is more common for your nails to be infected under the nail. This means that it is normally harder to eradicate since the fungus is actually protected from treatment by your nails.
- There are several different kinds of treatments from nail fungus including oral prescription type medications like Lamisil, over the counter products, and several homeopathic remedies.
- In recent months, laser treatment of toenail fungus has gained momentum in effectively treating this disease but the cost is known to be rather high for the average consumer.
- Keeping your nails clipped and clean can go a long way in helping to contract nail fungus. In addition, regular exposure to air and sunlight can also help to combat the ailment.
7 Quick And Easy Tips To Handle Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a problem that impacts close to 35 million people in the United States and potentially hundreds of millions around the world. Each and every month, countless thousands search google and the internet in an attempt to find a way to grow clear nails.
Toenail fungus can cause great stress as it turns your nails thick and yellow and effects everything from what kinds of shoes you may want to wear to whether or not you frequent public areas like pools and beaches.
Here are seven quick things that you should know about toenail fungus and its treatment.
1.Toenail fungus is caused by a small living organism that is known as a dermatophyte. They love to live in dark and damp places like the inside of sweaty shoes and feast on nail debris.
2.Toenail fungus is highly contagious and can live for long periods of time on surfaces like shower stalls, swimming pools, and locker room floors. It’s critical that you protect your feet at all times.
3. Toenail fungus is sometimes mistaken for other skin problems such as psoriasis or eczema. So, it’s important that you are sure that you have fungus in order to treat it correctly.
4.Many people who suffer with toenail fungus choose to use natural products and skip the harsh side effects associated with several prescription based drugs.
5.One of the top ways to kill off toenail fungus is to make sure and keep your feet dry and clean on a daily basis. You especially want to pay attention to the wet areas found between your toes and may even want to use a small hair dryer if necessary.
6.It’s a good idea to change your socks daily and switch shoes often during the week. This will help to avoid environments that allow fungi to grow.
7.Natural antifungals such as tea tree oil, clove oil, and undecylenic acid are known to help stop the growth of nail fungus. You can get these fungus fighting ingredients in several natural products like zetaclear or buy them as stand alone items if you prefer.
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