Nail fungus or mycosis is an extremely unpleasant and unfortunately very common disease. Mycosis refers to chronic, difficult-to-treat pathologies - sometimes it is not possible to find an effective remedy for toenail fungus for months or even years. The symptoms go away for a while, it seems that everything is back and the nails are healthy. But after a couple of weeks the nail plate turns yellow again, thickens, begins to crumble - and again it is necessary to look for cures for nail fungus, suffer from itching, discomfort and an unpleasant smell.
Finding effective drugs to treat toenail fungus is not only necessary because the affected feet look unkempt and repulsive. The constant presence of a fungal infection in the body negatively affects the state of the immune system and general well-being of a person and can become an impulse for the development of other, no less unpleasant and dangerous pathologies. Pharmacies offer a wide range of different toenail fungus remedies at very different prices. All of them have a different composition and mechanism of action, which are the most suitable. In most cases you will need to determine this through trial and error.A good remedy for nail fungus on hands and feet costs a lot. In order to avoid unnecessary costs and not provoke the disease, it is worth preparing before visiting the pharmacy. Namely - to find out what types of antifungal drugs exist today, what is their difference, how they work and are used. And of course, you should definitely consult your doctor. Adhering to his recommendations or not is a personal matter for everyone, but at least he will accurately diagnose and identify the pathogen.
The main types of antifungal drugs
All medicines for the treatment of athlete's foot offered in pharmacies are divided into two broad categories depending on the method of administration:
- external - ointments, creams, varnishes;
- internal - tablets and capsules.
To find the most effective and best remedy for toenail fungus, you need to identify the causative agent. Different mushrooms are sensitive to different drugs, which is why it is so important to see a doctor. Otherwise, the treatment can stretch indefinitely, leading to a deterioration in the condition of the nail and unnecessary waste.
Each group has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, it is worthwhile to look at each in detail and evaluate the effectiveness of the most common drugs based on the opinion of doctors and patient reviews.
Azole Toenail Fungus Remedies
These toenail fungus products may contain substances such as triazole or imidazole. They work in two directions:
- destroy the spores of the fungus and thereby stop its spread;
- destroys the cells of the fungus itself.
These drugs can be made in various forms for both external and internal use. Tablets and capsules are taken from 1 to 4 to 5 pieces per day for 3 to 14 days, ointments and creams are rubbed into the nail plates in the same time.
Advantages of azoles
- Effective against almost all types of fungi - yeast, yeast-like, moldy.
- Suitable for long-term treatment - up to three months or longer.
- Is offered in a wide price range.
Disadvantages
- Oral medications can have side effects.
- Some are expensive.
- Relapses cannot be ruled out even after complex treatment.
Nevertheless, many patients find the most effective remedy for nail fungus in this category. Such drugs received the best reviews and recommendations.
Introduction
Only comprehensive treatment can get rid of toenail fungus.
For a positive result, you need to use different methods to combat the mushroom injection.Only the right approach will get rid of the disease quickly.
Diagnosis of a mycosis on the legs
Diagnosing the disease is easy and you can do it at home. Carefully examine the nails and the distance between the fingers - itching, redness, transparency of the nail plate, burning, discoloration of the nail are signs of the disease.You can also carry out the diagnosis in other ways, dilute potassium permanganate to a light purple color and wet your nails in it - healthy nail plates will be colored, and patients will remain unchanged. Once the problem is discovered, the question of how to treat the fungus arises, and then everyone decides for themselves.
At home, start treating a disease with folk remedies or medicines, or go to the doctor.We recommend consulting a specialist.Only a doctor can prescribe the right, comprehensive treatment that will produce positive results.
What to expect from a trip to a medical facility if a fungus is found:
- A dermatologist will carefully examine the fungus under a microscope.
- Indicates the source of the infection.
- Identify the cause of the disease.
- Creates an accurate diagnosis according to the tests performed.
- Prescribe the treatment.
It should be noted that the diagnosis is completely painless and flakes of skin and particles from a diseased nail are removed for analysis.
