Doctors say that nail diseases in recent decades have been diagnosed in 20-25% of the inhabitants of our planet. And about 90% of cases of such pathologies are due to fungal infections of the nail plates on the legs or arms. The insidiousness of this phenomenon lies in the fact that many patients consider it just a cosmetic defect, while fungal infections contribute to the penetration of a wide variety of infections into the body. If a fungus of the nails and feet is found, treatment, especially in an advanced form of the disease, will require enormous efforts from both doctors and the patients themselves. This article is dedicated to this topic.
Where and how can you get nail fungus?
To begin with, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the factors and risks that can contribute to the infection of the nail plate with fungal microorganisms. Firstly, it will help to identify the boundaries of the risk of disease for each person reading this article, to detect and start treatment of nail fungus in time,the neglected form of which will seduce few people. Secondly, such information will be useful to those who want to protect themselves from infection.
So, where and under what circumstances does the infection of the nail and foot fungus most easily occur?
- when visiting swimming pools and water parks without appropriate shoes, where elementary hygiene rules are often not observed and anti-fungal treatment is not carried out;
- when visiting cinemas and supermarkets, where a person comes into contact with objects on which fungal microorganisms can remain (binoculars, baskets, carts and even money and tickets);
- with systematic unprotected contact with detergents that can break the integrity of the nail;
- when wearing shoes that meet the latest fashion trends, but do not quite meet the requirements of comfort and safety (narrow, uncomfortable, not breathable);
- when living together with a person with fungal nail disease (when sharing washcloths, nail files, linens and bedding).
In addition to the above risks, there are several factors that are regarded by experts as provoking the development of the disease. These include endocrine disorders, including diabetes mellitus, vascular diseases of the legs and arms, age-related weakening of the body and suppression of the immune system.
How not to miss the time?
In order not to treat nail fungus (an advanced form), it is worth learning how to determine the presence of a problem at a very early stage, that is, before the nailthe plates will take on an unpleasant shape and structure and begin to resemble bird claws. First, be mindful of your body. This advice is especially useful for men who try not to pay attention to small darkening and delamination of the nails, especially on the legs, for a long time. Secondly, it makes no sense to try to treat this disease on your own or hide the consequences of infection with cosmetics. First of all, it is important to remember that you are risking not only your he alth, but also the well-being of your loved ones, because the fungus is very contagious.
When is nail fungus treatment needed?
In the following cases, you should immediately contact a fungus specialist:
- with the appearance of itching and burning of the skin of the feet against the background of its peeling or redness;
- problems with dryness of the feet and periungual areas of the skin, which may cause cracks;
- change in color, transparency of the nail plate, the appearance of tubercles or depressions on it.
Remember that at the initial stage of the development of the disease, the nail may become white or gray, with yellowish or grayish specks. If at this stage no treatment of the nail fungus was carried out, the advanced form of the disease will mark its arrival with the appearance of green, brown and black spots and stripes on the nail plates. It can be very difficult to hide such a lush bloom on your legs or arms.
Advanced nail fungus: delayed treatment, duration
To date, using the mostmodern methods and methods of treating advanced nail fungus, patients have a high chance of completely getting rid of it. Each of the methods has its fans and opponents, however, the first thing that all patients of medical offices should remember is that late treatment will never give results after the first procedures. As a rule, a comprehensive disposal of the fungus occurs within one year, in rare cases, 8-10 months after the start of full-scale treatment.
Methods of treating advanced nail fungus
Effective treatment of toenail fungus today means systemic therapy using external agents: a variety of creams, ointments and even varnish. It is also mandatory to take special medications orally for a long time. In addition, laser treatment of nail fungus is widely used to eliminate fungal infections. A prerequisite for a complete recovery is the general strengthening of the body with the use of vitamin therapy, the normalization of blood circulation in the toes and hands.
External remedies for nail fungus: creams, sprays and ointments
Antimycotic creams and ointments, which are recommended for use by many experts, can not only destroy fungal cells inside the nail plate, but also accumulate and persist in it for a long time. Quite often, the attending physician selects drugs for the treatment of nail fungus, depending on the susceptibility of the pathogen to the active substance of the cream orointments. That is why you should not decide on your own which tool to use, especially if the nail already has fairly extensive and deep damage.
Patient reviews of the treatment of nail fungus cream, ointment or spray
According to the reviews of people who have tried the action of antimycotic creams and ointments, the following drugs are considered the most popular:
- Lamitel, Nizoral and Mikonorm. Their main advantage is their low cost, which allows them to be used without fear for the state of the family budget. In addition, Lamitel spray can be used to treat the inside of shoes as a preventive measure to combat fungi that tend to persist on objects.
- Lamisil, Terbinafine, Batrafen and Exoderil are second in popularity. As their advantages, the respondents named a large selection of dosage forms. After all, these products are presented not only in the form of creams, but also in sprays, which makes their use very convenient.
