Undergo laser therapy or nail removal procedures if the infection persists (4)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nVicks is an affordable and low-risk home treatment worth trying first. But working with a doctor to get professional medications or procedures may be necessary if that fails. Getting evaluated can also rule out nail problems potentially caused by something else, like psoriasis or a nail injury.<\/p>\n
Other Home Remedies and Treatments for Nail Fungus<\/h2>\nTea tree oil<\/h3>\n
Tea tree oil is a popular natural antifungal treatment. It contains terpinen-4-ol, which appears to attack fungal cells (1). In one study, daily application of 25-50% tea tree oil enabled clinical improvement in 60% of patients with toenail fungus after 3 months of treatment (2).<\/p>\n
You can apply undiluted tea tree oil to the affected nails once or twice daily using a dropper or cotton swab. Be sure to clean and dry your nails thoroughly before applying.<\/p>\n
Oregano oil<\/h3>\n
Oregano oil also has antifungal properties, likely due to its content of carvacrol and thymol (3). In one test-tube study, oregano oil was effective against 24 strains of fungi, making it a promising natural remedy (4). You can apply a few drops of oregano oil to affected nails twice daily.<\/p>\n
Combine it with a carrier oil like olive or coconut oil if you have sensitive skin.<\/p>\n
Apple cider vinegar<\/h3>\n
The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar may help kill fungus (5). What’s more, its antibacterial properties could help prevent secondary infections (6). That said, current evidence is limited to test-tube studies. More human research is needed.<\/p>\n
To use apple cider vinegar topically, combine equal parts with water. Apply the mixture to affected nails with a cotton ball once or twice daily.<\/p>\n
Baking soda<\/h3>\n
A small study found that a paste made of baking soda and water inhibited the growth of fungus when applied to affected toe and finger nails (7). You can create a paste by mixing equal parts baking soda and water. Apply it to nails using a cotton swab and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing.<\/p>\n
Repeat once or twice daily until the infection clears.<\/p>\n
Prescription medications<\/h3>\n
For moderate to severe cases, doctors may prescribe antifungal pills, such as terbinafine or itraconazole. These oral medications can produce a cure rate of 70\u201380% when taken continuously for 12 weeks (8). Common side effects include headache, upset stomach, rash, or liver problems.<\/p>\n
Some drugs interact with these antifungals, so be sure to tell your doctor what medications you take before starting treatment.<\/p>\n
Laser treatment is another option that involves shining a beam of light on the fungus under local anesthesia. Several sessions may be required, but it has a high success rate, especially for mild infections (9). However, it can be expensive. Discuss pros, cons, risks and costs with your podiatrist.<\/p>\n
If over-the-counter remedies don’t seem to be helping, see your doctor. Prescription antifungal pills or laser therapy may be necessary to get rid of a persistent fungal nail infection.<\/p>\n
When to See a Doctor About Nail Fungus<\/h2>\nIf fungus persists after 6 months of treatment<\/h3>\n
Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, can be stubborn and difficult to treat. Many over-the-counter antifungal treatments require 6 months or more of consistent application before results are seen.<\/p>\n
If after diligently using an antifungal for over 6 months you don’t see improvement, it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor.<\/p>\n
Prescription oral antifungal medications or laser treatments may be more effective for severe or persistent fungal nail infections. Oral antifungal pills like terbinafine or itraconazole can penetrate deeper to attack root causes and may be able to knock out infections more quickly than topicals.<\/p>\n
Laser treatments like the PinPointe FootLaser use a high-energy beam to blast fungi and spur nail regeneration. These medical treatments can come with risks like liver damage or are expensive, so it’s important to consult a physician.<\/p>\n
If infection worsens or spreads<\/h3>\n
Nail fungus that starts in one nail can sometimes spread to other nails. This is more likely if the infection issevere or left untreated altogether. Pay attention to any changes during self-treatment. If you notice more nails becoming infected, the fungus worsening, or nail deterioration, it’s smart to see your doctor.<\/p>\n
A podiatrist can determine if your at-home antifungal routine needs to be changed or if you need prescription meds. Stopping the spread of a fungal outbreak early is important. The more nails affected, the harder it is to treat.<\/p>\n
If nail fungus is causing you pain or discomfort<\/h3>\n
While a fungal nail infection itself is rarely painful, it can lead to other issues that cause discomfort. As the infection progresses, nails can become brittle and crumbly. Painful ingrown nails are also common with fungal infections.<\/p>\n
If your nail fungus is making your daily life uncomfortable, don’t hesitate to see a podiatrist. They can remove ingrown or damaged sections of nail and help find better treatment options to clear your infection. Getting advanced nail fungus under control can alleviate associated pains.<\/p>\n
If you have diabetes, vascular disease or a weakened immune system<\/h3>\n
Those with diabetes, vascular disease, or compromised immune systems face increased risks with fungal nail infections. Diabetes in particular diminishes blood flow to extremities and high blood sugar impairs your body’s ability to heal itself.<\/p>\n
If not treated promptly and properly, nail fungus can lead to cellulitis, a serious bacterial skin infection. People with chronic illnesses should see a doctor at the first signs of nail fungus rather than attempting to self-treat.<\/p>\n
Prescription oral or intravenous antifungals may be warranted in these cases. Left untreated, the consequences can be severe.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n
In conclusion, using Vicks VapoRub to treat nail fungus requires diligent, daily application for typically 2 to 6 months before you’ll see full clearance. Some minor improvements may show within just a few weeks. Be sure to apply Vicks properly and consistently to increase its effectiveness.<\/p>\n
Consider combining it with other remedies. See your doctor if the infection lasts more than 6 months or gets worse. With patience and persistence, Vicks VapoRub can help get rid of ugly, uncomfortable fungal nail infections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nail fungus is an unsightly and often uncomfortable fungal infection that causes thickened, discolored nails. If you have nail fungus, you may be wondering if home remedies like Vicks VapoRub can help get rid of it. This article will explore how long it takes for Vicks VapoRub to work on nail fungus, providing a detailed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":2,"label":"Nail Guide"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-long-does-it-take-for-vicks-to-work-on-nail-fungus-1024x614.webp",1024,614,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Amanda Smith","author_link":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/author\/chris\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Nail Guide","slug":"nail-guide","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1279,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":2,"category_count":1279,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Nail Guide","category_nicename":"nail-guide","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/how-long-does-it-take-for-vicks-to-work-on-nail-fungus.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=93"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/93\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=93"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=93"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vampy-varnish.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=93"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}