Dermatologists and mycologists try not to use formal approaches to the treatment of fungi, which consist in the standard prescription of ointments and tablets, leading to a chronic course of fungal infections and the development of serious complications that affect the quality of life:
- fungal eczema.
- Persistent hair loss.
- Destruction of the nail plates and scarring of the nail bed.
- Chronic inflammation of the glans and vagina that constantly bothers men and women, making sex life impossible.
A method of completely eliminating a fungal disease, which can achieve the following goals:
- Destruction of pathogenic fungi in the focus of skin lesions.
- Protection of healthy skin (nails, mucous membranes) from the spread of mycoses.
- prevent relapse.
- Restoring the normal structure of the skin, hair and mucous membranes while preserving their elasticity and beauty.
- Removal of fungal waste products from the body that cause chronic poisoning and allergies.
- Restoring the sensitivity of the skin and mucous membranes of the genital organs to normalize sex life.
It seems that all this is logical and should be as it should be. However, in practice, dermatologists very rarely adhere to all the rules for the treatment of fungal diseases and often limit themselves to external therapy. Yes, and many patients just want to "anoint something" rather than undergo full treatment.
What diseases are treated in the clinic:
- Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails of the hands and feet.
- Fungal lesions of the skin of the foot, hand.
- Smooth skin fungus.
- Fungal diseases of the inguinal folds, armpits, under the mammary glands, intergluteal folds.
- pityriasis versicolor.
- Scalp fungus, dandruff.
- The fungus that causes seborrheic dermatitis.
- Candidiasis, thrush of the penis and vagina.
- fungal prostatitis.
- Candidiasis of the oral mucosa and tongue.
- Fungal diseases of the outer ear.
Treatment of the fungus, of course, depends on its type and localization of the process. Let's single out the general stages of therapy:
- Mandatory analysis of cockroaches for a fungus with determination, if possible, species, sensitivity to drugs, quantity.
- Blood tests, biochemical and on the state of the immune system.
- Removal of the affected area of \u200b\u200bthe nail plate, hair with a laser, hardware or surgically.
- Drug therapy: antifungal drugs intravenously or in the form of tablets. Lasts from 10 days to 4 months (with onychomycosis). Injection of antifungal drugs has proven to be the best and allows to reduce the duration of treatment of a fungal disease and reduce the impact on the liver. External treatment with antifungal ointments, creams and solutions in a certain order. Preparations that improve the growth of nail plates and hair, restore the dermal epithelium of the skin and mucous membranes. Local treatment in the form of baths on the penis and in the vagina, restoring the normal microflora of the genitals with fungal disease of the genital organs. Immunotherapy and removal of fungal toxins and allergens.
- Physiotherapy: UV irradiation with medical quartz, treatment of the affected areas with an infrared or ultrasonic laser.
- And at the end - control tests for mushrooms.
Treating fungal diseases may seem too time-consuming and complicated. That's how it is, but only for a doctor! Treatment regimens are designed in such a way that during therapy the patient does not experience major discomfort and everything goes quite easily for him.
Treatment of skin fungus usually does not take time and lasts about 10-20 days. Treatment of hair and nails is longer and takes several months.
But it's not even about the duration of the therapy. Treatment of fungal diseases should be carried out by a specialist, a dermatovenereologist, a mycologist who is familiar with all of the above methods and actively uses them in practice. Specialists in this field are received in clinics every day.
treatment of athlete's foot
The treatment of athlete's foot has been carried out together with the therapy of other fungal diseases for more than 13 years.
The method for treating athlete's foot developed and used in the clinic has long proven itself despite the known difficulties in treating fungal diseases.
What do patients who have completed a full course with a diagnosis of foot mycosis receive as a result:
- Complete destruction of the pathogenic fungus on the soles of the feet, in the interdigital spaces, on the back of the feet, in the thickness of the nail plates.
- Elimination of itching and unpleasant odor on the feet.
- Healing of cracks and inflammatory changes in the skin of the feet.
- Restoration of skin elasticity, elimination of hyperkeratosis - thickening of the skin of the sole of the foot, especially in the heel area.
- Elimination of excessive sweating - hyperhidrosis of the feet.
- growth of healthy nails.
That is, if the dermatovenerologist, mycologist and the patient himself at the first appointment see a picture of thickened soles with cracks, exfoliated epithelium between the fingers, congestive reddening of the skin of the feet, constantly wet shoes and socks and twisted , dark nails, then after a full oneFungal therapy on the feet there is a pleasant feeling of comfort in this part of the body, the skin becomes smooth, the smell disappears, the nails are gradually restored.