- The honorable third place in popularity is occupied by drugs for the treatment of nail fungus "Termikon", "Bifosin" and "Mycozoral", which are also available in the form of ointments, creams and sprays, but are much less advertised.
It is worth noting that sprays and creams are more popular, according to surveys, as their structure allows drugs to quickly absorb into the nail andthe skin of the feet, and this, in turn, implies ease of use of funds. Of the negative aspects, patients who used external remedies for advanced nail fungus noted the duration of the course of treatment (from 6 months to 1 year) and the inability to dress or move immediately after applying the funds. In addition, it is noted that too long use of creams, sprays or ointments can eventually provoke an allergy to the components of the drugs used.
Pills for nail fungus
Antimycotic pills for an advanced form of nail fungus are often the only remedy that can cope with the problem. This is due to the fact that the damage to the nail plates is so deep that external agents are ineffective.
What drugs can the attending physician advise for treatment?
- "Diflucan" and its analogues: "Fluconazole", "Mikosist", "Forkan", "Flucostat";
- "Nizoral" or "Ketoconazole";
- "Orungal" and its analogues: "Rumikoz", "Irunin", "Itrazol";
- "Lamisil", as well as similar in composition "Terbinafine", "Exifin" and "Fungoterbin".
According to experts, the listed funds in most cases significantly increase the chances of patients for a full recovery. But the interviewed patients noted that many advertised drugs have "twins" in chemical composition,which also cope well with the disease, but sometimes cost ten times less. For example, with the cost of "Diflucan" on average 450 rubles per package of 10 tablets, its analogue "Fluconazole" in the same quantity and dosage can be purchased for 30-50 rubles.
Liquid products for fungal nail removal
A fairly old and well-known way to deal with an old fungus of the nail plates is to dissolve it with the help of special chemical solutions. If a few years ago this could only be done in a hospital, today such funds can be bought at a pharmacy. Since the action of chemical reagents used to dissolve the nail can cause tissue burns, their use can only be started after consulting a doctor, and possibly even with his direct participation in the process. After all, chemical nail removal is a somewhat different procedure in terms of complexity than, say, treating nail fungus with hydrogen peroxide.
Reviews of liquids that dissolve sore nails
According to the reviews of patients using such solutions, liquids that can fight the fungus by dissolving the nail are very effective, but their use requires great care, since if they get on the skin of the hands or near the nail, a burn can instantly occur. In addition, the respondents agreed that the cost of drugs in this group is quite affordable, and the effectiveness is high. Another plus of nail removal solutions is a quick and noticeable result, because with their help you can remove a diseased nail infor a maximum of 2 months, and an absolutely he althy nail plate will grow in its place.
Laser nail treatment
Despite the abundance of medications, the most popular method among patients is the treatment of nail fungus with a laser. Reviews about him are very rarely negative. The main advantage of this procedure, patients consider the absolute painlessness and speed of the procedure. It is worth noting that experts praise this method for the fact that when using it, the risk of damage to he althy tissue of the nail or finger is zero.
How is the procedure?
Laser treatment of nail fungus is always carried out in a hospital setting. The essence of the treatment is to heat the mycelium of nail fungi to a temperature of 45-50 degrees, as a result of which they die. Another method of eliminating the disease is the coagulation of small blood vessels that feed the fungus with a laser. To achieve a positive result, it is enough to visit a specialist’s office 4 times with an interval of 1 month, who will act on the nail with a laser for 10-20 minutes. Laser treatment of nail fungus is carried out after preliminary preparation, during which the upper rough part of the nail plate is cut off, the nail plate is disinfected and an antifungal agent, such as varnish, is applied to it.
According to statistics, the risk of complications in the form of a slowdown in the growth of the nail plate or the appearance of small scars on it,reaches a maximum of 3-5%. One of the safest methods used today is the treatment of nail fungus with a laser (reviews from specialists and patients confirm this). Among the shortcomings inherent in it, only the high cost of the procedure was mentioned by patients.
Folk treatments for nail fungus
Treatment of nail fungus (advanced form) with drugs does not always give quick results, which is why desperate patients resort to traditional medicine. What healers do not advise their patients: apply mouthwash on the nails and the skin around them, lubricate them with hydrogen peroxide, iodine or even kerosene. Of course, many recipes are ineffective and dangerous, but the use of baths with infusion of herbs (chamomile, calendula) helps to reduce the inflammation that often accompanies a fungal infection, especially on the legs. A disease such as nail fungus cannot be completely eliminated by alternative treatment, but it can help to quickly restore the nail plate and strengthen immunity, which will help fight infection.
Starting the treatment of an advanced form of nail fungus, everyone should remember that it will take at least a year to eliminate the consequences of the long development of the disease. It will be possible to speak of a complete recovery only after laboratory tests confirm the absence of fungus on the feet and nails.
