30 Startling Ways Vicks VapoRub Can Solve Your Health And Beauty Problems

Perhaps you’re having a bad reaction to a new shampoo, or maybe you’re just getting older. Regardless of the reason, you have a dry scalp, which isn’t just uncomfortable, but also aesthetically displeasing. No one wants flakes of dead skin appearing on their head, after all.

Luckily, you can quench a dry scalp with the help of Vicks VapoRub, as the petroleum and eucalyptus contained within the ointment help make it an effective salve. Shortly before bed, simply work a thin layer of VapoRub over the driest areas of your head, then sleep with it in place.

Did you know that it typically takes about two weeks for a bruise to fade away? We certainly didn’t! But you’ll no doubt remember how your last bruise seemed to go through all the colors of the rainbow as it healed. That’s because blood is slowly being reabsorbed into your body, although the process doesn’t always look pretty.

So, if you don’t want to wait around and watch your bruise turn a gross hue, turn to Vicks VapoRub. The product’s menthol will both cool down the area and help with the pain that came with your initial injury. Neat! The camphor in the VapoRub will tamp down the inflammation, too. And, altogether, these effects speed up the healing process. Can’t say better than that.

Ever wondered how your skin looks so moisturized and plump – even when you’ve been out in the sun all summer long? Well, it’s all because of oil glands. These aren’t contained in your lips, though, and this explains why wintery weather and sun exposure can cause your kisser to get chapped or dry. But don’t spend your hard-earned cash on fancy balms or lotions! Just rummage inside your medicine cabinet and reach for Vicks VapoRub.

A very thin coating of VapoRub can give your lips the hydration they need to plump back up. You can also use the menthol-rich salve to soothe painful or split areas. Regardless of why you’re applying the ointment, though, be sure to use only a tiny amount. Also, avoid eating any of it – even if you think it tastes delish.

It’s not often you suffer from a sizable cut that needs bandages or stitches. But small scrapes, splinters and other scratches? Those happen all of the time. And while you may leave them to close up on their own, you can use Vicks VapoRub to help the process go even more smoothly.

For one thing, VapoRub has antiseptic qualities, meaning it can clean out your wound and keep infections at bay. It should also help speed up the healing process, and anyone who’s had a painful paper cut will know that hastening its disappearance is ideal.

Sadly, our nails tend to get drier and more brittle as we age, and any cracks that appear as a result can allow fungus to intrude. This in turn leads to some unpleasant side effects: nails may become thicker, turn yellowish-brown, change shape or even give off an off-putting scent. But if this has happened to you – regardless of how old you are – reach for a jar of Vicks VapoRub.

After you’ve scooped up some VapoRub, apply it to the affected area. You may notice that your nail goes dark afterward, but that’s actually a good thing. It means the VapoRub – or more specifically, its antimicrobial and antibacterial ingredient thymol – has killed off the fungus. And from then on, you should hopefully have no more problems.

Perhaps you’re a marathon runner who trains intensively; maybe, on the other hand, you sit in a less-than-ergonomic desk chair for eight hours a day. Either way, you come home and your muscles ache. To dull some of the pain, then, you should reach for your trusted jar of Vicks VapoRub.

Applying VapoRub to the affected area will quickly soothe your pain as it promotes circulation, which gets the muscles back to normal. The rub – complete with the active ingredients camphor, eucalyptus oil and menthol – has even been proven to relieve moderate cases of myalgia and could potentially work for arthritis. And there’s yet another added benefit: the eucalyptus contained within the product may assist in boosting your immune system!

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 33 percent of Americans claim to get sunburn each year – and if you’re among them, you know just how aggravating the condition can be. Your skin aches, pulsates and can even feel hot to the touch. But while you may be tempted to reach for the aloe for relief, just know that VapoRub does the job, too.

Applying a layer of VapoRub will have the same effect as aloe, in fact, as you’ll be able to feel how it quickly cools the surface of your skin. And if that’s not enough, the ointment can also neutralize the redness. So, slather VapoRub on this time, and be sure to wear plenty of sunscreen in the future.

According to a 2004 survey by Mintel, more than 80 percent of women in America sport lipstick – many on a daily basis. But as any make-up aficionado will know, a long-lasting formula that stays put through drinking and eating can be tough to take off before you head to bed.

Let’s say you’ve wiped off your lipstick, but a hint of the color still lingers. If that’s the case, then slather a thin layer of VapoRub over the unwanted stain and leave it in place for five minutes. After that, you should be able to wipe off your make-up with ease. And as an added bonus, you’ll have moisturized your pout, too.

Slimming creams are designed to help the body burn excess fat – alongside exercise, of course. But did you know that Vicks VapoRub can be used in a similar way to over-the-counter weight-loss lotions? Mind you, there is a little more preparation involved. Simply slathering it onto your skin won’t do you any favors. Trust.

Here’s what you need to do instead. First, combine a tablespoon of crushed camphor tablets with the same amount of baking soda and alcohol. After that, add around half a jar of VapoRub and stir to make a paste. Next time you’re getting ready to workout, rub some on your tummy and cover with plastic wrap. Then when you are done, rehydrate your cells by simply rinsing off the solution with plenty of water. Easy when you know how, eh?

While your skin may have come in contact with the virus responsible for causing warts many months ago, that doesn’t matter. This is because a bump can still form on your skin even after that much time has passed. And once a wart appears, it can take years to vanish on its own without any intervention.

Yet Vicks VapoRub aficionados swear by the stuff as DIY wart relief. And if you want to follow in their lead, simply apply a touch of the ointment to the affected area, then cover it with a bandage. But proceed with caution, as experts have yet to weigh in on this remedy – and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor for help, either.

