The development of any fungal disease, as a rule, is provoked by pathogenic fungi. The most common foci of localization of these microorganisms are the skin and nails. As for the second, a he althy nail plate practically does not give the fungus a chance to survive. However, her injuries, as well as a sharp decrease in immunity, a change in the pH of the nails (usually with age) create fertile ground for the development of infection. Also quite serious risk factors are the presence in a person of such problems as impaired metabolism, diabetes mellitus, obesity, diseases of the thyroid gland, gastrointestinal tract and adrenal glands, circulatory disorders.
Fungus is a very viable infection. Treatment can continue for a fairly long period of time. However, the modern pharmaceutical market can offer a variety of drugs for toenail fungus, the list of which is wide and varied.
Fungus on the nails:warning signs
Specialists distinguish 3 stages of infection that affects the nails. At the earliest, no pronounced symptoms are observed.
If you look closely, you can see barely noticeable spots and stripes on the nails. At this stage, it is possible to diagnose onychomycosis only in a laboratory environment
At the second stage, the nail loses its natural luster, changing its natural color to white, grey, brown, black, green or yellow. The upper and lateral parts of the nail plate undergo deformation. If during this period you do not consult a doctor who will prescribe any drugs for toenail fungus (the list of the most popular ones will be discussed below), the third stage of onychomycosis will come, in which the nail exfoliates, breaks, and in general there is a risk of losing it.
The second and third stages of the disease may well be diagnosed independently, since there is a change in color, a loose and thickened nail plate, its lagging behind the nail bed, its (plate) fragility and brittleness.
Associated symptoms
Fungal infections of the nails affect not only the nails themselves, but also nearby skin areas. Although it would be more correct to say that the fungus first attacks the epidermis, and only then spreads to the nail plates. Dry and scaly oval spots appear on the skin around the nails, pockets of thickened keratinized skin, or weeping inflamed areas. The type and type of skin lesion depends ondetermined by the type of parasitic fungus. In the vast majority of cases, the defeat of the epidermis is accompanied by itching and burning sensation.
All the symptoms described above are a reason to seek medical advice and start treatment with appropriate medications. The most popular of these can be called Ketoconazole, Miconazole, Bifonazole, Naftifin, Clotrimazole, Terbinafine.
Instructions for the use of each of them contains complete information about the drug, the area and methods of its use.
Ketoconazole
This antifungal drug is prescribed for use in mycoses of superficial and systemic types. The drug is effective in the treatment of dermatomycosis (fungal skin lesions) and onychomycosis (nail parasitic fungi) provoked by blastomycetes (microorganisms belonging to the class of imperfect fungi). Also, "Ketoconazole" (ointment, tablets and shampoo) is prescribed for the treatment of mycoses of the scalp, vaginal mycoses, blastimocetosis (from the name of the pathogen) of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract and urinary organs. Prescribe medication for many other fungal infections of internal organs.
Ketoconazole ointment (price - 150-500 rubles, depending on the manufacturer and the exact composition) has a fairly standard method of application. The agent is applied in a thin layer on the diseased nail, the affected areas of the skin around it and not less than 2 cm of he althy skin. The problem area should be washed with soap anddried.
Recommended application mode - 1 time per day. However, if the fungal disease is severe enough, or the lesion is in contact with clothing or shoes, you can perform the procedure twice. It is best to apply the cream in the evening. Since the product must be well absorbed, it is best not to wear clothes or shoes immediately after the procedure. The course of therapy can last from 2 to 6 weeks. Treatment with Ketoconazole (ointment) should be continued for a few more days after the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.
An overdose of the drug is extremely unlikely. Among the side effects when using the ointment, itching and burning, contact dermatitis, local edema, erythema are possible. In most cases, the development of such negative manifestations is the result of individual hypersensitivity to the components of the drug. After discontinuation of the drug, negative manifestations quickly disappear by themselves.
When applied externally, "Ketoconazole", the price of which is quite democratic, is not absorbed, does not enter the bloodstream and, therefore, does not have any systemic effect. Therefore, the use of this particular form of release (ointment or cream) is allowed at any stage of pregnancy and throughout the entire lactation period. The main thing is to make sure that the ointment does not get into his mouth while feeding the baby.
Miconazole
The main active ingredients of the drug "Miconazole" (ointment, tablets) have an overwhelming effect on a group of parasitic fungi called dermatomycetes and provoke a number of skin diseases in humans. Medicationalso characterized by bactericidal action against some gram-positive bacteria.
The scope of this medication is very similar to Ketoconazole. In addition to systemic and superficial mycoses, dermatomycosis, blastomycetosis, fungal balanitis, "Miconazole" is often prescribed for preventive purposes to prevent fungal diseases in cases where there is a decrease in the body's immunological resistance (lowering the threshold of resistance to pathogenic agents).
"Miconazole" reviews of doctors and consumers are characterized as an effective remedy for both fungal skin lesions and for the treatment of onychomycosis. In case of fungal diseases of the nails, before applying the ointment, it is recommended to remove the affected part of the nail, and then apply the ointment to the site of infection and apply a special occlusive dressing. Procedures should be carried out 1-2 times a day until a he althy nail plate grows. The average duration of treatment is about 3 months.
As a rule, "Miconazole" (ointment) is well tolerated by patients. In rare cases, you can hear about a slight tingling at the site of application of the composition, burning and redness. It is not recommended to apply the medication along with other creams and ointments.
There are also analogues of the antifungal drug Miconazole. Patient reviews recommend products such as Ginezol 7, Gino-Dactanol, Daktarin, Mikozon.
