The use of Vicks Vaporub to treat toenail fungus is a popular home remedy that has been featured frequently in the Houston Chronicle‘s health column. In fact, it is so popular that we’ve seen patients stop taking prescription antifungal medicines despite scientific evidence that they are beneficial, in favor of using this product. Is Vicks Vaporub effective in the treatment of toenail fungus? No, it’s not.
Toenail fungus is not caused by nail polish on its own. That isn’t to imply it doesn’t have a role in the condition. Fungus is an opportunist that takes advantage of broken toenails to infect them. Toenails can be damaged by nail polish.
Medication is the most frequent treatment for toenail fungus. A topical antifungal treatment such as Tolcylen, or an oral antifungal medicine, such as Lamisil, is frequently advised. Both of these drugs are effective and safe, but there are other options for treating a fungal toenail.
To a certain extent, fungus thrives naturally on our feet and shoes. Fungus is an opportunist as well. If the toenail or skin is damaged, the fungus might take advantage of the chance to infect it.
To treat your fungus, any topical drug used to treat fungal toenails must get beneath the toenail in sufficient proportions. This is the most common reason why most topical medicines don’t work. The active antifungal component kills the fungus, but the “vehicle” fails to transport the medication through the toenail. Cream, ointment, gel, lacquer, and oil are all examples of topical antifungal medications.
Athlete’s foot is comparable to toenail fungus. Athletes foot is a fungal skin infection. It is a fairly common foot infection that affects the sole of the foot as well as the space between the toes. The same fungus that infects the skin can also infect the toenails, causing them to thicken and discolor. Athlete’s foot, in fact, is the root of many cases of toenail fungus.