Treatment steps for athlete's foot
- The diagnostic stage includes the examination of scrapings of the skin and nail plates for a pathogenic fungus with the determination of the group of pathogens, which is important for the selection of an antifungal drug. To complete the picture, information is needed about changes in the patient's metabolism, which can be the main cause of excessive sweating of the skin of the feet and a decrease in local resistance to fungal infections. Blood tests help us here.
- The treatment of foot mycosis itself is carried out in several stages, which depend on the initial clinical picture and the type of fungus. Removal of callused thick layers of skin and affected areas of the nail plates. This is achieved with the help of special ointments, procedures or hardware and laser removal of pathological areas. The duration of the phase is 1 to 7 days. When the skin has cleared, it becomes possible to apply external antifungal therapy that delivers the drug directly to the skin of the foot.
- Antifungal agents with a systemic effect, ie antifungal agents administered by injection or in tablet form. Of course, intravenous infusion of such drugs turned out to be more effective. In addition, it proved to be safer for the liver and reduced the duration of treatment, which is 7-14 days in skin lesions and up to 4 months in combination with nail lesions.
- Physiotherapeutic treatment of athlete's foot includes exposure to medical UV radiation, which has a detrimental effect on athlete's foot, and infrared laser therapy, which further improves blood supply to the affected areas, accelerates skin regeneration and nail growth. The duration of the procedure is from 3 to 10 minutes.
- If, as a result of the diagnosis, problems with internal organs, a lack of microelements and other substances necessary for the delivery of antifungal drugs to the skin, skin regeneration and activation of the fight against the pathogenic fungus are detected , then additionalAuxiliary drugs prescribed to correct these changes: immunomodulators, ozone therapy, vitamins, hepatoprotectors, iron, calcium and vitamin complexes with microelements.
- Excessive sweating and odor often go away with this athlete's foot treatment. But sometimes it is necessary to prescribe drugs that block the sweat glands of the skin of the feet in order to conduct sessions of laser therapy and liquid nitrogen cryomassage.
- After treatment, it is necessary to check whether the fungus on the feet has been destroyed. Repeat analyzes of scrapings for fungi are performed. But usually the result is close to 100%.
A very important step in treating athlete's foot is the appointment for subsequent prevention of recurrence, which includes skin care products and treatment of shoes where fungal spores may remain.
The treatment of athlete's foot is very diverse. It is impossible to describe all therapy options in one article. The doctors of the dermatovenereologists of the clinic, after examination and based on the results of laboratory diagnostics, can determine the most suitable technique for your specific case of foot skin fungus and carry out a comprehensive treatment.
Treatment of nail fungus
Treatment of nail fungus is one of the main areas of clinical work in specialized centers, for the development of which specialists approach in detail each stage of onychomycosis therapy.
It has long been known that treating fungal diseases is a serious problem, even more so than treating bacterial infections. The uncontrolled use of various antifungal ointments, tablets, solutions and varnishes has led to the growth of a large number of drug-resistant fungi. And the number of these drugs, unlike antibiotics, is very limited. Therefore, in order to achieve the maximum effect in treating patients, we needed to adopt a scientific and practical approach to treating toenail and hand nail fungus and not limit ourselves to the formal prescription of external therapy for onychomycosis.
What results will you see after a full-fledged course:
- Restoring the color and structure of the nail plate.
- Normalization of nail growth and its shape.
- The disappearance of nail fungus confirmed by the laboratory.
- Unpleasant odors and excessive sweating of the feet disappear.
- The inflammatory process of the skin of the periungual ridges, interdigital spaces and the soles of the feet or palms will disappear. That is, redness, itching, peeling and weeping caused by a fungal disease go away.
Treatment of nail fungus on hands lasts 2-3 months, on legs up to 3-4 months. But everything, of course, is individual and depends on the type of pathogenic fungus, the rate of nail growth in a particular person, the presence of concomitant pathology of internal organs and blood vessels. For example, with diseases of the veins or arteries of the lower extremities, if the supply of drugs and nutrients to the nail is disturbed, the treatment time will be much longer and the result will be very difficult to achieve.
Healing is checked after 6 months for hand nail fungus and after 1 year for toenail fungus.
The clinic employs dermatovenereologists who are trained in all methods of nail removal and who professionally select the optimal course of therapy for each individual patient diagnosed with nail fungus on hands and feet.
How is nail fungus treated in the clinic?
Nail fungus is a chronic disease, so treatment has several stages, and it is always preceded by a detailed diagnosis that reveals the type of fungus and the possibility of complex treatment, which, unfortunately, cannot be prescribed to everyone.
Treatment steps for nail fungus:
- Appointment to the mycologist.