Naftifin
Medication "Nafthycin" exhibits fungicidal activity againstparasitic fungi of the dermatophyte class and fungistatic activity against yeast-like fungi of the Candida species.
"Naftifin", the price of which ranges from 400 rubles per tube of 15 g, is effective for a number of fungal diseases. It is prescribed for lesions of the skin and skin folds, with epidermophytosis and trichophytosis, with interdigital mycoses. Specialists practice the appointment of this drug for onychomycosis and pityriasis versicolor, with damage to the external auditory canal and mixed fungal diseases characterized by bacterial infections. "Naftifin" (cream) is also recommended for mycoses that develop in the areas of hair growth.
In the treatment of fungal diseases of the nails, the destroyed parts of the nail plate are first removed, and then a cream is applied. Procedures are carried out 1-2 times during the day. The course of therapy can last up to 6 months. To avoid recurrences, it is recommended to apply the cream for another 2 weeks after all the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.
"Naftifin", the price of which is by no means the most democratic, is usually well tolerated by patients. In rare cases, you can hear about the appearance of a local allergic reaction in the form of hyperemia, itching and burning.
Terbinafine
This antifungal agent belongs to the class of allylamines. As patients say, "from the fungus" "Terbinafine" is prescribed for lesions by dermatophytes and some dimorphic fungi. In relation to parasitic yeast fungi, it is characterized by fungicidal or fungistatic activity.depending on the type of the damaging microorganism.
An antifungal agent is effective in a number of diseases. It is prescribed for skin and scalp lesions provoked by dermatophytes. The remedy is effective for mycoses of the feet, inguinal epidermophytosis. It is prescribed for lesions caused by fungi of the genus Candida, with onychomycosis and versicolor.
"Terbinafine" instructions for use recommends applying to previously cleaned, washed and dried foci of infection. Procedures are carried out 1-2 times during the day. The product is applied to the affected area and captures small areas of he althy skin. After that, you can cover the places where the cream is applied with a gauze bandage.
The drug is highly effective. Already after the first procedures, you can visually notice a decrease in the severity of the clinical manifestations of the disease. However, if there are no signs of improvement within 1-2 weeks of using the drug, it is necessary to verify the previously established diagnosis.
Usually, Terbinafine is well tolerated by patients, but sometimes consumers report slight redness, itching and burning at the site of application of the cream.
Clotrimazole
The antifungal drug "Clotrimazole" is effective in a number of fungal skin lesions provoked by dermatophytes, molds and yeasts that are sensitive to the effects of clotrimazole. Positive results in the fight against pathogens of multi-colored lichen and erythrasma are also announced bymedication "Clotrimazole" instruction.
The price of a drug varies depending on the volume of containers and the region. In Moscow, a dark glass jar or an aluminum tube with 20 g of the drug can be bought for 50 rubles. However, at some points of the pharmacy chain, the same amount of Clotrimazole can be offered to consumers for 120-140 rubles.
Method of application - like all similar means. The ointment is applied to the pre-cleaned surface and rubbed lightly. The procedures are repeated 1-3 times during the day. The course of therapy, depending on the severity of the disease, can be from 2 to 4 weeks.
As side effects, patients talk about anaphylactic / anaphylactoid reactions from the immune system. Itching, redness, rash, and so on, up to contact dermatitis, may appear on the skin. With the development of all these reactions, the use of "Clotrimazole" should be abandoned.
Bifonazole
Another effective antifungal drug that exists in many dosage forms is Bifonazole. The price of the drug is quite affordable (about 50 rubles), but meanwhile the drug has a wide range of effects. Its appointment is practiced for fungal infections with epidermophytons, trichophytons, microsporum, pityriasis versicolor and erythrasma, mold and yeast-like pathogens.
Dermatologists prescribe this medication for diseases such as dermatophytosis, rubrophytosis, microsporia, trichophytosis. Bifonazole is effective for foot mycosisand bones, candidiasis of nails, nail folds, genitals, inguinal epidermophytosis.
Frequency of use - 1 time per day, best before bedtime. It is advisable to close the affected nail and the skin area around it with a plaster for a day. The dressing is changed daily. After removing it, the leg is lowered into warm water for 10-15 minutes, the damaged part is removed with a special scraper and a new bandage is applied.
The drug "Bifonazole" (price, scope and mode of use are described in the instructions) has certain side effects in the form of burning, itching, rash and peeling on the skin. However, in the vast majority of cases, the drug is well tolerated by patients.
Folk remedies
Existing drugs for toenail fungus, the list of which goes on and on, are often replaced by people with folk remedies to combat fungus. Someone says that they got rid of the problem with a soda solution (1 tablespoon of soda per 3 liters of water), in which you need to soar the sore leg, then wipe it dry and lubricate with celandine oil.
Someone was helped by applications of kombucha, pieces of which are applied to the affected nail, covered with cellophane and secured with a bandage. The procedure is done at night, in the morning the bandage is removed, the exfoliated sections of the nail are cut off and the legs are washed with a solution of potassium permanganate. In general, there are a huge number of recipes in social networks and literature.
Things to think about?
Self-treatment of fungal nail infections, of course, will give someresult. However, there are a great many parasitic fungi, and only a doctor after laboratory tests can determine which of them "undertook the intervention" in each case. And since there is a drug to fight any group of parasitic fungi, the drugs for toenail fungus, the list of which is quite extensive, will be more effective than any herbs and soda solutions.