Summer may be the season that beckons us all outdoors, but it’s not a pleasant experience when we have to deal with bugs – especially mosquitoes. If you feel like you’ve tried every insect repellent on the shelves without any relief from bites and stings, however, then dab a bit of VapoRub onto yourself before leaving the house.

VapoRub works wonders as an insect repellent as it contains cedar leaf oil – something that many pests can’t stand. So, put a bit of the product on your legs, arms, neck, ankles and other exposed skin before returning to enjoying life outside in summer and beyond.

Hemorrhoids hurt, and sometimes you may not have the right remedy on hand to soothe such a sensitive spot. Just know, though, that you can always reach for Vicks VapoRub for relief. Take a generous dab of the menthol-laden ointment and layer it over the area to dull the pain and itchiness you feel.

But however effective it may be, VapoRub is only a temporary solution and won’t get rid of the discomfort in the long term. So, if you’ve been persistently annoyed by hemorrhoids, a visit to the doctor’s office may be required for more professional and personalized treatment.

It’s no secret that skincare products can cost a lot of money – with no guarantee that they’ll live up to the hype. And then there’s Vicks VapoRub, which costs a fraction of what you’d pay for a fancy face cream and makes zero promises about its wrinkle-fighting abilities.

Yet VapoRub can make skin brighter and tighter after just a night’s wear – especially on the fine lines that appear on your neck and chest. And while speaking to the Daily Mail in 2009, pharmacist Shabir Daya explained why the ointment works so well. She revealed, “It is the combination of menthol and camphor that have a tightening effect on the skin.”

Stretch marks are part of life and often mark an incredible milestone – carrying a baby, anyone? Still, you may want to soften the look of these jagged lines, and you can do so with a helping of Vicks VapoRub. According to a 2016 article in the Daily Mail, some who’ve slathered the product onto their skin have reported that their marks diminished by 60 to 100 percent after just a week of usage.

But maybe that shouldn’t come as a surprise, as VapoRub has a slew of ingredients that work together to mute stretch marks’ appearance. The combination of camphor, eucalyptus oil, cedar leaf oil, petrolatum and turpentine oil softens the skin and makes it seem less dry – a boon if you want to wave goodbye to those tell-tale scars.

As you know, Vicks VapoRub is a great tool in the fight against congestion. You also may be aware that breathing in hot shower steam can help relieve the sensation of stuffiness. So, just imagine how good it’d feel to combine these two remedies – and get to work on a DIY shower bomb to make it happen.

To make this sinus-clearing wonder, you only need three tablespoons of VapoRub, a half-cup of cornstarch and two tablespoons of water. Firstly, put the ointment into a bowl, then add the cornstarch and, finally, the water. After that, form the resulting paste into balls and leave these out overnight to harden. Then pop one of these balls onto the shower floor and let the whole chamber fill with soothing fumes.

Any Vicks VapoRub aficionado can tell you that the stuff helps to soothe coughs and colds. You just have to rub some onto your chest and breathe in deeply, right? Well, that’s true enough, but some pioneering users have come to realize that it’s not just an upper-body-only remedy.

When you next have an irritating cough, then, try applying VapoRub to the bottoms of your feet before sliding into socks. And while that idea may sound a little odd, don’t rule it out completely. According to some people, slathering the ointment on this part of the body still tells your throat to stop tickling. Apparently, your chest will loosen up a bit, too.

We know that Vicks VapoRub can quell some of your acne breakouts and redness. But that’s not the only inflammation your skin can face – as you’ll know if you’ve been diagnosed with eczema or rosacea. Luckily, you can use the over-the-counter remedy to clear up these skin conditions, too.

VapoRub’s eucalyptus and camphor are, of course, both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. The salve’s ingredients also improve the skin’s appearance and dull any discomfort you may feel from rosacea or eczema. Though you should apply the VapoRub to only a small section of the skin at first to ensure that it doesn’t react badly. Then, if you’re good to go, feel free to layer the product onto your face and experience the relief.

Four of Vicks VapoRub’s ingredients are said to promote hair growth. Lavender apparently boosts blood flow around the follicles, as does eucalyptus, which also fights a dry scalp. At the same time, menthol rids the scalp of irritants, while camphor boosts circulation – thus helping stronger strands to grow.

As such, some people swear by VapoRub to give their locks a helping hand. Yet while experts do acknowledge that bettering blood flow to the head can, indeed, inspire improved hair growth, VapoRub is apparently pretty unlikely to make a substantial difference.

Your feet can dry out for a multitude of reasons. Perhaps you’ve taken a lot of hot baths, for instance, or spent too much time in a humidity-free environment. You may even have athlete’s foot – a fungal infection that can cause skin to get sore, flaky and, yes, dehydrated.

Fortunately, you can rely on VapoRub to help you. As the ointment’s formula includes petroleum jelly, applying it to the skin should help lock in moisture. VapoRub even includes antimicrobials that can kill off the bacteria responsible for your athlete’s foot.

Do you look to VapoRub to get rid of colds and congestion? Well, you’re definitely not alone! Vicks markets the stuff as a quick remedy for these ailments, in fact. But there’s another long-touted benefit of VapoRub you may not be aware of. Basically, it can help treat headaches and even migraines, which is good news for plenty of folks up and down the U.S.

If you struggle with migraines, then, you’ve probably popped more than a few Advil in your time. You may even have had shots, used nasal sprays or resorted to Botox injections – all just to keep that horrific pain at bay. What you may not have tried, however, is VapoRub. That’s right! The household staple can apparently help banish migraines when they come on. Just take a dollop of Vicks and massage it into your temples. The ointment’s soothing menthol scent and lovely coolness will battle against your head pressure and dull that pain.