- Diagnosis.
- direct treatment.
At the first appointment, the doctor will assess the damage to the nail plates and the surrounding skin if these are also involved in the pathological process, which is often the case. He will examine other areas of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, because there are cases when a patient is referred for suspected fungus, and in the end the diagnosis sounds like onychodystrophy, that is, the symptoms resemble the disease, but without an infectious agent. It is associated with metabolic disorders, hormone levels, chronic skin diseases and injuries to the nail matrix and bed.
Next, a plan of diagnostic measures is drawn up, particles of the nail plates and blood are taken for examination.
Diagnosis of onychomycosis of fingers and toes
| no | analysis | goal | period of execution |
|---|---|---|---|
| a. | Scratching nail plates and nail beds for fungi | Determination of the type of fungus in order to select the most effective drug | 1-3 days |
| 2. | Sowing for mushrooms | Determining the type of fungus and its sensitivity to antifungal drugs | 7-10 days |
| 3. | PCR diagnostics for Candida | Identification of mycoses caused by yeast-like fungi | 1-2 days |
| 4. | blood chemistry | Determination of the state of liver and kidney function when planning systemic antifungal therapy. Metabolic disorders that have led to a change in the nails can also be detected. | 1 day |
| 5. | Hospital complex (syphilis, HIV, hepatitis, coagulogram) | If you plan to remove the nail plates or the affected part of the nails | 1 day |
Here is a complete list of the main diagnostic measures, but not every person is assigned all these studies by a mycologist. With superficial forms, for example, when there is no need to remove the plates and prescribe antifungal drugs orally or by drops, it is not necessary to do blood tests.
Crops are also rarely performed due to their low sensitivity.
Therefore, anyone who treats toenail or hand nail fungus should always first visit a dermatologist or mycologist, and then start testing, smearing ointments and drinking tablets, and not vice versa.
Also of great importance is the correct sampling of material from the affected areas in order to identify the fungus. Its detection in a given patient depends 90% on it. For the research, not only the hard parts of the nail plate are taken, but also the loose mass from the nail bed, which contains the maximum amount of the pathogen.
But even with this approach, the laboratory does not always immediately determine the presence of a fungal infection.
If there are obvious signs of onychomycosis, the analysis is repeated three times with a negative result.
So the diagnosis was made, the fungus identified, its species identified, the condition of the internal organs examined, and therapy started.
Treatment of nail fungus by a mycologist
Here everything depends on the clinical situation. Superficial forms of mycosis can be cured by external means such as varnishes, solutions with antifungal drugs and laser processing of plates. Total nail lesions require removal of the affected areas and administration of drugs orally or intravenously.
We will look at the treatment stages of an advanced form of toenail fungus as this is the most difficult stage of onychomycosis to treat with medication.
Removal of the nail or part of the nail plate affected by the fungus.
As a result, we will immediately rid the body of a huge accumulation of the fungus and make the nail bed accessible to the penetration of medicinal substances to destroy the microbes remaining in it. It also reduces the absorption of fungal waste products into the blood, thereby reducing the allergic and toxic effects on humans.
There are several methods of removing plates affected by mycosis. The choice depends on the clinical situation and on which doctor treats the nail fungus in this patient, which technique he masters most professionally:
| no | methodology | How is it done | advantages | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a. | Removing hardware nails | Most commonly used. The affected part of the nail plate is sawed with a special cutter down to the nail bed and the posterior periungual crest | security Minimal discomfort The patient does not lose the ability to work |
1000-1500 rubles |
| 2. | Surgical removal | After the finger has been anesthetized, the nail plate is removed in whole or in part, if necessary. An antibacterial bandage is applied. | The "cleanest" removal of the affected nail, when the fungus is removed, including under the nail ridges, the nail bed is cleared of mycotic layers. It is possible to perform plastic surgery of a curved nail bed. | From 2500 rub. |
| 3. | Laser nail removal | Anesthesia of the treated finger is also performed. The laser beam burns out the fungus affected area of the nail by capturing the nail bed | Maximum removal of fungal masses, but without penetrating under the trailing roller | From 3000 rubles |
The hardware technique is used more often, since it causes a minimum number of complications, does not damage the growth zone and nail bed, is affordable, but requires more frequent cleaning of the nail beds, since it does not provide complete sanitation of fingers from the fungus.
Of course, after surgical or laser removal, the amount of remaining fungus is minimal, but the length of the recovery period, possible disabilities and dressings limit the use of these methods in some patients.
Destruction of the fungus by external means.