The main types (schemes, courses) of complex therapy of onychomycosis
When treating mushrooms, only complex therapy is used with the use of various drugs and means that improve the mutual effect.
A qualified specialist develops an individual treatment regimenbased on the characteristics of the patient's body, the type of pathogen and the stage of development of the fungal infection.
Premature treatment of nail fungus can have the following consequences:
- decreased immunity;
- the appearance of eczema on the skin of the legs;
- allergies;
- If an infection gets into the bloodstream, the fungus can infect the internal organs.
A quick action to clear fungal infections from the body contributes to effective fungal treatment. There are many types of causative agent of diseases, andcan only be detected under laboratory conditions.Therefore, when he contacts a dermatologist, he takes particles from a diseased nail.
At the last stage, getting rid of the infection is very difficult because it has penetrated deep enough into the body. At this stage, the nail plates become thickened and brittle, and the skin around them becomes deformed. In this situation, recovery depends on the correct approach of the dermatologist to the treatment and actions of the patient himself.
Antifungal varnishes and plasters: type and degree of effectiveness
Special plasters, which are often recommended by mycologists, help to destroy fungal spores quickly.
The plaster softens the affected nail and makes it easier to remove later.
Removing the nail plates and treating the fungus with plasters is very effective. But before using it, you need to consult a specialist, because the use of a patch will not relieve relapse if the disease has penetrated deep into the body.
In addition to plasters, a large number of varnishes have been developed that are effective against nail fungus. The following popular and effective varnishes help cure onychomycosis:
If the fungus has not been cured, another treatment must be found.
Preparations that painlessly remove damaged nails
Now you can buy drugs in the pharmacy that will help remove a sore nail quickly and painlessly. However, they must be used strictly according to the instructions.
Onychomycosis tablets
If the fungal lesions have grown a lot, then using only external drugs is useless. You need to take antifungal drugs inside.
Creams and ointments
Medical studies have shown that ointments and creams are not effective enough in treating nail fungus because they practically do not penetrate the nail plate and wear off quickly.
However, do not exclude these drugs completely from the treatment regimen, they can be extremely helpful as additional treatment or as prophylaxis.Doctors prescribe creams and ointments to prevent relapse.
Tea tree oil is widely used to treat mushrooms, which can be added on its own or to foot cream.
It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antifungal effects. The course of treatment is very long, and the main rule for a positive effect is the regularity of its use.
Traditional therapy
Despite the fact that many drugs have been developed to treat fungal infections, getting rid of this disease is not that easy. Therefore, folk methods of treating the fungus are often used in one pile with drugs.
Garlic
This ingredient is widely used in many folk recipes for treating mushrooms. It can be used alone or with some components.
The easiest way, but very effective, is to rub freshly squeezed garlic juice into a sore nail. This process must be repeated at least 5 times a day - apply the juice with a cotton swab. The course of treatment is long - until full recovery. If the disease persists, experts recommend taking additional nystatin tablets and clotrimazole ointment.
acetic acid
Vinegar is not only effective in fighting fungal infections, but also has the following properties:
- antimicrobial effect;
- disinfection of the skin around the nail;
- fungistatic and antiseptic effect.
The principle of the effect of vinegar essence on fungus and mycosis is penetration into the affected area and the destruction of spores of a fungal infection.
With prolonged use,colonies of the fungus are completely killed by acid.
Compresses made from 8-fold diluted acetic acid are used for the treatment. A bandage is put on at night.
onions and lemon
There are many popular onion-based recipes for treating nail fungus. You can take the onion, peel it, squeeze out the juice and process the nail plates. Often this method is used at night, but since the product does not require rinsing, it can be used in the morning.
There is another recipe: you need to grate the peeled onion, put the porridge on your feet, then wrap it in cellophane and put on warm socks. The compress is left overnight and in the morning they wash their feet with soap to remove the lingering onion odor.
