Vicks VapoRub: a Guru Score of 69% from 4 skincare experts

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

~Yay

"It's habit forming, this little sniffy stick, but that's really good. The [...] vapo rub itself is also moisturizing. It's like a very moisturizing base."

All 7 takes from Dr Dray

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"It's habit forming, this little sniffy stick, but that's really good. The [...] vapo rub itself is also moisturizing. It's like a very moisturizing base."

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"We have the home remedy for toenail fungus, Vicks VapoRub. The thymol, the eucalyptus, seem to help reduce the toenail fungus. Won't cure it, but check out my video on home remedies for toenail fungus, they go over tips and tricks there. $9.39, down from $12.39."

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"Vix Vapor Rub, similar to Listerine, it's got the thymol in it. It also has menthol and camphor and oil of eucalyptus. Those things may also offer some antifungal benefit as well. Take a cotton swab, dip it in the Vix Vapor Rub, and paint it on the nails, and then apply it around the nail, under the nail, really get good coverage. Do this daily. After several months you may see your toenails turn a corner."

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"There's some magic about Vicks VapoRub. It definitely can help with toenail fungus. If you have toenail fungus, consider putting Vicks VapoRub around your toenails and underneath the nail plate. It seems to help in terms of clearing up the fungus, maybe something with the thymol, the eucalyptol in it."

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"There is a small amount of research to show that Vicks VapoRub does help with toenail fungus possibly because the eucalyptus and camphor are anti-fungal but it does seem to be helpful. You gotta make sure you apply it all around the toenails and underneath them, also apply it between the toes since fungus tends to be in the spaces between your toes, and then wash your hands after you apply it."

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"Vicks Vapor Rub, funny enough, has actually been shown to be helpful for toenail fungus just putting it on the toenails daily, it was shown in a small study to be helpful for toenail fungus, though toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to treat. The camphor, menthol, and eucalyptus oil in it can be allergens for sure, they're relatively common, but people love Vicks Vapor Rub, myself included, it's just very soothing to huff it. I like to just smell it out of the jar."

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"Funny enough, if you have toenail fungus, put this on your toenails, it's actually been shown to help with toenail fungus. We're not sure, maybe there's some antifungal effect from the essential oils in Vapor Rub, but yeah, it really can help with that."

208SkinDoc

2.10M subs

~Mixed

"Vicks VapoRub, with its camphor and menthol, is another one that may have some antifungal properties. You can rub that on the nail at night, put socks on before bed, and it's a good idea to have breathable footwear too."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

~Yay

"All 18 people in the study were satisfied with the treatment. It does help, and it actually caused both mycologic cure rate in some people and a physical cure rate. Yes, actually, this is a good hack. Doctorly approved. There is no reason you couldn't use an oral terbinafine plus Vicks Vapor Rub in combination, which is not going to cause any harm and is worth trying to increase the benefit of these two medications together."

All 2 takes from Doctorly

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"There is some data that you could use this home hack. [...] Vicks VapoRub can help with your toenails, but even topical prescription ingredients really lack in efficacy. It's worth trying, but the results, even if it works, might take a year or a year and a half to see, and the cure rate is very low."

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"All 18 people in the study were satisfied with the treatment. It does help, and it actually caused both mycologic cure rate in some people and a physical cure rate. Yes, actually, this is a good hack. Doctorly approved. There is no reason you couldn't use an oral terbinafine plus Vicks Vapor Rub in combination, which is not going to cause any harm and is worth trying to increase the benefit of these two medications together."

Dr. Sam Ellis

893k subs

~Mixed

"There are a couple of home remedies for fungal nails and they work because they contain an antifungal ingredient called thymol. [...] With Vicks VapoRub, [...] you would apply it every single day to your nails for at least a few months."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Frequently asked.

What is Vicks VapoRub?

A topical ointment with camphor, menthol, eucalyptus oil, and thymol, applied to skin for various therapeutic purposes.

Is Vicks VapoRub worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 69%.

What is Vicks VapoRub's Guru Score?

Vicks VapoRub holds a Guru Score of 69%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.