US Doctor Claims Rubbing Vicks Under Nostrils Can Cause Pneumonia

Let’s be honest, most of us regularly use Vicks Vaporub for a lot of things.

Have a cold? No problemo, just slap some Vicks on. Duh.

It’s also a godsend when I have cough, I just rub the Vaporub on my chest and I can sleep like a baby without coughing my lungs out.

But I have to admit that I also use VapoRub for other things.. like applying it under my nose. Apparently, this can cause pneumonia.

US Doctor Claims Rubbing Vicks Under Nostrils Can Cause Pneumonia

A Facebook post by a doctor from the United States named Dr Hawa Edriss warned that doing the above might be detrimental to our health.

Personally, applying VapoRub under my nose eases any nasal congestions I have.

However, Dr Edriss says that it could cause pneumonia. She recounts the experience of a middle-aged man who applied VapoRub regularly under his nose to help him with his nasal congestions.

Oops, that sounds like me.

He did it for more than 10 years and was always having trouble with his respiratory system.

Hence, he was in and out of health care centres, before he came to Dr Edriss for help. Finally, he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

Apparently, a lot of people seem to misuse Vicks VapoRub because the post garnered a lot of shares. 23,000 shares to be specific.

Dr Edriss had treated this man and diagnosed him with Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia.

Caused By Breathing In Mineral Oils

But what exactly in the Vicks VapoRub caused it? Before I explain, let me define what is Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia.

Exogenous Lipoid Pneumonia (ELP) is defined by Dr Edriss as a rare form of pneumonia caused by inhaling a fatty substance like animal fat, vegetable oil or mineral oils.

ELP shows up on X-rays as fast as 30 minutes after inhalation. The person affected will then develop black spots within 24 hours of the last inhalation.

This is the middle-aged man’s CT scan which clearly shows black spots on his lungs.

Don’t Throw Out Your Vicks VapoRub Yet

Now before you press the panic button, please don’t throw out your Vicks VapoRub before reading the following.

Vicks VapoRub is not harmful as long as you don’t apply it under your nose. Dr Edriss explains that the gel contains a lot of mineral oils such as petrolatum, eucalyptus oil, cedarleaf oil, nutmeg oil… well you get the idea.

Inhaling these oils might cause them to end up in your lungs by some miracle. However, you can safely use it on your temples, chest or feet.

TLDR: Just don’t use it under your nose.

Quick question though… Can you put it on your nose?