Antifungal solutions are applied to the nail bed cleaned by removing the nail plate daily for several months until growth of a normal nail and a negative fungal analysis. It is also possible to apply antifungal varnishes to the growing edge of the nail plate.
The use of systemic antifungal drugs orally and intravenously. This is the main treatment phase after nail removal.
It is necessary to ensure the delivery of drugs to the nail matrix, from where a new nail grows, and to the nail bed with blood flow.
Based on the tests, the doctor selects a drug that is suitable for this patient, as well as the method of its administration.
The type of fungus, the condition of the liver and kidneys, as well as the convenience for the patient are taken into account.
For the liver, the safest is intravenous administration of drugs that enter the blood and nail, bypassing the intestines and liver, respectively.
Treatment lasts up to 3-4 months for lesions on the feet and 2-3 months if the fungus is on the hands.
There are several treatment regimens for nail fungus that include both daily medication and intermittent coursework.
At least once a month, a blood test is performed for liver and kidney indicators. If it deviates from the norm, treatment is stopped.
- Physiotherapy in the treatment of nail fungus - helps both in destroying the infection and improving drug delivery, accelerating the growth of the nail plate. UV radiation of the nail bed has a detrimental effect on the fungus. 10-15 sessions for 3-5 minutes. Infrared laser - improving blood circulation in the area of \u200b\u200bthe growth zone and nail bed, which ensures improved delivery of drugs to the affected area and acceleration of the growth of a new plate impregnated with an antifungal agent. Electrophoresis of antifungal drugs is the creation of the maximum possible concentration of drugs directly in the focus of the pathological process.
- Regular hardware cleaning of the nail bed from hyperkeratosis layers and fungal residues. It is important for nail fungus patients to visualize the whole treatment process and to understand that it is a fairly long-term event, the success of which depends not only on which doctor is treating the nail fungus, but also on yourself. It is important toregularly taking medication and applying antifungal solutions, regularly treating shoes, observing the schedule of physiotherapy procedures, cleaning the nail bed.
Which doctor treats nail fungus?
Nail fungus is a serious problem. Anyone who has experienced the defeat of the nail plates with mycosis knows this. It is treated for a long time, far from always with good effect, and the use of various ointments, creams, solutions in almost 95% of cases does not bring any result at all.
But actually not everything is so sad when you know which specialist to turn to for nail fungus. And then success is also guaranteed with onychomycosis.
A doctor who treats nail fungus is a mycologist or dermatologist who has experience treating such patients.
Why experience is important and not just theoretical knowledge. The fact is that therapy for a fungal infection affecting the nail plates lasts more than a month. The result is not immediately visible, it can be very difficult to assess the effectiveness. It is also not easy to select the entire range of procedures and drugs for a specific patient, which differ in each clinical situation.
On the Internet there is a lot of information about antifungal drugs, various methods of laser, physiotherapy and nail removal. Patients who self-medicate, begin to buy drugs one after another, despair and, having not received any result, stop all attempts to get rid of the fungus. The same happens when the treatment is prescribed by a doctor who has no experience in monitoring such patients.
The clinic sees a doctor every day who treats fungi on the legs and arms, there is also a fully equipped mycological room where all stages of diagnosis and treatment of onychomycosis are carried out.
Which doctor effectively treats nail fungus?
- This is necessarily a dermatologist or mycologist.
- He has experience in the examination and treatment of nail mycoses.
- Knows how to remove the affected nail plates and clean the nail bed.
- Knows the stages of systemic therapy of onychomycosis, introduction to the course of physiotherapeutic methods.
- Can timely change the tactics of treatment or add a procedure, drug, with a weak effect to a previously prescribed therapy.
- It has the ability to use all modern methods and the necessary equipment in the clinic for the treatment of nail fungus.
Treatment of such mycoses is a planned, not emergency, intervention. Therefore, after the examination, the doctor treating nail fungus explains to the patient all the options for possible therapy, but the choice is always up to the person himself.
The course is very long, regardless of the choice of technique, and each patient must understand the effectiveness of each method from the very beginning:
Treatment of nail fungus using external methods (solutions, varnishes, ointments) - the effectiveness is less than 10%, that is, it helps only with initial, superficial forms.
Using an integrated approach but without removing the affected areas of the nails is up to 60% effective.
Complex treatment with removal of the affected part of the nail plate and physiotherapy - efficiency up to 90-95%.
Usually, the attending nail fungus doctor says to the patient at the first appointment: If the patient is ready to undergo a 3-4-month complex therapy for onychomycosis, success can be achieved. If not, then it's better not to start at all. Money, time will be spent, and the result will be in doubt. This is a disease that requires a long and meticulous approach to treatment from both the doctor and the patient, in which even small details are important.