And if you combine lemon and onion, you can enhance the anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects of the drug. Grate the onion in the pulp and add lemon juice. Apply these masks at night. An improvement in the condition can be observed after a few days. But the main thing is the frequency - the use of the remedy for a long time until it is completely cured.
General antifungal prophylaxis
The fungus can be infected in public places such as baths, saunas and salons. To avoid this problem, you need to take the following preventive measures:
- Do not wear shoes that are not too big. This can lead to nail plate ingrowth and the development of a fungal infection.
- If you sweat your feet excessively, avoid wearing sneakers and trainers.
- don't try on shoes in the store without socks;
- Do not wear slippers when you visit.
- Dry and disinfect shoes regularly;
- Do not wear synthetic socks.
- Pedicure or manicure should be performed in professional salons, where special attention is paid to disinfecting the instrument.
- Apply emollient creams to extremely dry skin on the feet.
Top 10 best folk remedies for nail fungus
The early stages of fungal infections don't always require medication. Sometimes you can cope with them with the help of proven folk remedies. These treatments are considered safe for human health. At the same time, of course, they show a clearly visible treatment effect, provided they are used correctly.
Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an incredibly powerful natural antiseptic that can fight fungal pathogens. It is most effective to use natural oil as it has excellent anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties. Cosmetic oil (40%) actually has no effect. With a cheap analog, you are wasting valuable time and the disease can spread even further.
The tea tree oil treatment is as follows:
- First of all, you need to get rid of excessive sweating and clean your feet in general. To do this, prepare warm water and add a few drops of oil to it. Feet should be washed thoroughly, paying special attention to fingers and nails. Don't miss a single area of your skin during the cleansing process.
- The feet should be dried well with a clean towel. Next, you need to apply dosed oil to all affected nail plates and gently rub in. Wait for the product to dry completely. Do not take any action at this point, let your legs "breathe". For greater effectiveness, the oil must be applied to the skin around the nails.
Vinegar, garlic, peroxide - cheap treatments at home
The most commonly usedapple cider vinegar is used to treat nail fungus.Everyone knows that this solution disinfects and kills bacteria perfectly. Thus it is possible to conduct therapy with this tool with great success, but you need to know some of the intricacies of its use, namely:
- The vinegar has to be natural;
- Vinegar is not used to treat mushrooms in its pure form, it must necessarily be diluted.
- If you have hypersensitive skin or are prone to allergic reactions, it is better to refuse to use the product.
Vinegar gives the best results in the following variations:
- Trays - To make 2-4 cups of vinegar, dilute them in warm water. The process takes about 10-15 minutes. It should be done at least twice a day for two weeks. In the future, the process will be repeated every 3 days until it is fully restored.
- Lotions - A cotton swab or sponge is soaked in diluted vinegar (ratio 1: 2) and applied to the affected nail. Such a type of compress needs to be fixed and kept for about 20-30 minutes.
- ointments - show good results in combination with other products. To make it, you need to take olive oil, glycerin and dimethyl phthalate, as well as 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. The ingredients must be mixed thoroughly. Apply this ointment to treat the fungus twice a day until it is completely eliminated.
Garlicis quite a specific remedy for the treatment of mushrooms, which is not suitable for everyone and not everyone. The garlic pulp helps best. It must be applied to the affected nail and tightly wrapped with polyethylene for 1-2 hours. However, such a remedy often leads to burns and redness on sensitive skin. You can get rid of nail fungus in 2 months with this method of treatment.
The treatment of nail funguswith hydrogen peroxideis an inexpensive method that unfortunately does not always lead to significant results. This method of treatment is most preferred in the initial stages of the disease. In order for the peroxide to work accurately, the legs must first be well steamed with hot water with the addition of soda (1 teaspoon of the substance per 1 liter). In the future, each affected nail must be carefully treated with peroxide. You need to repeat this process at least 2-3 times a day. It should be noted that this method, in combination with other therapy methods, gives the best results.
