Vicks VapoRub: A Treatment for Toenail Fungus

One in ten adults suffers from onychomycosis, a condition otherwise known as toenail fungus. It can manifest in many ways but it basically causes the nail to lose its nice uniformed look in exchange for a dry, thicken nail sometimes accompanied with surrounding red, swollen, cracked skin.
This cousin of athlete's foot is a stinker when it comes to treatment because it actually enjoys living and hiding in the toenail. Well, today in clinic I learned that an effective and cheap alternative to medications like Lamisil is something that most can find in their medicine cabinet. By soaking your feet in hot water and then applying Vicks VapoRubto the affected area for as long as needed (usually a few weeks depending on how entrenched the infection is), you can almost always rid yourself of this disfiguring disease. What's the mechanism to Vick's eliminating the fungus? I don't know. But exposing the feet to fresh air by wearing sandals helps as well. 

Overall, the literature on the effectiveness of Vick's Vaporub or any of its ingredients in treating onychomycosis (toenail fungus) is sparse to say the least. But the studies I did find seemed to support the method as legit:

• Consumer Reports: Vicks VapoRub might help fight toenail fungus
  
• An award winning high school science project by Emily Novosedlik that kicks butt over my high school project of "plants grown in the dark, die."
  
• In vitro antagonistic activity of monoterpenes and their mixtures against toe nail fungus pathogens
  

So the research in this area is thin, but what studies there are and according to numerous internet sources, the Vaporub seems to be an effective, safe, cheap, "what-do-you-have-to-lose" alternative to other medications with possible adverse side effects. I did see one credible study that showed Vaporub with oral antifungal medication worked much more effectively that oral medication alone.

Thymol is thought to be the active ingredient responsible for killing the pesky toenail fungus. Thymol is a colorless crystalline solid used in perfume, preserving biological specimens, embalming, or as a fungicide or antiseptic. Besides Vaporub, it is also found in Listerine and in some cigarrettes. Internet reports say that several drops of thymol on the affected nail may be quicker and more effective at eliminating fungus. You can purchase Thymol and read more from this Amazon link. Depending on how bad the infection is, you may need two vials.

Prevention is the key. Here are some quick tips to prevent infection or reinfection:

1. Rotate your shoes often and keep them in a cool dry place.
2. Change your insoles frequently.
3. Use an anti-fungal powder or spray in the shoes.
4. Bleach out the shower on a weekly basis.
5. Wear sandals in the locker room and don't walk around barefoot.
6. If your feet sweat excessively, try an antiperspirant spray on your feet.
7. Keep the toenails in good repair: not too short and not too long.

Tags: onychomycosis, feet, foot, fungus, athlete's foot, toe, toenail, toenail fungus, toe nail fungus,thymol