Apricot resin
Not many people know that apricot gum has really beneficial and healing properties. Most often this substance is in places where the bark is damaged. It accumulates and solidifies in the form of small transparent drops of dark yellow color. The resin must be collected by carefully cutting off with a knife.
Resin is an excellent antifungal remedy when used properly. 1 tablespoon of the substance is infused in 250 ml. Vodka for 3 days. The resulting product is used to lubricate nails affected by the disease.
Strong coffee
Has excellent medicinal properties. Only real coffee beans are suitable for mushroom therapy. The soluble version of this drink is not suitable for treatment. Coffee bean based trays show the best efficiency.
The ground coffee beans must be brewed heavily. Wait for the water to cool a bit and soak your feet in the resulting solution. You have to endure 10-15 minutes. Do not wipe your feet after the procedure, but wait for the liquid to be completely absorbed and dry. Such treatment is carried out at least once a day.
Lotions with anesthetic solution
Makes it possible to contain the spread of mycosis in the early stages. For therapy, it is enough to buy an anesthetic in ampoules in a pharmacy and apply it to the affected area of the nail as a lotion. Various procedures will allow you to get rid of the disease completely.
Only effective in the earliest stages of a fungal infection. The affected nail plate needs to be lubricated with iodine. You shouldn't get too carried away as this remedy has a detrimental effect on the condition of the skin. It is recommended that neighboring fingers be smeared with petroleum jelly to avoid irritation.
Greater celandine
Celandine juice is an aggressive substance that can literally burn out mushrooms. You need to use a fresh plant after lubricating your nails with hydrogen peroxide. If you are afraid of burns, it is recommended to use celandine oil, which can be successfully purchased at any pharmacy.
Tricks for successfully combating toenail fungus
In order to fight the fungus quickly and effectively, a few simple but very important rules must be observed:
- Wash your feet.Before applying the drug to the affected nail, the feet should be thoroughly rinsed with warm water and laundry soap. After that, you need to steam the leg with the affected nail in warmer water for 5-7 minutes. This allows the drugs to penetrate as deeply as possible into the cushioned tissue. The main thing is to remember that steaming feet in hot water are contraindicated with hypotension, varicose veins and high temperature.
- nail care.It is very important to monitor the regrowth of the diseased nail. If the nail plate grows back, it will need to be cut off. Thus it is possible to provide maximum drug access to the tissues damaged by the fungus.
- Leather processing.Not only the nail, but also the surrounding soft tissues are required for processing. The treatment should extend 1 cm around the nail. You need to carefully apply the medicine, smearing the most inaccessible places.
- Visit the doctor in good time.In particularly difficult situations, in which the fungus returns many times, it is worth consulting a doctor. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cure this disease on your own. In addition, some types of medicines just may not be suitable and it is quite difficult to choose the medicines you need yourself.
- Instrument care.When performing a manicure or pedicure and cutting off a sore nail, only use sterilized instruments. These instruments must be treated with an antiseptic "before" and "after" each procedure. In addition, nail scissors, tweezers, and files used to care for a sick nail must be kept strictly separate from other manicure tools.
You can use these simple rules to cure nail fungus much faster.
Conclusion
Fungus is an unpleasant disease and it is quite difficult to cure it if you do not use complex therapy. For the best effect, you need to use not only external, pharmacy and folk drugs, but also treatment with pills. The right approach and treatment regimen will help get rid of the yeast infection for good.
Nail fungus can significantly affect a person's quality of life. The disease causes severe itching, burning in the affected area, and even loss of the nail. For this reason, toenail (hand) nail fungus remedies should be used immediately after the problem is discovered. In this way, the best and most effective treatment can be achieved.
Making the right choice is not always easy. Many, who first came across a fungus, are careless and use poorly proven folk remedies as therapy.
Only a doctor can prescribe a really effective remedy for nail fungus. So the likelihood of eliminating the problem increases significantly. However, there are a number of proven remedies that will ensure the elimination of nail fungus in no time. This applies not only to pharmaceuticals, but also to traditional medicine.